Open that Bottle Night

For almost 20 years the last Saturday in February has been Open That Bottle Night.  This was started by Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher  who were the wine writers for the Wall Street Journal.  The idea was that those of us who squirrel away wine have those certain bottles that we are holding for 'that special moment to open and drink."   They chose the last Saturday in February and it has been that way since.  Find some friends, have a good meal and open those special bottles and enjoy them.

My choice this year was a 2004 Produttori del Barbaresco Moccagatta Riserva, a Barbaresco. 

The photos were in the early afternoon when the wine was opened and decanted to breathe, something this wine needed.  It was very closed up with little or no aroma coming out of it.  The taste was very flat and one dimensional, mostly tasting like cooked fruit.

After six hours in the decanter one would never guess this was the same wine.  The nose was full of flowers and tar and earth.  Tart, dried cherry flavors were gushing from the wine.  The earthiness was still there and the wine was full of sharp acid.   

Dinner was a thick, grilled rib eye steak cooked to the rare side of medium rare and a farotto made with enriched beef broth and porcini mushrooms.  This was a memorable pairing and a wonderful evening.  One small glass is left for a good sip tonight.

And as always with an exceptional bottle of wine the thought occurred to me, "why didn't I buy more of this?"

2004 Produttori del Barbaresca Moccagatta Riserva.  14% alcohol $50 several years ago.