Fresh rice noodles with flank steak/sprouts/scallions, with Chinese broccoli and the 2016 Guion “Cuvee Domaine” Bourgueil. Bright berries, green tobacco, no apparent tannin, good acids. Fun value wine. B
Grilled squid and mushrooms (oyster and shiitake) over arugula, with a sourdough discard scallion pancake. Wine was the 2019 Roblin “Les Rossignols” Sancerre. It has the grass and the catpee to let you know it’s SB, but not much else. Disappointing. C+
I had plans to go to local wine group Friday, but Friday turned out our only opportunity to have friends (and their dog, Ruby’s BFF) for dinner before they move to Delaware. So I let Fred know I’d be late, and we had an early dinner of lamb shanks in mint/mustard, mashed potatoes, and salad. Wine was the 2001 Ch. Talbot. I liked this but was surprised that it was totally mature. Cassis, cigarbox, a hint of ashtray, still a bit of tannin but a touch volatile - I wouldn’t be holding based on this bottle. B
While they had dessert, I made my farewells and traveled to Fred’s. He had made dinner for the group. I took a small plate (great pork loin). Theme was Beaujolais.
2020 JP Brun (Terres Dorees) Beaujolais Blanc
Bright pear and apple, touch of flint, hint of salinity, fun! B+/B
Blind reds
#1 - I got St Amour right off, but only because Alex said It was appropriate calendar-wise. And since St Amour guessed Billards, because what we see the most. I think without that hint I wouldn’t have gotten, because this is a bigger brawnier wine than I am used to from Billards. 14.5%! But it is really quite tasty, ripe black cherry with garden herbs on a muscular structure. Will be interesting to see this age. 2019 Billards St Amour B+
#2- much lighter, strawberry and red cherry, a touch of smoke and flowers, fairly elegant. My guess was Chiroubles. Nope, and new producer to me. 2018 Clos des Poulettes Julienas B+
#3- spice, flowers, cigarbox over red fruit,. I got Morgon with a bit of age, but thought Lapierre. Got better and better. 2009 Foillard Cote du Py Morgon. A-
#4- my wine, unsure why I bought or cellared (not a producer I buy), brought a backup but didn’t need. Red plum and cherry, sandalwood, in a nice place right now. 2009 Rochette Regnie B+/A-
#5 Light, slightly drying, light fruit , high acid, a touch of green. 2017 Les Cretes Beaujolais-Villages. B-
Really fun night.
Saturday was unbelievable, 56 degrees in NY in Feb. Friends were having an indoor/outdoor version of their annual Valentine Party, easy to choose outdoors! Lots of wines, I tried 3:
2020 Josh Sauvignon Blanc
This could use more acid, but clean citrus and apple flavors with just a hint of grass. B-
2019 Domaine de la Potine Sauvignon Blanc (Touraine)
It’s sad when ok CA SB smokes Loire. Thin, weedy, green, and short, dominated by catpee. Pour out. C/C+
2005 Greysac (Medoc)
Ready, black and red plum, a little cedar. B
That night as temps dropped we had a nice dinner of roasted speckled seatrout, spaghetti alla colatura di alici (yowza!), and sauteed broccoli rabe. The 2018 Pepiere Gras Moutons Muscadet was lovely, ripe but with a tensile acid backbone, long. B+/A-
For the Superbowl I made chili , served with salad and the 2001 Ridge Geyserville. Ripe and a bit porty on the nose, but actually more balanced on palate. Dark berries, cassis, coffee. Sweet ands ripe, but interesting, and a pretty good finish. But I think I pushed this as far as I’d go. B/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.