I hosted a small group interested in trying wines. Several people contributed to the food. Instead of filling out ballots for our favorite wines, this time we posted letter grades on an easel as we went along so that everyone could see the group consensus (or non-consensus.) We first compared two Spanish whites:
2009 Gran Vinum Albarino, Rias Baixas, Spain
2011 Licia Albarino, Rias Baixas, Spain.
These were supposed to be tasted with crab dip and shrimp scampi, but due to some problems picking up food items I had pre-ordered, I didn't have time to prepare the shrimp scampi, and the lady bringing the dip thought I said clam dip so we had a baked clam dip rather than crab dip. Still had the seafood association I wanted with the coastal region Spanish whites.
We had had the 2009 Gran Vinum at a previous tasting where it was the white wine of the evening and one participant asked to have us revisit some past favorites so I included this wine although I thought it might be a bit tired by now. It surprised me by tasting fresh and lively. I slightly preferred it to the Licia, giving the Gran Vinum an A- and the Licia a B+. I think everyone gave the first two wines A's and B's.
This was followed by three white wines from France to pair with various cheeses and cocktail party pinwheels of bread and filling. I realized that the first two French wines were perhaps too young but decided not to risk an over-the-hill white Burgundy.
2011 Joseph Drouhin Drouhin/Vaudon Chablis. This got mixed reactions. I gave it a B and will hold my remaining bottle for a couple years.
2010 Maison Alex Gambal Puligny Montrachet. I enjoyed this and gave it a B+. Again it got mixed reactions--mostly A's and B's but one D. The D puzzles me.
(Bottled in 2012) Chateau de Saint Cosme Little James' Basket Press White. Created with solera method of layering vintage on vintage and from Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc grapes. I had the Little James' Basket Press Red at a former tasting and had a bottle of the red at home a week ago. I liked the red better than the white. I gave this wine a C as did some others. It did receive one A grade, proving that one person's C is another person's A.
We then moved on to the reds with a Pinot Noir from Oregon and one from California. These were paired with chicken salad and Tara's meatballs with pineapple (a secret recipe from her Hungarian father and so yummy that I asked her to bring it again after it was a hit at our last tasting.)
2008 Carter Vineyard Pinot Noir Hillblock Pommard, Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley, OR. I ordered two bottles each of the 2008, 2009 and 2010 Carter Vineyard Pinots and this was the first I opened. I got dark raspberry with some pine needle or slightly earthy underpinnings. My grade was A-.
2009 DeBiase Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, CA. Somewhat fruitier than the Carter Pinot and generally well received by the group. I gave it an A, my top grade of the night. One experienced wine drinker (originally from Scotland) seemed to prefer the Carter Vineyard Pinot over the DeBiase, but liked them both.
To go with the Zinfandels I had ordered St. Louis ribs from Smokey Bones.
2006 Joseph Swan Vineyards Zinfandel Trenton Station--Lion Ridge, Napa Valley, CA. One participant who had been eagerly looking forward to the Zins, called this "harsh." I was disappointed in it and wondered if it was a flawed bottle or perhaps over-the-hill. The Scottish lass, who usually has somewhat the same taste in wines as I do, liked this one better than the next Zin. I gave it B- and maybe should have given it a C. Normally I like Joseph Swan Zinfandels, Syrahs, and Pinot Noirs.
2006 Biale Vineyards Black Chicken Zinfandel, Napa Valley, CA. (this had been a favorite red at a previous tasting, perhaps from a different vintage.) My Scottish friend actively disliked this one while I thought it was very nice. High alcohol (over 15%) but enough old-vine (?) fruit to carry the alcohol and coming across as smooth. I enjoyed it with the St. Louis ribs. I graded this B+. The majority of the group liked the Black Chicken Zin better than the one from Joseph Swan.
We had chocolate-covered strawberries (some with dark chocolate and some with white chocolate) from The Chocolate Lady to go with the dessert wine and also tried this final wine with Brie as suggested by the importer's website.
NV Renardat-Fache Vin du Bugey Cerdon (a sparkling rose' wine from Savoie, France). Imported by Louis/Dressner. This had been popular at a couple previous tastings. Only 8% alcohol by volume. I gave it B+ while one participant called it the perfect ending to the evening and gave it A+. It received several other A's or A- grades. It wasn't bad with the Brie in my opinion but that's not a pairing I would have normally tried. In the past we had it with the chocolate-covered strawberries or chocolate/raspberry swirl candies. The Bugey Cerdon does have red berry flavors and a gentle fizz. It is slightly sweet but not as sweet as some brands of Brachetto d'Asti or Brachetto d'Acqui from Italy which in my mind fill a somewhat similar niche.
Everyone seemed grateful for the winetasting fundraiser and looking forward to the next one in January or February.