Thursday we had a quick bouillabaisse. I had heard Betsy mention how great the cod had looked, and chilled a bottle of white Burg- once I realized, I thought of switching, but stuck with the 2008 H. Boillot Bourgogne Blanc. Big, rich for Bourgogne, but seems shockingly advanced, even for a plastic cork. B-/C+
Friday was my actual birthday, we wanted to do something simple and easy as we had a lot to do for Saturday. We went to Juniper, an excellent little place in neighboring town. Starters were a lovely salad and a tripe/chickpea dish, then Betsy had duck while I had chicken with bread salad. I carried along 2 wines
NV Godme Rose (375)
Classic, red fruited, mineral, a little toast. B+
1982 Ch. Magdelaine (St Emilion)
I've always liked this wine (that's why I was drinking it on my 50th!), but this was best showing ever. Red fruit, solid acids, just a little tannin remaining. Midbodied, elegant, long, with cigarbox, herb, and earth notes. Continues to evolve, long and lovely. A
Saturday, we had 40 friends to celebrate my birthday. We rented a room in a local church, Betsy and Annabelle planned the decorations, Betsy parceled out food responsibilities to friends. I brought over a LOT of wine, and let people for the most part just say what they felt like trying, though I popped and double decanted most of the magnums in advance (and opened the 3L, though didn't decant). John helped a lot with decanting bottles once party got going. Nice time with nice people who I care for, best way to spend a birthday weekend.
NB: notes are even less dependable than normal, I made periodic cursory notes about once an hour, and I was not really spitting (though I was dumping).
We started off with some Champagne, accompanied by my smoked trout mousse and some spanakopita (frozen I think, but pretty good)
NV Roederer Brut Champagne (mag)
Good bottle- fresh and full, pear and apples, a little hint of yeast. B+
1999 Pierre Peters "Cuvee Speciale" Blanc de Blancs (mag)
Nice fine mousse, fresh baking croissant, appley. I enjoyed this. B+
NV Cremant de Mumm
I had liked this much more previously, this seemed a little subdued and short. B-/C+
Whites (mostly with some delicious marinated shrimp thanks to Mark, and poached salmon with aioli from Bets)
2001 Malartic-Lagraviere (mag)
Opened with lots of backup handy, as I've had bad premOx problems with 01 Bdx. But this is just showing a hint of oxidation, but good acidity and some nice citrus fruit, with a little hint of SB grassiness. Not great, but sturdy. B
2004 Pepiere "Briords" Muscadet
Open, showing well. Stony, minerally, but with nice core fruit. B+/A-
2005 Pepiere Briords (mag)
Rounder/softer acids than the '04, but still enough to keep it energized. Enough Muscadet minerals to please rockheads, but enough fruit to please the more mainstream (some found the '04 too austere). B+/A-
2007 Brun "Vinification Bourguignonne" Beaujolais Blanc
I had sent around a few of these. A bit plusher/richer than the regular Brun white, but no obvious oak. Pears, flowers, good value. B+
1986 Chave Hermitage blanc
This was a whim buy not long ago, I know '86 isn't a great vintage but it was well-priced. Waxy, honeysuckle, lemon, some oxidative notes. Alive, but fading. Interesting, but I'm happier with the better-acided wines. Still, fun to try (and a couple people really loved it) B-/B
We got ready for the reds, a lot went around with main courses, although the consumption continued well past the main, past the cheese and dessert, and through the cleanup.
The saddest food moment was that both meat mains (my onglet bulgogi and Al's skirt steak ) were grilled rare so that warming would lead to medium rare, but a hot oven led to overdone. Luckily the cuts and marinades meant they at least weren't dry. Cal did a vegetable lasagna, Nancy a dahl and rice. Sides included carrots, greens, squash, & Brussels sprouts. OK, the wines:
Bdx
1979 du Tertre
Red fruit, solid acids, resolved tannins, earth. I really liked, a pointe. A-
1978 Grand Puy Lacoste
Big divide over who preferred the 78 v 79 GPL. I'm in the 78 camp, thought this classic mature Pauillac w/life left. A-
1979 Grand Puy Lacoste
Sharp, pleasant but overshadowed by its brother. B
1999 Nenin (3L)
Midmodern, low acid, not my favorite but great to have the big bottle for the people who just wanted something red. B-
1978 Giscours
Corked, damn.
