NYE we went to Betsy’s sister’s home. Originally her nephew (17) was going to have a couple of friends, but by day of it had grown to more than a dozen teenagers (plus 4 college students). Cal decided to make a heap of nachos, so we agreed to just make it a Mexican theme. I made 7 lbs of carnitas, Betsy two huge bowls of roasted tomatillo gaucamole, and we headed over (Cal had ready nachos, fish tacos, and loads of other stuff).
Not the menu one would choose to feature wines, but I carried a variety:
2012 Selbach-Oster “Anrecht” Riesling
Powerful, full, Auslese-ish with what I suspect is a lot of dry extract. White pit fruits, flowers, honey. Good acidic balance, could use some time B+
NV "Rosa Rosae" Lambrusco di Sorbara
I thought off dry and lightly petillant might be an interesting thing to try- it actually did ok with several dishes. That said, even for rose Lambrusco this is pretty simple. Red fruits, musk, sugar, a bitter touch to finish. B+ match, C+ wine.
2011 Cowan “Bennett Valley” Syrah
Pretty full-bodied, ripe blackberry fruit, some acids and tannins to frame the fruit, good though not a choice match with the food. C+ match, B wine.
NV d’Armanville Champagne Brut
This was a cheap Champagne I carried for toast, as no one else cares much for bubbles. Straighforward, simple, slightly coarse, a touch sweet, but the college kids liked. C+
A quiet New Year’s Day, then her mom and some friends of Betsy’s who are moving to Ireland arrived for dinner. We started with crab canapes and vegetable wontons, and the NV Billecart-Salmon Brut Reserve Champagne. This is more like it - medium full with a fine/elegant mousse, winesaps and lemons with a topnote of baked bread, nice finish. I’ve generally thought the roses here were better, but this was very good. B+
Mains were herb-roasted sea trout and salmon, black eyed peas, and collard greens (hey, I’m from South and it’s New Years).
2004 Alesia “Kanzler Vineyard” Pinot Noir
Raspberry fruit with slightly sharp acids, some barnyard funkiness, a little clipped at finish, this is interesting but drink up. B
2001 Trimbach Reserve Personelle Pinot Gris
Rich, honied, but with good acids for PG. Stylistically I prefer Trimbach’s Rieslings and Geurztraminers, but nice wine. 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.