Kind of a busy day scheduled for Sunday, so I took Betsy (and David) out for an early Mother's Day present. A new place in Hastings- acclaimed food, reasonably priced, and best of all BYO. Actually lived up to and exceeded my expectations- a new favorite. I started with an excellent charcuterie plate- rabbit rillettes, pate campagne, and a mystery -I guess it was a galantine? Betsy and David both started with the asparagus salad topped with a deepfried soft egg (how do they do that?) and Serrano ham. For main courses Dave had duck breast with beets, Betsy hanger steak with bacon and potato, and I had fantastic fluke with celeriac puree and leeks.
Not knowing what we were to order, I carried an 1988 Bordeaux (in honor of Dave's birth) and a food friendly off-dry Riesling (Betsy had with her appetizer, I had with my fish).
1988 Ch. Carbonnieux (Pessac-Leognan)
Double-decanted for sediment before going to restaurant. Soft, plummy, mature. Red and black plums, low acids, resolved tannins. Some tobacco and a little earth. Pleasant workmanlike claret. I might have guessed Graves blind, but I would have not gotten 1988 in lots of tries- maybe 1997! Perfectly acceptable, went well with food (might could have used a bit more body for her steak),. but most importantly served its symbolic purpose. B
2007 Selbach-Oster "Zeltinger Sonnenuhr" Riesling Kabinett
Light to medium body, good acids but with round/creamy mouthfeel, apples and some mineral. Good length, nice. B+
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.