A small but fun crowd gathered at my house for (yet another) goodbye dinner for Craig (comparisons were made to aging rock bands biannual final tour and perpetual going out of business carpet sales). I prepared a lot of food (supplemented by others), but all stuff that was easy and mostly in advance.
Smoked scallops
Gravlax
Cheeses (Tapping Reeve, Reading, Ossau Iraty, Red Hawk, Rascal)
Charcuterie - D’Artganan boar sausage, Olympia Provisions fennochia and loukanika
Flank steak, weisswurst, bratwurst
Couscous (thanks John)
Grilled squash, fennel, peppers
Spinach go-mae
At Craig’s request all wines (except starter bubbles) were blind
NV Gosset Grand Rose Champagne
Elegant red fruit (raspberry and cherry) laced with citrus zest, a hint of brioche, and long flinty finish A-/B+
Blind white #1 - well, I whiffed on this one, I was certain it was Loire SB. Good acids, some grass, grapefruit, peach, flint. No one came close. 30% Chardonnay, 70% Pinot Noir (no skin contact)this was made to avoid smoke tainted PN. 2020 Kelly Fox Blanc B/B+
Blind white #2 (mine) 2004 Cazin Cuvee Renaissance Cour-Cheverny
John called Chenin immediately, an excellent guess even if wrong- Romarantin presents almost identically. On drier side of demi sec, you’d have to really look for the botrytis, though there is an apricot note. Wool, wax, honey, and peach (and a tad of apricot). B++
Blind white 3 (mine) 1996 Drouhin Clos des Mouches Beaune 1er Blanc
Knew odds weren’t good, but still disappointed as color deepened by the second after pouring. The Pox. Too bad, seemed like a good wine underneath. NR
Blind red # 1 -OK we flailed on this one. First guesses were Bdx and Rhone, due to tarry notes I was going to guess Alto Piemonte, but Craig said it spent 10 years in cask, so no Piedmont I know. Dark fruit, tar, leather. I enjoyed, but never would guess Slovenia. NV? Black Lamb "The Rider" B
Blind red # 2 - Everyone was instantly in Burg, but most of us in CdN (I guessed NSG). Our vintage guesses were 02 and 99, everyone was surprised to find a ‘90 with lots of freshness and little roastedness. Ripe black cherry, herbs (stems?), minerals, smoke. Ah, when G. Potel made the wines. 1990 Pousse d’OrJarollieres Pommard 1er A-
Blind white # 4 - I really liked, so didn’t go to Rhone, I thought maybe an Alsace blend from a ripe year. Moderate acids, very floral, citrus and tropical. Fun (and no oily notes) 2018 Gonon St Joseph Blanc B+/B
Blind red # 3 (mine)1998 Ch.du Tertre
A first joking guess of Clos Rougeard, followed by “Classic medoc.” I’d call this mid modern - fruit is fairly ripe, wood is apparent still, but identifiably claret with cassis, cigarbox, and tobacco notes. Some found the wood too much. My least fave red for night, but I’d drink on a Tuesday, B/B-
Blind red # 4 - clearly older Cali, red fruit and eucalyptus, lovely, I guessed ‘84 but was off by decade. Classic, cool fruit, long. 1974 Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon A-/B+
Blind red # 5 mine, no guess, but group got Nebbiolo quickly, Sasha got Marcarini Brunate immediately, John got ‘71. So when this was opened it was dirty, funky, and a bit madeirized. After several hours in decanter it was lovely, rich, long. There were some desiccated cherry notes, but no real maderization. Just classic Barolo, and best glass was the last, after everyone gone and after 9 hours in decanter. 1971 Marcarini Brunate Barolo A-/A
Blind red # 6 clearly Bordeaux, but my first guess was Pomerol. Once he said Medoc I was guessing St. Julien due to the tobacco note, wrong again. But I knew it was excellent! Red and black plum, cigarbox, blood orange, with a ferric minerally finish, Very long, 1978 Ch.Palmer A-
Blind red # 7 I didn’t guess because bag slipped and I saw foil, knew producer. But Sasha narrowed in pretty fast. Red cherry, fresh berries, woodsmoke, fallen leaves. A little roast meat nose on finish. Lovely, and a pointe. 1985 Tollot-Beaut Corton-Bressandes A-/B+
Quite a fine afternoon/evening of wine and friends
Last night Betsy and I had oysters I forgot to serve Sunday, along with a shrimp “piccata” over pasta. Wine was the 2017 Pepiere Briords Muscadet, Classic, citrus and wet rocks, long,.B+/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.