Friends came for dinner, we started with smoked salmon, baba ganoush, romesco, and the NV Bruno Paillard Premiere Rose. Lovely wine, fresh cherry and strawberry with a touch of citrus peel and bread. Elegant mousse, full and fresh. A-/B+
Dinner was local pork porterhouses on the grill, with spinach, rice, and salad.
2014 Enderle & Moll Liason PN
I loved this, a little tart for some. Raspberry and cranberry, very floral, fresh and bright. Spicy. B+/A-
2006 Frescobaldi”Montesodi” Chianti Rufina Riserva
Others liked more, I found heavy and plodding. Black plums, a tad jammy, low acid for Chianti. B-/C+
Betsy made artic char with sesame seeds and a red wine reduction and a kale/mintwalnut salad with a peanut dressing, wine was the 2015 Guignier “Bio-Vitis” Morgon . Sturdy but approachable, red and black cherries, violets, a little smoke. B+
Friday local group came over, theme was Rioja. I had out some cheeses (raw Manchego, Ossau Iraty, Shropshire) and charcuterie (duck rillettes, lonza, summer sausage, Alsatian style sec, pate grandmere), I also had a bubbly to welcome
2000 Edmond Barnaut Champagne Grand Cru
Not my style- seemingly high dosage, nutty/oxidative notes, cider apples, bread. Fine mousse, good acids. Others liked and if you prefer Krug to Comtes you might as well. B-
1998 Lopez de Heredia “Tondonia” Rioja Reserva blanco
As usual, divisive. I (and couple guys) liked its idiosyncratic style- a bit oxidative, with strong coconut, almond, and citrus notes, with earth and wax. Others felt too weird. B+
On to the blind reds.
Rioja #1
This is lovely, young old style Rioja. Black cherry, coffee, coconut, spice. Midbodied and long.
2005 La Rioja Alta “904 “ Rioja Gran Reserva A-
Rioja #2
Mine. Clearly older but holding on well. Black plums, dill, clove, earth. Tannins pretty much gone, moderate acids. Good but ready.
1981 Beronia Rioja Gran Reserva B/B+
Rioja #3
Young, fruit driven,red fruit, American oak (coconut, dill), spice.
2010 Baron de Ley Rioja Reserva B+
Rioja #4
Black cherry, vanilla, mocha. A little sweet for me.
2011 Montana Rioja Reserva B-
Rioja #5
A little tired, wood and fading cherry fruit.
1998 Marques del Puerto Rioja Gran Reserva B-/C+
Rioja #6
Red cherry, spice, coffee, long finish. Delicious and young.
2001 La Rioja Alta “Ardanza” Rioja Reserva B+/A-
Rioja #7
Straightforward fruit bomb, tasty but simple, clearly Crianza.
2013 CVNE “Cune” Rioja Crianza B
Fun night. Good guys. Good wines.
Last night I roasted a chicken with “rainbow” carrots and mushrooms, also had roasted radicchio and green beans. Wine was the 2011 Fevre “les Clos: Chablis GC. Really delicious- lemon, green apple, oyster shell. Bright, focused, and long. Ideally this could age but my PremOx record with Fevre is poor, so I’ll just drink my other bottle soon and enjoy. A-/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.