A regift from someone who doesn’t drink, the 2015 Real Companhia Velha Evel (Douro) isn’t actually evil, but it’s not good either. A white blend of indigneous grapes, it’s quite musky, moderate acids, and a clipped finish. But worked for cooking wine. C+
Wednesday an assortment of takeout Thai :
NV Jacquart “Mosaïque” Brut Champagne
This was fruity to the point of sweet, overdosaged for my tastes, inexpensive Champagne but I can find cheap Cava I like better. C+/B-
2019 Goodfellow Whistling Ridge Blanc
A edelzicker-ish blend, a very pleasant surprise. Good acids, low alcohol, bright and minerally. Quite the value. B+/B
No wine Christmas Eve as we went out on the streets (getting back just before a big storm really blew in), but just the two of us Christmas Day (dinner was veal piccata and spinach)
2001 Mugnier Chambolle-Musigny- we were having veal piccata, but I needed a red for Christmas, and there was a thread on another site called "Chambolle with veal piccata." In a good place, perfumed and elegant. Balanced, bright, and earthy. A_
(Best part was label was terrible (was on bottom row on concrete in my passive cellar), so didn't need to think about what this goes for in current insane market.)
I actually opened a second bottle, 2018 Thomas-Labaille Monts Dames Cuvee Buster Sancerre, much better match with the veal.Big-boned style of Sancerre, plenty of acid and flint, long. B+/A-
Saturday was lamb rib chops with broccoli rabe, and the 1998 Ch. Sociando-Mallet. Still a bit of tannin, slightly fading fruit, some bell pepper and oregano. B-
Sunday went for drinks and appetizers with some friends (open windows, fans, chilly!).
We carried canapes- jamon iberico de bellota, ankimo with ponzu and watermelon radish, smoked bluefish with creme fraiche. They had shrimp and stuffed mushrooms. I brought the bubbles, they had a red.
2002 Piper-Heidsieck “Rare” Brut Champagne
Rich but snappy, bright, citrus and pear, brioche. Lovely. A-
2015 Ch. Pierre 1er (St Emilion)
Never heard of this before. Pretty impenetrable right now tannin, tight fruit, closed. B-/C+ for drinking now, awkward place.
Home for grey sole, yu choy, sesame spinach
2016 Battenfeld Spanier Mölsheim Riesling Trocken
Nectarine, lemon, wet rocks, ginger. Powerful and focused. Nice. 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.