WTN: La Sirène sur Loire

La Sirène is a fine Nyc BYO. And even better if the folks have agreed to focus on the Loire.

2004 Bellivière Giroflées Rosé
Yet another weird bottle. It starts off pleasing enough. Juicy sweet fruit and all. But then the ashy weirdness appears.

2001 Angeli Anjou La Lune
This was a treat. I was very curious and very skeptical. But it was pretty straightforward. Big boned maturing ripe Anjou fruit that showed more and more mineral definition as the night went on. That said, it packed a punch and was not for the faint of heart.

2005 Huet Le Mont Vouvray Sec
Precise mineral lemons that are hard to argue with. Lovely.

2007 Chidaine Montlouis Les Bournais
Not as precise as the Huet but more generous and friendly yet still focused deep and intense. Nice stuff.

2002 P Cotat Sancerre La Grande Côte
Lovely lovely lovely. Gains grip and focus with air and we all debate how much longer this will age but none of us really care as it’s so delightful right now.

1987 Domaine du Petit Clocher Anjou Rouge
Not bad. But basically old and rustic.

1988 Joguet Chinon Clos de la Dioterie
Not bad. But basically old and rustic with a tad more dimensionality than the Petit Clocher.

1989 Olga Raffault Chinon Les Picasses
Not bad. But basically old and rustic with a good deal more dimensionality than the Joguet. All in all this is a nice bottle, but it just doesn’t have the oomph or the energy for me.

1985 Breton Bourgueil Les Perrières
This is more like it. Fresh and juicy and younger tasting than the previous wines. But still lots of mature flavors and energetic acidity. Nice.

1996 Breton Bourgueil Les Perrières
This was probably my favorite of the red wines, although I was alone at the table in that assessment. It is very much in line with the 85, but younger, more deep rich fruit, more pop, deeper, firmer, and on top of that more mineral definition to please me.

2005 Joguet Chinon Clos du Chêne Vert
Young red wine. Apparently this was heavily decanted to help show its best and it is certainly delicious to drink. But I prefer the Bretons. Others prefer this.

1997 Domaine des Forges Quarts de Chaume
Sweet sugary tastiness.

That was a real treat, Rahsaan. I'm surprised that the Joguet from 1988 was rustic; I remember some from other 80s vintages both remarkable well preserved and refined.

Fun night at La Sirene, good to see some old chums and meet Ernie. La Sirene is a tight space, but food is good and BYO is free. Waitstaff was very accomodating. I started with excellent mussels, and then had quail (good, but fruit sauce was a little overwhelming), and we finished with cheese. Matt kept up conversation with a nice older couple with a bottle of Domaine Sirene, and Zack at another two-top sent over a bit of 1995 Montus, but I stuck to our theme, the Loire valley.

2004 Belliviere "Giroflees" Rose
This was a bit different. Fairly sweet, rather appealing Tang™ character, but a little strange on the finish. So it seems if I smell it, not corked. If I take a teeny tiny sip, not corked. But if I take a deeper sip, it tastes corked. I don't really remember a wine that seemed corked on palate but not on nose. ????

2001 Angeli "La Lune" Anjou
This was all the rage in geekdom 5-7 years ago, but I haven't seen since. It actually has aged pretty well, opens slowly, sec-tendre, waxy. A little strange combination of mineral and tropical fruit profile, with herby note with air. B/B+

2005 Huet "Le Mont" Vouvray Sec
I thought this might be closed, but it showed well. Wool, citrus, great length. B+

2007 Chidaine "Les Bournais" Montlouis
Sloppy puppy kiss of a wine, quite approachable and with a long finish. A-/B+

2002 Pascal Cotat "La Grande Cote" Sancerre
Some thought this at peak, I'll agree but think it'll be a long plateau. Balanced,.fresh, full. A-

1989 Olga Raffault "Les Picasses" Chinon
Only a hint of brett (I've found these very variable), solid and perhaps a little stolid. B/B+

1986 Domaine du Petit Clocher Anjou Rouge
Alive, but soft and a slightly lactic note. Interesting, but not compelling. B-C+

1985 Breton "Les Perrieres" Bourgueil
I gently double-decanted this before train in - black gunk under capsule, stained cork but it came out cleanly with AhSo, and wine smelled sound. Showed quite well. Pretty red fruit, meat, herb, a gunflint note. One of my faves. A-/B+

