I would guess that many of my readers treat large formats; magnums and larger, like I do - set them aside for a party or any time there are more than four people at a table. With certain wines you need to be careful that they will be popped in the presence of a party that can appreciate them.
That was certainly the case when my wife and I attended a winemaker friend's 50th birthday party last Saturday night. We brought a magnum of the 2005 Siduri Pinot Noir Ewald Vineyard that Vinfolio had successfully bid on at Hospices of Sonoma in 2006. It is one of the rarest wines we have offered as only thirty magnums were produced from the half barrel purchased. The final selection of the Siduri was arrived at after I went around the entire 35 winery auction three times and kept coming back to the Siduri as a truly excellent example that showed what I was looking for. So for me, it was the best of the best!
I think the last time trying this wine was at Farallon when I brought a bottle to dinner with a friend last year and it showed nicely. I expected the magnum to be the same yet it exceeded all my expectations getting WOTN (wine of the night) kudos from everyone who tried it at our table which included at least four wine industry veterans with over 20 years of experience. My wife is a much harder judge of domestic Pinot Noir than I am and proclaimed the Siduri "superb".
I would like to offer a suggestion: If you have any of this in your collection, do yourself a favor and open one soon to see how special it is.
Here is my updated tasting note from magnum.
2005 Siduri Pinot Noir Ewald Vineyard Hospices of Sonoma, VF 97
The fruit in the nose is silky orange blossom, macerated cherry and blueberry with supple black cherry, licorice and cola on the palate. The acidity is beautifully integrated. Drink 2008 - 2015
Vinfolio is soldout of this particular bottling, but I just checked our remaining inventory of the 2006 Hospices of Sonoma Pinot Noir we purchased last year and there are some magnums that should not be missed - These wines are not available anywhere else.
2006 Radio Coteau Pinot Noir La Neblina Hospices of Sonoma, VF 96
2006 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Keefer Vineyard Clone 2A Hospices of Sonoma, VF 97
2006 Flowers Pinot Noir Sea View Ridge Hospices of Sonoma, VF 94
2006 Siduri Pinot Noir Keefer Vineyard Clone 2A Hospices of Sonoma, VF 95
2006 Donum Pinot Noir Hospices of Sonoma, VF 97
These selections were made just as carefully as the 2005 Siduri Ewald Vineyard and represent the epitome of what these wineries produce.