Some friends had invited 3 couples to their home for a celebration of Jay and Sarah's recent marriage, as well as Betsy's birthday. We were all distressed (for them) when a family tragedy called the hosts out of town. But Rachel stepped up and said they would host. She made the main course, I did the appetizer, and Sarah did the salad and cake. A fine time with friends ensued, though tempered by the knowledge of the pain of the planned hosts.
I cooked a couple of lobsters and chilled the meat, made a lobster salad (red pepper, celery, chives and a vinaigrette), which Betsy placed in endive leaves. We grabbed some wine, and headed to Joe and Rachel's.
I carried a bottle of Andre Clouet, but Joe already had Champagne, the NV Moncuit Brut. We went with the Moncuit, and I found it a lovely wine. Medium bodied, apple turnovers and sourdough rolls, delicate mousse, I quite enjoyed. B+/B
Main course was jambalaya, served with a cabbage/fennel/apple slaw from Sarah. Not the easiest match, but I had thought a touch of RS would help. I also carried a CdP since I had planned for original host, but new host is also a "red only" guy.
2008 Pinon "Cuvee Tradition" Vouvray
on sweeter side of sec-tendre (or maybe drier side of demi-sec), apples, wax, and wool. Good acidity, ripe fruit, fairly full. My WOTN. B+
2007 Manifesto Sauvignon Blanc
Light, almost dilute, green fruit with a hint of grass. Crisp, ok. B-
NV Marietta Lot 53 Old Vine Red
While I liked this maybe a tad less than a recent Lot 51, it still was a decent, juicy, forward red with "zin-berry" character, good for what it is. B-/B
2001 Chante Cigale "Vielles Vignes" Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Red fruit, low to medium acids, a little oak, some tannin remaining, alcohol sticks out a bit. This isn't some modern monstrosity, but it comes across as flat to me, and is disappointing to me (others really liked).B-/C+
The camaraderie is better than the wines, but with this crowd that would have been true if we were drinking '61 Palmer. Good night.
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.