1996 Breton "Les Perrieres" Bourgueil
Fresh fruit, good acids, needs a bit more time but quite fine. B+/A-

1988 Joguet "Clos de la Dioterie" Chinon
Some debate at first, but I thought a sound bottle, and liked more than table. Sweet red fruit, leather, tobacco and earth, very nice. B+

2005 Joguet "Clos du Chene Vert" Chinon
Big, fruity, fresh. Nice length, not super complex. B

1997 Forges Quarts de Chaume
Not a producer I really know, though I think maybe I had a Savennieres once. Big, sweetness almost overtakes acidity, honied, nice. B

Quite a fun night with a good group. Wines basically showed quite well, and I was glad for long walk home after train ride, as the table was too small for a dump bucket.

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.

Ramon, was the Anjou '86 or '87? I wrote '86, but I don't think I actually got that from bottle

Nice lineup, sounds like a fun time. (Rahsaan, hope you had enough to eat there.)

That 85 Breton is a really lovely wine.

When I saw the subject line, my first thought was, holy sh*t, now they're growing Syrah in the Loire?

Sounds like a great tasting.

That was a real treat, Rahsaan. I'm surprised that the Joguet from 1988 was rustic; I remember some from other 80s vintages both remarkable well preserved and refined.

Yes, there was some debate about the bottle. I don't know if the showing reflected the vintage? I don't know 88 in the Loire but one certainly doesn't look for refined wines from Burgundy in 88. But it could have also been the bottle's history as it was a recent auction purchase by Matt. The Bretons and the Raffault were recent releases from the domaines and that probably accounted for why they all showed fresher.

But it's worth noting that others (Cliff) liked it more than I did.

(Rahsaan, hope you had enough to eat there.)

Cliff made the same comment but they had several fish/seafood/vegetarian dishes for first courses and main courses. No more no less than anywhere else?!?

Ramon, was the Anjou '86 or '87? I wrote '86, but I don't think I actually got that from bottle

'86 is correct.

Nice notes, everybody. I have very sketchy notes and will try to add sketchy insight when I get organized. A fun night meeting up and catching up with everybody.

'86 is correct..

Really? I could have sworn it was 87. And I remember because I did a doubletake as your email prior to the dinner said 86.

Oh well.

I didn't look at the label, but I just had a matching bottle a couple of months ago and have always thought/remembered that they were vintage '86. I have the remainder from last night sitting at home in the refrigerator and I'll check to confirm when I get home tonight.

(Rahsaan, hope you had enough to eat there.)

Cliff made the same comment but they had several fish/seafood/vegetarian dishes for first courses and main courses. No more no less than anywhere else?!?

Although maybe the meat dishes are the best ones here?

I must admit that even though I had a good time (with the group and with the staff - it never hurts to call on that reliable formula of young attractive and friendly waitstaff) and thought the whole experience worth the cost ($70) if there was a weak link in the evening it was definitely the food.

My octopus starter was tasty but mainly because they included some peppery spice. The skate main course was almost actively bad. In terms of concept (a muddle of toppings that included capers, mangos, and lots of other mushy mess), presentation, and quality of fish. For a $25-30 main course you should be getting something better than that.

I would still go back with a group because it's fun. But I'm in no hurry to eat the food again.

I think you can eat well at La Sirene, but it's uneven. For starters I've liked the mussels, octopus, leeks vinaigrette, chevre tart. The escargot and duck liver salad are just ok, and the calamari were...nevermind
Main courses- the cassoulet is really quite good, as is the lamb and the duck. The quail last night was ok. The seafood casserole is not recommended.
That's first time I remember them offering cheese (not exciting), best cheese plate I'd had there was when Marina brought her own.
So if skate isn't good, and the seafood casserole...tough on Rahsaan for mains. I'd go with large portion of mussels if you like, or you could do 3 appetizers/

Hi Rahsaan -

Thank you for the great notes. Sounds like a really exciting dinner!

Yup, I am impressed too!

Nice to see you all there, sounds like nice wines. Thanks for the glass of 89 Raffault.

Nice to see you all there, sounds like nice wines. Thanks for the glass of 89 Raffault.

Nice bumping into you at La Sirene. Thanks for the '95 Montus. I hope we can do another one of those S/SW French theme again.

Nice to see you all there, sounds like nice wines. Thanks for the glass of 89 Raffault.

Nice bumping into you at La Sirene. Thanks for the '95 Montus. I hope we can do another one of those S/SW French theme again.

Any time.