Thursday night we had the 1995 Joguet “Clos de la Cure” Chinon with lamb chops, potatoes, and a watercress salad. Mature but not really tired, red fruits with a little barnyard and a bit of green- kind of tobacco leaf meets green pepper, doesn’t bother me but I think lots of people (possibly most people!) would hate. But I’m only me, and for me B+/B.
Friday she made the Zuni Cafe roast chicken bread salad, wine was the 2009 Descombes Morgon. Pretty wine, silky mouthfeel, bright red fruits, earth, good length. B+
Saturday was a dinner party. The good Jay Miller (not the critic, the one with good taste) and I had planned a dinner to drink up a 1982 Gruaud we owned jointly, but then we drank that bottle at a vertical. No reason not to have the dinner, though, so we made a party out of it. Betsy spend a hunk of the day cooking. Main course needed a bottle of red wine for recipe, we used a little Chinon and most of a bottle of the 2009 Viticcio Chianti Classico (leaving a little so I could taste the Chianti). Softer, lusher style of Chianti, but some dried cherry and leather character. B/B-
There was also a white used in cooking, the 2009 Lafon “Clos de la Crochette” Macon-Chardonnay. Pear, white flowers, round, needs a bit more zip.B/B-
Some scattered arrivals, we munched on smoked salmon canapes and olives while listening to the barky Basset, and sipped the 1985 Andre Beaufort Champagne Brut. Some found tired, I definitely thought a bit less fresh than bottle last month, but I quite enjoyed- broad, full, lots of citrus zest. B+
There was also the 2009 Raventos i Blanc “de Nit” Cava Rosado - if it wasn’t for label, not sure I’d have realized it was pink- quite pale. Sweet edge,simple, John thought it a mistake to serve after the Champagne, probably has a point, but for me last night, B-/C+
First course was garlicky shrimp timbales, A few whites circulated
1998 Maximin Grunhauser (Von Schubert) Herrenberg Kabinett
very good, solid acids, midbodied wine, limes and petrol, I enjoy. B+
1992 Dubreuil-Fontaine Corton-Charlemagne
Full, lively, a bit round, maybe not the most elegant white Burgundy but very good and with plenty of life. B+
2004 Drouhin “Clos des Mouches” Beaune 1er
A little oak, herbal, medium acids, very good but without a lot of excitement (maybe a little shut down?). Others liked more. B+/B
1983 Domaine de la Solitude Chateauneuf-du-Pape blanc
Mark brought this as a bonus to be served blind, but decided to unveil as he was unhappy with its showing. Lemon oil, almonds, floral. Lowest acidity, some light oxidative notes but not bad for 30 year old white Rhone. Fun to try. But white Rhones generally just don’t do it for me, young or old. C+
Middle course was a savory pain perdu with a mixed mushroom sauce, paired with some Pinot Noir.
1995 Gouges “Pruliers” Nuits St George 1er
lots of tannic grip, quite primary. Black cherry with a little animal/meat and forest floor. Needs time. B+
1969 Prince de Merode Corton Clos du Roi
yowsa. Thank you Jay. Corton isn’t supposed to be an elegant terroir, but this IS elegance. Perfumed, still solid cherry fruit, sandalwood, pretty. I know PdM is considered an underperformer, but the older wines can be beauties. A-/A
1988 Adelsheim Pinot Noir
I served this blind. I had bought 3 bottles on a whim with little expectations, served a few years ago and was pleasantly surprised with first 2. Delicate, lighter style, and I had intended to serve blind with a Savigny or Volnay flight for SOBER, but couldn’t locate. Recently found it among the Loires (?!?!?!), so served blind since 2 SOBERites were present. Mark guessed Chambolle, then John California and then Oregon. Cherries and raspberries, light, floral, yet long, showing VERY well for a 25 year old base bottling. B+/A-
The main course was double short ribs braised in a red wine/ancho/star anise/fennel/lots of other stuff concoction, over a orzo/cabbage “stew” . We went with Bordeaux:
1978 La Conseillante
Good, herbal, midbodied with resolved tannins and plummy fruit. B+/B
1978 Trotanoy
I was a bit worried when I decanted this before dinner- browning edges and a pruney edge. But whoa- fine - more than fine- when we served. Lovely dark fruits, plush Pomerol texture on palate, earth, leather, and mint. Midbodied, good length. I’m on fence over whether this or the Merode Corton is my WOTN. A-/A
1982 Domaine de Chevalier
Mark noted the estate owner had spoken of unusual variation in this vintage, which mirrors my experience. I’d had some vegetal/green bottles,and one very good one. This is in between- a bit weedy,but with some interesting red plum fruit and a (pleasantly) funky animal meets tobacco note. B
I skipped a cheese course (because I couldn’t get Munster) but served a dessert wine, the 1989 Hugel Gewurztraminer VT. Soft, lychee, not tired but somewhat boring. B-/C+
Jay brought dessert- both an almond cake that got raves and a pot of hot chocolate. A light snow had fallen so I think the warm finish pleased all the guests. Very fun night with a fun fun group. We talked a lot about wine but not enough to bore significant others (I think). Thanks all!
Sunday we had pasta with “green puttanesca” while we watched Superbowl (with a break for Betsy to watch Downton Abbey as I followed blackout/game on computer. I sampled through leftover wines (refrigerated but not gassed or anything. Best showing was the Pruliers, improved from night one. The Macon and the Corton Charlemagne were both still good.
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.