Paul organized a group to welcome Marshall and Diane on their NYC visit, we gathered at Balvanera on Monday night. We had bacalao croquettes, arancini, boquerones, cauliflower, chorizo, skirt steak, broccoli rabe, and fries.
NV Agrapart 7 Crus Brut Champagne
Pear, brioche, orange zest, moderate dosage. Elegant mousse, fun wine.
2011 Dauvissat Sechet Chablis 1er
Crisp, saline, dry pit fruits, solid acid balance.B+
2010 Fevre Les Clos Chablis Grand Cru
Diam. Rich, fresh, apple, citrus zest, wildflowers, minerally finish. A-/B+
2005 Rostaing Cote Rotie La Landonne
I liked less than table. Round, fleshy almost roasted red fruit, hard oak tannins, B-/C+
1996 Sociando-Mallet
Blind, I at least got Bordeaux blend. Redder fruits, herby, licorice, hint of barnyard, B
1996 Rampolla Vigna d’Alceo
Structured, cassis with a little vanilla and licorice, well-balanced. B+/B
1998 Ornellaia
Slightly lifted, still some apparent oak, black plum and berries, Not sure how much future, B
1989 Pichon Lalande
Elegant, black currant and coffee, silky texture, nice showing, A-
1989 Pichon Baron
Exuberant, cassis and mocha, different than the Lalande but just as good A-
1990 L'Evangile
Black cherry and plum, cocoa, no roasted notes, lovely and a pointe, A-
1982 Leoville Las Cases
I’m not biggest LLC fan, but this is an awesome wine. Powerful, balanced, rich and complex, finally coming into its own, A-/A
Tuesday Betsy made chicken stroganoff, paired with the 2020Tiberio Trebbiano. Tangy, fresh, slightly grassy, fujn. B+
Wednesday we headed to airport, despite news of FAA computer failure, Flying out of White Plains, security line as flights reopened completely filled the building, We eventually made it to Atlanta, and that night ate at my brother’s club/speakeasy. Oysters, wagyu, NZ red deer venison, Brussels sprouts, green beans in XO, lemon sole with sweet potato puree,
2014 V Girardin Combettes Puligny-Montrachet 1er
Pear, lemon zest, a little vanilla cream, good minerally finish, Not going to mistake for Sauzet or Leflaive but one of best (maybe the best) Girardin wines I’ve had. A-/B+
2019 Patricia Green Freedom Hill Pinot Noir
Tangy, black raspberries and plums, a hint of truffle, not super long or complex but good with meat, 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.