Friday with assorted leftovers a half bottle of 2010 Burlotto Barolo. Tannic, fresh acids, floral notes over red fruits, think this will be good but not a lot of pleasure now. For now B-/C+ but happy enough to own some full bottles.
Saturday we have several couples over to celebrate Betsy’s sister Katherine’s 50th birthday.
I was in charge of assorted canapes (crab with lime, basil, etc and smoked salmon with either capers, maple mustard, or horseradish) plus some duck liver mousse
NV Laherte “Ultradition” Brut Champagne (ye olde magnum)
Quite full, bread dough, lemony with a touch of smoke. I like a lot. B+/A-
First sitdown course of evening was braised artichokes.
2011 Kofererhof Muller Thurgau
Apples, a little flint, ok. B-/C+
2012 Pepiere Muscadet
opened as a cooking wine, but man what a value. Briney, crisp, saline, fresh. B+
Next was shrimp risotto,
2013 Bruna Pigato “Maje”
Citrusy, fresh, herby. B/B+
Next “baked red risotto” (tomato sauce and cheese) followed by some salads (green plus a Thai sweet potato)
Three 1965s, plus an 87 (her anniversary) and a ‘97 (son).
1987 Kenwood “Jack London “ Cabernet Sauvignon
Medium bodied, good acids, black fruits, holding but not especially complex. B/B-
1965 Minuto Barolo Riserva Speciale
Low expectations as not familiar with producer. This was tight, tart, and thin on decanting, but filled out and became my surprise favorite (double decanted about 5 hours before serving). Red fruits, leather, tar, floral aspects. Nice length, fresh acids, this showed well on night 2 A-
1965 Borgogno Barolo Riserva
Air helped this a lot as well. Solid, darker fruit, rose petals, but a bitter edge on finish.. I goofed and forgot to stand this one up weeks in advance like the Minuto, a couple of days got a huge amount of sludgy sediment to the bottom, but I wonder if that bitterness could be some of the ultrafine sediment in suspension. This bottle this night B-
1965 Louis Martini “Private Reserve” California Mountain Barbera
Crunchy red fruits (raspberry), earth, a minty/herby note. Light but bright, fun wine. B+/A-
I was quite happy with the showing of the 1965s overall, though I had expected the Borgogno to be my favorite.
1997 Ch. Beychevelle
Medium bodied, low acids, some leather and tobacco over black plum fruit. Fully mature. B
Later in the evening cheese (bethmale and stilton) and a flourless chocolate cake for those that eat sweets, and a (moderately) sweet wine
1995 Foreau/Naudin Vouvray Moelleux
(her daughter's birthyear)
Much more advanced than a Reserve I had a couple of years ago, some loved but I thought oxidized and tired. Not sure if the wine, an odd stage, or a bad bottle, but a disappointment to me,. C+
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.