New Years and New (More) Wine
Bringing in the new year with lots and lots of wine
New Year’s Eve is one of my favorite nights of the year and not for the typical reasons. If I am honest, I don’t usually even make it up to midnight. Blake and I both used to wait tables and this was always the night that you had to work. We didn’t mind putting in the time after seeing what many would spend on a lavish night out where we would come home in the positive. Even after we both moved on to “day jobs,” going out seemed like unnecessary and frankly unenjoyable. Having kids gained us even more excuses as finding a babysitter on NYE is as elusive as a unicorn. We instead started a tradition of what we refer to as “Parent’s Eve;” typically held on the 30th as a staycation in the city complete with a delicious meal and sleeping in and where childcare is still achievable. Before we moved to Highland Park, this was the night I looked forward to most, but when we finally had a house big enough to entertain and lucky enough to have met the most amazing neighbors, it quickly tied with a now annual New Year’s Eve dinner we host at our home (with kids). We start early, all of our friends chip in an appetizer or dessert, kids have a pizza/movie/game bonanza in the basement, and Blake and I do the dinner and of course THE WINE. This year we were traveling up until the holiday and Blake lost his favorite sous chef and best friend to a recent move so we decided to seek out some assistance with the meal. We were incredibly lucky that Molly at Latch Catering was able to squeeze us in. She is always incredibly patient and accommodating and on this night, delivered a feast of all feasts for our family of friends. Molly also brought extra hands to serve and clean giving Blake and I real time to enjoy our friends and the wonderful meal instead of hustling around the kitchen most of the night.
I treasure this evening because it is a time that we sit with a table full of people that we are grateful to have come into our lives, we talk about nothing and everything, and we laugh a lot. I can’t say enough how special it is to have made these connections both for us as adults and for our children who are fostering their own community and network of support. It’s a big feeling and definitely worthy of a toast. Speaking of toasting, we broke into this delicious Le Reve by Domaine Carneros that I got this summer after running the Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon with my best friend (another thing to be grateful for this year).
Somewhere mid-seafood tower, we decided to turn our table into a group of accountability partners and each wrote new years resolutions on our place cards (this may have been the wine talking). We all threw them in a vase that sits in the corner of our dining area and the plan is to open them up at next year’s dinner and see how we’ve done. Personally, if I am lucky enough to have these wonderful people at my table again next year, I’ll be fulfilled. Now, a few days in and fiercely staring down 2020, I do plan to finally address the fact that I am no longer in my 20s and take my health a little more seriously, spend more time focusing on the ones I love, somehow finding and taking a breath a little more often, and I will be drinking more wine.
our new year’s resolutions
If I must say, we started off okay on that last goal. Here is all of the wine that we drank:
Sparkling
2012 Le Reve Domaine Carneros Blanc de Blanc
100% Chardonnay and definitely the special something we were going for when we toasted the new year. A bit of citrus with caramelized fruits and a touch of honey, round and inviting; paired perfectly with the bisque and seafood towers but I would have been just as happy to enjoy it all alone.
NV PDC Cartizze Brut Prosecco
This is our go-to bubble. We almost always have a case on hand, particularly in the summer. This is a special Prosecco and shouldn’t be lumped in with your grocery store lot. From the Cartizze valley in Valdobbiadene, Italy, the effervescent bubbles are super fine and have persistent and wonderful tickle on your tongue. Similar in fruit to Le Reve, but gentle. Drink this one anytime. (PDC was also the inspiration for the ceiling of the Woffice.)
White
2017 Failla Chardonnay Keefer Ranch “The Big Egg”
As I have mentioned before, I scare easily when we go to open a Chardonnay in fear of the big buttery oakiness I still can’t quite get into. That never happens with Failla Chardonnays, and especially not with those done with “The Big Egg” (a large concrete egg used to provide a neutral place to ferment wines.) Crisp, clean, ripe peaches. Contact Failla for availability.
Reds
2014 Failla Pinot Noir Floodgate Vineyard
Pinots are always a safe bet when you are serving a bit of everything for dinner. This one had enough umph to have alongside the prime rib, but not so much you couldn’t still enjoy your oysters. Ripe cherry and a little black pepper gave a little bite up front before softening on the palette.
2016 Casanova di Neri Irrosso
From our most recent trip to Montalcino in October. Casanova di Neri may be most famous for its high end big Brunellos, but this 100% Sangiovese IGT did not disappoint. A well-balanced Sangiovese with both spice and a hint of sweet, ripe cherries. Plus, its ready to drink now.
2016 Herman Story Casual Encounters
Another vineyard where we love the labels almost as much as we love the wine (more to come I’m sure with ones you’ll want to bring to a party even if just for a conversation starter like this one.) This Paso Robles gem is done in the Rhone Style (37% Syrah, 28% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre and 10% Tannat) and was the big guns at the table. Smokier with dark fruits and a little bit of chocolate. We enjoyed this one as we worked our way through the prime rib and into dessert.