I forgot one bottle from Saturday’s dinner, for the Champagne adverse I had a white with the canapes, the 2013 Zilliken Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Kabinett. I'm usually a Rausch guy but saw offering on these about time David B said good things re this bottling. My tangerine dream! Plenty of acid to balance the Spatlese level sugar, citrus fruit, some green apple, good mineral finish. I’m usually more Rausch centric but like this a lot. A-/B+
Sunday was just leftovers with leftover wine, and then Monday I did mushrooms and fried rice, but a volunteer was sick and so I filled in leading a group from John Jay College around city- wineless evening. . So by Tuesday I was ready to pull a cork with some brined and dry-rubbed grilled pork chops, squash, and broccoli. , But too tired to walk down to cellar, so opened a bottle that had been brought by a guest Saturday. The 2010 Seguin-Manuel “Champinots” Beaune 1er was medium bodied, fleshy red fruits, a bit short. I’ve like Seguin-Manuel whites before, this is my first red, pleasant enough but not looking for more. B-
Wednesday chicken yakitori, brown rice with nori, and an Asian slaw. The 2013 Algueira Mencía is a delight. Light, fresh, with black raspberries and peppery fruit. There’s both acidic and tannic structure here despite the lighter profile, wouldn’t be afraid to age this a bit. B+
Thursday squid and mussels with zucchini over pasta, along with grilled asparagus and the 2007 Domaine & Selection ( Clotilde Davenn) “Blanchot” Chablis Grand Cru. Moderate acids, full bodied, lemony, decent Chardonnay without much sense of place. B/B-
Friday we had 2 couples over for dinner. Started with olives, nuts, taramasalata canapes, and the NV Bernard Bremont “Cuvee Prestige” Grand Cru Champagne. Full but zesty, fresh acids, elegant and balanced, citrus and bread, this remains one of my favorite NV Champagnes. A-
First course was grilled littlenecks with garlic and lemon, with a couple of whites
2006 Pascal Cotat “Les Monts Damnes” Sancerre
Fresh, minerally, quite full, grapefruit, but really rocks dominate. I like this a lot. A-
2011 Nusserhof Bianco
Not really what I expected of a Sudtirol white. A little oily, piney, soft acids, a touch dilute, this reminded me more of a Rhone white. Not really my cuppa, others liked more. C+
Main course with paprika chicken with a green herb sauce, accompanied by a kale/squash dish, rice, and salad. Cheeses followed.
1970 Ch.Gloria
Red and black plums, fruit is surprisingly fresh, some tobacco, this is soft and not especially complex but holding well. B/B+
1996 Ch Lagrange (St. Julien)
With some time in the decanter this is showing quite well. Cassis and black cherry, a little mocha, incipient cedar. Nice acid/tannin/fruit balance, nice length. To me this is beginning to drink well with air, no hurry. A-/B+
2007 Chandon de Briailles “Île de Vergelesses” Pernand-Vergelesses
While I think 2007s are in general drinking well now, this seems closed in. With some air can coax some red fruits, smoke, earth. I'm going to try to leave last couple alone for a while. B- this night
1971 Sterling Pinot Noir
The 44 year old Napa is a comparative fruit bomb. Darker fruits, sweet, a tamari meets sesame note. Unusual, not very Pinoty, but interesting and all fine tasty. 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.