Friday I just had leftover wine from Th with some green puttaneca, Sat we had striped bass roasted with tomato and shallot, kale, leftover honeynut/acorn squash, and the 1999 Stony Hill Chardonnay. Pear, peach and honey, moderate acids, just a little of a sweet caramel note that makes me wonder about incipient oxidation. Drinking well now, unsure that I would hold. B/B+.
Some friends joined us on patio last night
Canapes - smoked scallops, smoked salmon
Scallop/mango ceviche
Veal rib chops panfried with sage, scalloped potatoes, broccoli rabe
Epoisses, melon
NV Camille Saves Rose Champagne
This is a bottle that has been cellared for some years, plenty of life left though maybe a bit less petillant than earlier. Lovely Rainier cherry and strawberry fruit, toasted bread, some citrus notes. B+/B
2014 Bize “les Perrieres” Bourgogne Blanc
Lemon, apple and wet rocks, good acids, balanced, fine value. B+
1983 Heitz Bella Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon
This had “slight signs of seepage”, but uncertain actually damaged, but certainly mature. Red fruits and herbs, cigar smoke, a bit metallic. not too long. This bottle was basically free so I wasn’t disappointed. B-
2008 Bize “Fourneaux” Savigny-les-Beaune 1er
Lovely nose, lovely palate. Black cherry and plum, some mocha and smoked meat, long minerally finish. Bright acids, some supple tannins. Drinking well, no hurry. A-/B+
Monday Betsy made Buta Kakuni (Japanese style pork belly) with harukei turnips, I ate while participating in weekly Zoom group, this week featuring the 1978 Gruaud Larose. I was shocked at how good and how elegant this was. Good acids, resolved tannins. Sweet black plum and cassis, earth, tobacco leaves. Just a hint of the Cordier funk- taking a walk in a tobacco field just downwind from a cow pasture. Pretty, elegant, long. A-
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.