New Year's Eve we had house to ourselves after a period of guests. Betsy made pasta (I think mostaccioli) with scallops, clams, and broccoli -just a great dish. Wine was the 2007 JP Brun/Terres Dorees "Vinification Bourguignonne" Beaujolais Blanc. Floral nose, white fruit on the palate, mineral, fairly rich. B
We relaxed a bit, then I prepared a couple of plates of hors d'oeuvres-smoked salmon with a dill sauce and proscuitto/pear/Crater Lake Blue rolls. Traveled to Betsy's sister, where party was already going. A variety of foods- crab dip, tuna tapenade, mac and cheese, more. I tried a few reds
1997 Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva
Cherries, leather, medium acids, a bit short and clipped. This seemed somwhat pretty tired, but I think cellaring wasn't ideal (brother in law has racks in basement, below grade but I'd guess in low 70s in summers, probably stretching it for 10 year storage). This bottle, B-/C+
1998 Ridge Paso Robles Zinfandel
Well, despite cellaring, this was actually doing quite well. Ripe Zinberrry fruit, big, a little tannin remaining. I wouldn't think of this as the Ridge to age, but except for a little heat on finish it has done fairly well. B+/B
2007 Artner "Rubin Carnuntum" Zweigelt
Light to midweight, red fruit, a bit of spice, some non-obtrusive oak tones. B
At midnight a few glasses of bubbly were raised. Several people had brought some, 2 got opened that I tasted:
St.-Hilaire Brut (Blanquette de Limoux)
Didn't note vintage (I think this is vintage dated?). Light, a weird apple cider meets applesauce meets chemical note, nutty, maybe cooked (I'm wondering if this is something someone was gifted that sat around a year at room temp). This bottle, C
NV Nicolas Feuillatte Brut
My reactions to these co-op wines has been all across the board over last few years, this was one of the better showings. Midweight, soft, apple, citrus, a hint of dinner roll. Not really complex, but solid and typical. B/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.