With steak, the 1986 Ch. Chasse Spleen. OK, I’d have never guessed ‘86 Medoc blind. Soft, supple resolved tannins, dark berries and black plum with cigarbox and a little anise. Fully mature, nice claret in a softer style. B
(but speaking of blind- 24 hours later I offered Sasha a taste blind- though I said Bordeaux. His first comments were Medoc and clay soils, then he said he initially thought Margaux, but was now thinking nearby Haut-Medoc or one of the little appellations like Listrac or Moulis- impressive!)
Salmon , rice, bok choy
2015 Reyane and Pascal Bouley “Champans” Volnay 1er
Ripe and forward, slight kirschy note, but finishes with a nice cranberry meets raspberry tang. B/B-
We had Betsy’s mom plus other family and friends over for Mother’s Day lunch. Started outside with Champagne, smoked trout mousse, and a lively cornhole game, then inside for Ottolenghi lamb meatballs with figs and dried cranberries (substituting for barberries), mashed potato, and salad. Followed by berries and lemon sponge.
NV Gosset Grande Reserve
Snappy, rye bread and apple, fine mousse, nice. B+
2021 Baudry Chinon Blanc
Lovely, ripe sweet fruit but finishes dry, quince and seashell, really fun. B+
2017 Gramercy Lower East Side Syrah
Snappy, fresh, with peppery raspberry fruit, B+
Late dinner that night with a grilled squid salad with oyster & maitake mushrooms, wine was the 2017 Hatzidakis Cuvee 15 Assyrtiko. Full and powerful but with nervy acids, deep citrus and oystershell flavors. B+/A-
No wine Monday with bluefish, but Tuesday with grilled tuna and a bucatini/gaunciale/ramp dish (Betsy had done one last ramp forage) the 2018 Lecci e Brocchi Ragonaia Chianti Classico . Fairly full ripe style, seems a little glossy to me though I think producer is pretty traditional. 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.