Betsy's aunt (well, technically step-aunt) and her husband from LA were in the city for a few days, and we had them out for dinner last night. Good to see them (Dave hadn't seen in many years), and we had a fun night on the patio. Olives and marinated mushrooms, then a lobster/corn tomato salad, then coffee-crusted strip steaks, peas and pesto with pasta, and a green salad.
With the lobster salad, the NV B. Bremont "Cuvee Prestige" Champagne Brut
Really lovely bubbly. Refinement, elegance, power. Fine mousse, Fuji apple and grapefruit, nice length. A-/B+
With the meat and pasta w/pesto, the 1979 Ch. Pape Clement (Graves). I've had this bottle sitting around for a while. When I saw a bunch at $25, thought this was a good time to try. This bottle had a somewhat dried out cork and looked heavily bricked on pouring. The wine however picked up and actually showed quite a bit of body. Black plum and currant, leather, tobacco. Despite some tertiary notes this was not especially complex, but it was nice, and I ordered a couple bottles before night was over. B
Tonight it was a combination of leftovers and farmer's market- lovely dry scallops sauteed in a basil-lemon oil, grain salad, and green/yelllowwax/Purple dragon beans with first tomatoes from garden.
Wine was the 2006 Jadot "Charmes" Meursault. Leaner and more structured than most 06s, apple fruit , hazelnut, vanilla, shale. I'm mostly a drink young guy with '06, but I think this could age. Maybe my favorite 06 to date. A-/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.