Tuesday I braised cod in a kimchee-flavored broth (recipe called for chipotles in adobo, I wanted to use up some pureed kimchi instead) with greens. Wine was the 2012 Knebel Riesling QbA. Don’t see any trocken designation on this, but it’s a pretty dry wine. White nectarine, ginger, just the tiniest hint of petrol. Good acids, nice for level. B
Wednesday was my birthday, we’re having dinner party this weekend, but for actual day Betsy made an all-out dinner for 2- rack of lamb with a mustard crust, salad with smoked duck and walnuts, root vegetables,and beet greens. Wine was the 1983 Ch. Beychevelle. Fully mature, elegant mature feminine claret. Round fruits, lots of tobacco, some earth and mushroom. Very nice for a couple hours, then begins to crack up a bit. Drink up, and enjoy. A-/B+
Last night we had some old friends and some new friends for dinner. Spirited conversation and good food. I made some smoked salmon and crab salad canapes, and put out some dense beef prosciutto, olives, etc. Couple of whites:
2013 ColleStefano Verdicchio di Matelica
Citrus, green apple, saline, snappy acids, nice and long. B+
2005 Fevre “Montee de Tonnerre” Chablis 1er
Full, long, some gunflint and mineral over nice pear and citrus fruit. B+
A beet/citrus/duck salad to start. Betsy had roasted a couple of chickens and made a thyme accented jus, with roast potatoes and broccoli. Reds:
2002 Lafarge “Vendanges Selectionees” Volnay
Hard and acidic at first, blossoms nicely, full black cherry fruit, cocoa, earth. Nicely balanced acids, just a touch of tannin remaining, long and lovely. A-/B+
2008 JP Brun/Terres Dorees Moulin a Vent
Juicy, full, red fruited, smoky, nice. B+
2011 Jadot Clos des Couchereaux Beaune 1er
PnP. Tart, tangy,I thought this needed more airtime. Better on day 2, but I still didn’t really enjoy, a bit clipped, not what I expected. B-/C+
Friday was some Columbia River king , simply grilled with herbs, with squash, leftover broccoli, and root vegetables. Another good bottle of the 2013 Arnot-Roberts “Luchsinger Vineyard” Rose . Strawberrries and herbs, juicy but with minerality, very good. B+
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. 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.