With berbere-spiced roast chicken, the 2018 Edmunds St John Heart of Gold. Drinking well, lemon zest over ripe pear and melon. Balanced, vibrant, tasty. B++
Over to Dave’s for local non-serious group, theme is Rhone reds. He has cheese and charcuterie out, and the 2016 Paul Buisse Vouvray. Sec-tendre, honied melon, light. Easy. B-
2010 Tain de Hermitage Hermitage Blanc
I brought this along. Roasted fruits, pinesol, wax, soft acids, short. C+ for taste, but a solid F for value!
We went to the blind reds as a storm blew in over the Hudson, quite a sight.
Wine #1 Bright red fruits, a little reductive note (turns out it’s screwcapped) herby,bright, and quite light. Tasty if simple. 2015 Boisson Cotes du Rhone B
Wine # 2
Next was 2001 Duclaux Cote-Rotie, I didn’t guess as mine. Now this was different. I had standing up for a couple of months. Double-decanted an hour or so before going to Dave’s. Used a regular waiter’s corkscrew, cork came out cleanly. Just bottom 10% stained, hunk of sediment on bottom. So I go to pour and….nothing. There is a clog of sediment that I push through. Decant through a screen, HUGE amount of sediment. When served, some volatility on nose, black berries and bacon (Fred guessed Cote Rotie, but late 80s), tannins resolved, a bit tired. B-
Wine # 3
Dark fruits, tannins, raisiny a little hot, I guessed hot vintage CdP.
2016 Domaine la Monardiere “Les 2 Monardes” Vacqueyras B-
Wine # 4
Light bodied despite jammy red fruit, quite sweet, short. I guessed Grenache-heavy CdR.,
2016 La Vigne du Roy Chateauneuf-du-Pape B-/C+
Wine # 5
Heavy, tannic, touch hot
2016 Domaine de Beaurenard Rasteau B-
Wine # 6
Now this is more like it. I guessed St Joseph, medium bodied with bright dark berry fruit, smoke, & herbs. Nice balance, good length, easily my WOTN. 2013 Vincent Paris “Granit 30” Cornas. B+
Fun night with guys, storm stopped in time for a nice walk home
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.