Trying to drop a few pounds, no wine Monday through Sat last week. Sunday I broke free. First we drove through the slush to Hastings, for a pre-Valentine’s Day party. I carried a Billards St. Amour, but there were plenty of open bottles. 2015 Winemaker’s Collection (that’s what is said on front label, I didn’t see an actual producers name) Montepuliciano d’Abruzzo in 1.5L was light, grapey, clean with some acid. OK though I wish they had opened the neighboring Masciarelli MdA mag instead. B-/C+
NV 90+ Cellars Prosecco- just a hint of RS, light bubbles, little fruit or flavor. Dull. C+ (and I’m a VERY easy grader on cheap bubbly)
That night we broke free from diet as several friends came over. While I was shucking, folks tried charcuterie (head cheese, pastourma, lonza) and the Jacquesson “736” Brut Champagne. Bright, leesy, dry and floral, citrus and pear. B+
With some bluepoints, the 2014 Pepiere “Les Gras Moutons” Muscadet. A little more fruit driven than the regular or the Briords, but still with a nice mineral/acid backbone. Delicious, and great QPR, but of course that is assumed with Pepiere! B++
Main course was an Asian accented stew with chuck, Chinese spinach, and rice noodles (somewhat pho-ish) with sauteed mushrooms ( velvet pioppini, hen of woods/maitake, ,
oyster, yellow oyster, a few shiitake) and a Chinese carrot/cabbage salad. .
1966 Rausan-Segla (Margaux)
Unusual bottle- similar to old Cordier, but less pronounced shoulders, and a wide flange on lip. We were in France on Hilary’s 50th, so happy to open this with her. Extra funky at first, but blows off. This is mature- maybe a bit past- with little tannin remaining and moderate acids. Black plum and red currant fruit, cigarbox, coffee. Really quite a tasty wine, though without much in reserve, great to drink now.. No tiredness in the flavors, just maybe in the structure. I’ll open my other bottle sooner rather than later, but happy with this. B+/A-
2015 Lapierre Morgon
Juicy and open, ripe black cherry, moderate acids, a little funk & smoke. I don’t get this as overripe or hot as some people have said. B+
Finished with a nice stinky mature cheese from Bobolink. Good times!
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.