No wine Friday -after work I drove to Portland ME (5 hr drive took 7 -damn the Bueker state!), parked and moved my stuff to Betsy’s car, then continued on to Brunswick, 4 hours at a motel, then up predawn to Rockland to get in line for the 7 AM ferry. A nice ride to Vinalhaven, then a day settling in and hiking. Saturday was our ‘date night”, and we drove to north end of Vinalhaven. Waited on dock, and a skiff took us across to North Haven Up the hill to the lovely Nebo Lodge.
We had fried green tomatoes with a chive remoulade, baby lettuce salad with feta, kale chips, deviled eggs, bouillabaisse, and halibut. Very nice locavore restaurant.
The first bottle of 2013 Henri Bourgeois “Vigne Blanche” Sancerre was corked- when I questioned waitress took to bartender who confirmed. Second bottle was clearly clean of TCA. Midbodied, citrus and apple with a little touch of grass. Moderate acids, nice flinty note on finish, not exciting but I was happy at $50 on a restaurant menu on an island. B
As Betsy was going to drive (after skiff back to Vinalhaven) I had as glass of Ferreira Tawny Port while she had lemon thyme sorbet. Woody notes, raisin, vanilla, a little fumey/volatile. B-
Sunday evening I was in charge of two grills to feed 20+ (musicians, composer fellows, significant others) - teriyaki salmon and chicken. Lovely view of Penobscot Bay from grilling terrace. Betsy made a huge salad, Laura roasted peppers and cauliflower, Muneko two types of rice. Lots of charcuterie, cheeses, berries etc as well.
2015 Dominique & Janine Crochet Sancerre
New Crochet to me. Grapefruit, herb, good crispness but not very long. B/B-
2013 Sonoma- Cutrer RR Ranches Chardonnay
Good to see nothing has changed here - still overoaked. I thought I had heard they had backed off a bit, but while not as buttery/fat as years past the wood hangs heavy on this wine. Pear and vanilla with just a whiff of butter. But more acid than I expected. B-
2014 Chartron La Fleur Bordeaux Blanc
Don’t think much Semillon here, grassy/catpee SB with modest finish. B-
2013 Jaeger-Defaix “Les Clous” Rully 1er
Rich pear fruit framed with vanilla and hazelnut. Good finish, good acids, some herbal/floral notes with time. I think I liked a bit more thsn previous bottle as following the Sonoma Cutrer the oak didn’t seem as intrusive. B+/B
2001 Finca Museum “Museum Real Reserva” (Cigales)
Red and black cherry, vanilla, cocoa. Somewhat international but tannin resolved and drinking well. B
2013 Les Dauphins Cotes Du Rhone Reserve
Blackberry jam flavors, yet a bit diluted. Slightly rubbery, short. 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.
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