Sunday we went to church to see Betsy's niece get confirmed (I didn't mind, this is a Presbyterian church that makes liberal Unitarians look doctrinaire), then out to a family brunch at Juniper. I carried along a bottle of NV Gosset "Excellence" Brut. Big full style of Champagne, apple turnovers, yeast, toast, mineral. B+
After brunch I spent afternoon at a Tom Chapin benefit for my organization, but got home in time to set table for 10 for family dinner with her visiting cousins, and to help with tablesetting, wine, and grilling. Several pesce-vegetarians, Betsy gave a lot of varierty, with brushcetta Caprese, shrimp with sage, shrimp with sage and proscuitto, pappardelle with mushroom ragu, salad of asparagus and snow peas with pickled onions, and watermelon/feta/olive mint salad (the cousins brought a fruit tart). Several wines were poured
2008 Cazin (Petit Chambord) Cour-Cheverny
Good acids, sweet citrusy fruit, sec-tendre, good length, quite pleasing. B+
2008 Boniface Apremont (Savoie)
Light, clean, but already beginning to lose a little freshness, drink up. B-
1995 Jadot "Chouacheux" Beaune 1er
Seemed quite thin at first, just lean cherry fruit and a hint of barnyard. The bretty note never advanced, fruit bulked up, earth and mushroom came out. Solid mature Burg. B
2009 Pico Maccario "Berro" Barbera d'Asti
Used in pasta sauce- mushroom ragu was a NYT Pairings recipe for Barbera d'Asti, so used a bit for cooking and served. Fruity/forward style of Barbera, more juicy than tangy. B-
2009 Lauer "Barrel X" Riesling
Minerals, good acids, apple blossoms, apple and lime fruit, halbtrocken. B+
OK, so a lot of Bs, but the world didn't end.
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.
