WTN: Vouvray, Riesling, Barbaresco, CdP

It was my friend, Kim's turn to plan Sunday's dinner. I took notes, and I even took them home with me....this could be a first. Dinner was held at one of my favorite LI restaurants, Kitchen, A Bistro.

First course was Caramelized Onion & Goat Cheese Tart
2002 Huet Vouvray Petillant Brut - great way to start. A scent of light peaches and a palate that was crisp with Granny Smith apples, and nicely acidic. Showed young and delicious.
2002 Huet Vouvray Petillant Reserve Brut - a nose that was yeasty and showed apricots - had just enough acidity, and displayed some elegance, but not fully open.
Warm Lobster Salad with Fennel Puree
2009 Peter Lauer Riesling Barrel X - lots of pleasant citrus and nutty aromas. Delightfully light with good acidity and precision, and drinking great at this time.
2009 Peter Lauer Ayler Kupp Riesling Seniour Fass 6 - I think this was nose of the night. Spring water, peach, and a freshness and clarity that was intense. The palate had more peach - it was light and charming with lots of minerality.
2009 Peter Lauer Ayler Kupp Riesling Unterstenbersch Fass 12 - corked
Cavatelli with Wild Mushrooms & Truffles (DTN - dish of the night)
2001 Produttori del Barbaresco Riserva Asili - The nose was cherry liqueur. The palate was dark cherry, and as soon as you tasted it, the tannins clamped down.
2001 Produttori del Barbaresco Riserva Ovello - the nose was alcoholic and the tannins overtook the fruit.
2001 Produttori del Barbaresco Riserva Rabaja - there were dark cherries, but it was mostly acidity and tannins. It was a recurring theme, as they were all tight and tannic and not a good time to be drinking this trio.
Duo of Lamb - Crisp Braised Shoulder & Roasted Double Chop
2001 Clos des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape - it was dark fruit with a hint of barnyard on the nose. Well balanced, ripe, and drinking well. It was the wine I kept returning to.
2001 Domaine de Pegau Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee - this had the most funk on the nose and palate. Ripe, sweet, savory, and funky. Not my favorite
2001 Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape - at first it appeared elegant, but then I realized it wasn't showing much. Not what I would expect of this Beaucastel - tightly wound, and pretty much closed down.
Tarte Tatin
1989 Huet Vouvray Moelleux 1ere Trie Le haut-Lieu - the biggest disappointment of the night. It could have been stunning, but it was cloaked in cork taint.

Hi Diane -

Thank you for the great notes -sorry hear hear about the corked bottles and all, but at least you had some successes, too. I'm not surprised that the 2001 Produttori Barbarescos are still very tannic. When I tried them a few years ago, it was my impression that they were going to need a lot of time.

Sorry to hear about the cork menace - other than that, sounds like a nice evening. (A shame about the Lauer Unterstenbersch; I had it from magnum a couple of months ago and it was spectacular - my favourite of the '09 Lauers.)

Ooh, warm lobster salad with fennel puree. Recipe?

Ooh, warm lobster salad with fennel puree. Recipe?

It was at a restaurant, and it was delicious, but I don't have the recipe.

Salil - the other 2 Lauers were excellent, so I can only imagine just how good the corked bottle could have been. It was so badly corked, I couldn't have more than a small taste. The '89 Huet, was more disappointing because the host brought it back from a visit to the Loire last year, and was waiting for the right time to open it. The TCA was less offensive than the Lauer, so I was able to have a bigger taste, and could sense the greatness that was there.

Andrew - I was surprised that the 2001 Produttori was that tannic. Other than a recent 1999 Sottimano, I don't think I have had such a hard wine. I've had a few 2001 Barolo that were softer and enjoyable, so I didn't expect this.

thanks for notes. I guess the '02 Huet Reserve is the 3rd bottling. Any idea if other was 1st or 2nd release
Even if not a good time to be drinking, I'm kicking myself for not buying the '01 Produttori single vineyards