I realized when I put out recycling I had skipped a wine last week, the 2018 Donnhoff Riesling QbA. No contemporaneous notes, but as always I found this a fine fine value.
I don’t usually have wine with lunch, but a friend invited me to lunch- great chicken schnitzel, mashed potatoes with shaved white truffle, peas, and the 1966 Ch. Palmer (who could turn that down)? He had told the Palmer had a depressed cork (and he paid accordingly). I think the cork issue showed, fruit was a bit tired, but wine still had plenty to offer, with the leather, spice, and a slight feral/animal note.Really fun to taste, B+/B for this bottle.
Betsy made short ribs braised in dashi, served with the 2017 Clos de la Roilette (Coudert) Fleurie. Fun and friendly, red cherry and raspberry with a bit of herb, juicy and tasty. B++
With some charcuterie, the NV (2018) Cleto Chiarli Vecchia Modena Premium Lambrusco di Sorbara.
I expected red Lambrusco but this was rose- dry, pithy, nice tart raspberry, fun. B
Saturday I had mackerel in dashi with spinach, daikon greens and udon. Wine was the 2001 Leitz rudesheimer Berg Rottland Riesling Spatlese Trocken (AP 14) - I had in CT, but not as a trocken. Golden color, petrol, ginger and green apple, full with good length. No hurry here. B
With steak, sweet potatoes, turnips, and sauteed spinach, a half bottle of 2005 Alain Michelot “Les Cailles” Nuits St George 1er. From 375 this is fairly approachable, though there are plenty of ripe tannins. Red and black cherry, smoke, a little touch of coffee.The tannin, acid, and fruit all line up to say there’s plenty of life ahead, but fine to sacrifice a half now. 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.
