Friday we went to a local church to rehearse a skit for an event the following night. First time I’ve ever had pizza dressed as Thomas Jefferson, pretty sure the last as well. While eating the pizza we tried to avoid the AA group meeting in next room as we tried the 2010 Pecina Rioja. Black raspberry, clean, good acids, medium length. B/B+
Pizza didn’t quite do it, so Betsy made some salad when we got home, along with the 2009 Andre Bonhomme Vire-Clesse (we needed about half a bottle for our chicken Marbella anyway). Ripe for Macon Vire Clesse, but pretty tasty- rich pear and applel fruit, moderate acids, little if any oak, good length,. B
So Saturday there was a big dinner followed by a roast in honor of retirement of an activist minister, who happens to be a close friend. I was in a skit as well as being final speaker for the roast (and Betsy was playing), but we managed to make a big tray of chicken marbella and throw together an assorted case of reds plus a couple of whites in time for the dinner. Got to dining area, I opened my case (and a few others ), but only took test sips of a few from my box (these are just impressions based on one tiny pour to test for soundness):
2011 Brunn Gruner Veltliner
from liter, very light, good acids, hint of sweetness. . No very long, but this was like $7/liter.
1995 Falesco Montiano
Mature, cigarbox, plummy.
1997 Beringer “Knights Valley” Cabernet
Like previous bottles, still a bit of structure, good.
2005 Solaria Brunello di Montalcino
Joe the retiree likes BdM, so put this on his family’s table. Modern, ripe, tannic.
2009 Viticcio Chianti Classico
2 bottles, both clean, easy.
2006 Moueix St. Estephe
I had brought 2. Rejected first for TCA. Second still quite tannic, oak, full.
2006 Mustilli "Cesco di Nece" Aglianico (Sant' Agata dei Goti)
Big, stolid.
2007 Besson Dupree Vacqueyras
Ripe/jammy
So when I finished opening I went outside on lawn, where I mostly drank bubbly water but I tried a quite nice 2010 Jadot Macon-Villages- clean, easy, good QPR B/B-
When we went back inside, the bottles had been distributed between tables, and my table got the short end of the stick:
Naked Grape Cabernet Sauvignon (think NV)- this needs to put some clothes on. Wouldn’t have guessed CS. Light to medium bodied, cherry , clipped. Any wine I brought would have been more interesting. C
2011 Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc
Quite tropical, almost sweet, a little grass and gooseberry, needs more cut.. B-
2011 La Vieille Ferme blanc - clean, good acidity for Southern Rhone varieties, spicy. Good value. B-
Didn’t really matter, weren’t there for wine, and I was only sipping due to roast to follow. Roast went well, I didn’t blow my lines in skit, and my monologue got good reception, Afterwards we returned to fellowship hall for dessert. I don’t eat dessert, but had a glass of the 2008 Arnoux-Lachaux "Pinot Fin" Bourgogne that I had brought and found unfinished. Red cherries, a little sandalwood, middling acids, holding well after 3-4 hours open. B
While I was chatting someone offered a bit of white, one sip of the Two Oceans Chardonnay was plenty to convince me to stop drinking for night - sweet vapid stuff. Yuck! C-
Sunday night we grilled steaks, asparagus, corn and potatoes, with the 2005 Feudo Montoni “Vrucara” Nero d’Avola. Elegant isn’t first word I think of for NdA, but applies here. Midbodied, black cherry, mocha, impeccably balanced. Nice length, fine wine. A-
Monday was no wine for me - after work stayed for board meeting, then headed into city to take a group of college students on a Midnight Run. Meantime, I got call from DA that trial of my assaillant was over- conviction on felony assault 2 and weapons charges, but hung jury on attempted assault 1. , So Tuesday I was ready for wine.
With a dozen oysters on half shell (my goal is to do at least once a week, because my shucking times are cut way down if I have practice), a 375 of the 2010 Mellot “La Moussiere” Sancerre. Herby, midbodied, gooseberry and apple, moderate acids, not bad. B
With some grilled Alaskan king salmon, squash, and sugar snap peas, the
2011 Arnot-Roberts Trousseau. Pale (I assured Betsy it wasn’t actually a rose), red fruits- kind of (pleasantly) sour/crunchy raspberry and cranberry. Nice wine. B+
Tonight, chicken sausage, leftover peas, and tofu. With 2012 Chidaine Touraine Rose
I believe this is PN & Grolleau. Crispy/crunchy strawberry fruit, good acids, some minerality. Not especially complex, but foodfriendly and fun and good QPR. 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.
