Part two of the “reunion” weekend started with lunch, and a delicious focaccia that Salil made, accompanied by:
2009 Hirtzberger Gruner Veltliner Smaragd Hoivogl
Unmistakable as both Gruner Veltliner and as Hirtzberger. Plenty of white pepper and cress to go along with very rich fruit. Maybe a touch heavy for my preferences, and the back label noted harvest dates all the way into mid-November, so likely botrytis influence as well. That said it’s impressive and delicious, but these days I prefer a fresher style (e.g., Gobelsburg).
1999 Trimbach Riesling Clos Ste. Hune
Sadly, this bottle was extremely advanced. Yes, it’s nearly 25 years old, but the caramel color and oxidative aromas and flavors were not appropriate for a bottle purchased on release from a high-quality retailer and cellared at 53 degrees since purchase. Down the drain it went. On a positive note, the winery reached out to me based on an Instagram post, so maybe sometime soon I can try this wine again.
Salil prepared lamb biryani and some dal makhani for dinner (not to mention the canelés for dessert!), and we were once again joined by Ken Vastola, and also his wife Amy. Great to see Ken again, and wonderful to have a chance to meet Amy!
And of course, we had wine.
1998 Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 707
The second bottle from an unopened 6 bottle OWC from my dad’s cellar, and just as good as the first that I opened last year. Deep fruit, cedar and earthy elements, and still strong framing tannins. I loved this.
2014 Marcel Juge Cornas
No need to drink this, just inhale. Olives, smoke, red meat fresh off the grill. Gorgeous. Bright acidic structure kept this light on its feet and very food friendly. My favorite pairing with the biryani.
1967 Produttori del Barbaresco Riserva Speciale ‘Rabaja’
Another birth year wine graciously provided by Ken. This was just as good as the 1967 Conterno from the prior night, but with more tertiary cedar and dried flower notes. Still sustaining red fruit, even over the course of a couple of hours. Lovely stuff, but I needed to just sip it on its own to fully capture all it had to give in its quieter voice than the other reds.
1990 Muller-Catoir Musbacher Eselhaut Rieslaner Auslese
Typical fully mature Rieslaner, with a ton of baking spice aromatics as well as dried pineapple and eventually just the tiniest hint of chili powder. This was quite dry for Auslese, with the residual sugar adding just a dusting on top rather than being a centerpiece. I had sip with the dal makhani, and that worked very well. It was nowhere sweet enough to go with the Canelés.
2009 Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Spatlese
Young but very delicious and drinkable right now. Notably sweeter than the Catoir, and stuffed with peach and apple fruit, as well as a hit of lime zest and a bright blast of acid on the finish. Perfect balance for long-term aging, but impossible to resist right now.
Two great nights with wonderful people and fabulous food and wine. I need a nap!