1978 Bouscaut
A bit thin, gravel, tobacco,red fruits, heading downhill, but still satisfactory for the pittance it cost. B-
CalCab
1960 BV George de Latour Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve
picks up weight, probably better 10 years ago (I probably was too), but there's still plenty of interest here, classic Cali flavors if maybe less complex than some of the others. B+B
1978 Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon (mag)
Double-decanted a couple hours before served, little sediment, more pretty than complext to start, better with time, no hurry in this format. B+
1974 Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon
Regular bottling, doesn't have the weight of the Reserve, but nice- redder fruits and lots of herb. B+
1974 Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon (mag)
My favorite of the CaliCabs, some others preferred the Mondavis. Loads of sediment, big hearty fruit on decanting. Served 2 hours later I thought this excellent- complex, rich, young. A-
1980 Burgess Cabernet Sauvignon
I wanted to try this (I had a load of Cabs handy) because Cellaraiders has it for $25. Lots of herb on the nose, currants, then on the palate a little thin. Not bad, and a decent deal at $25, but now that I've had it don't need another. B/B-
Red Burgs
2001 Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny
I know I tasted this, and I've always liked, but I really didn't write anything down.
1993 Gouges "Porrets" Nuits St George 1er
Acids, tannins, not too friendly right now. John with more experience thinks it just needs time, will wait on others. Judgement reserved
1990 Gouges "Pruliers" Nuits St George 1er
Shows the vintage, though it's not overly roasted or soft. B
1991 Saintsbury Pinot Noir Reserve (mag)
a cheap bottle, with a little seepage. Some bottle stink blows off, warm red fruit, a bit tired, but some people quite liked. Not sure representative bottle B-
1993 Williams Selyem "Olivet Lane" Pinot Noir
This didn't have the Burgundian complexity of the 1991 recently tried, but a solid mature CaliPN. B
Other
2002 Coudert (Clos de Roilette) Roilette Fleurie
Very divided opinions, with one person thinking corked, couple simply not liking, and me liking. Still a little reticent, but to me it's just saying "hey, I'm a nice Cru B, but I was napping" Still, with a swirl a nice wine. B+
2004 Biondi "Outis" Etna Rosso
Tight, midbodied with good acidity, less expressive than I remembered. B?
Dessert- I know there was red velvet cake and apple pie, unsure if anything else (I don't do dessert). Also had some cheeses out(great Ossau Iraty, good Roaring 40s, Stilton, & Gouda, disappointing Camembert, an Epoisses I missed)
1994 Trimbach Gewurztraminer SGN
750 seemed a bit softer and less interesting than a 375 recently, though it did seem younger. Still, a nice wine on the drier side of dessert. B
1960 Fonseca Vintage Port
My last one of these. In decanter for about 4 hours before serving (looked like a tawny on first pour, but picked up color). Nice showing, moderate sweetness, resolved tannins, dark fruits, spice, toffee. B+/A-
Other than the TCA Margaux, no wines I really disliked. A pretty good showing overall. The best part was being with my friends, and opening wines I liked for them. Small percentage of geeks there, but it was nice watching those who aren't really into wine making the effort to pay attention and comment, since it was my birthday and I care. It was gratifying to have Mark and John there to let me get out my geeky side too. :
Great birthday (though we realized how much more work it is to have a party outside your own house), thanks to Betsy and friends (and the kids we hired to bus tables, etc). I did have to lug home about 18 unopened bottles (we parcelled out the open bottles to those who liked).
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.
). So yes, they need time.