Soba bowls with grilled chicken and Shanghai tips with shiitakes and maitakes
2011 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Kabinett (#3)
Nervy for a 2011, racy acids with bright peach and lime fruit. Excellent length, this can age a long time but pretty delicious now.A-
1990 Domaine de Vallouit Les Sables Syrah (Collines Rhodaniennes )
Never heard of producer, this was maybe better than very low expectations. Some black cherry and a little hint of prune, touch of barnyard,roasted meat. Holds up for a bit then gets ashtray-ey. C+
2012 Domaine Carneros (Taittinger) Brut LD
This was actually quite nice, chalky, bready, with lemony fruit. Nice bead, good finish. B+
Duck breast, green beans, sweet potato, spinach
1999 Morot”Marconnets” Beaune 1er
Midbodied, black cherry and raspberry, very earthy, modest length.B/B+
Skate in a pepper/caper brown butter, artichoke cuscinetti ( ravioli), salad
2017 Cervaro della Sala (Antinori)
Plenty of oak, but good acids, crisp orchard fruits with lemon and a gingery spice note. B+
Some friends over for a Lunar New Year feast. I made longevity noodles and a whole steamed bass, Betsy made bok choy, and Nancy made shrimp dumplings. We also picked up spring rolls, fried pot stickers, duck, and assorted dumplings from a local Chinese grocery (they have dim sum ish stuff on weekends)
NV Gosset Grand Rose
Apple, cherry, orange peel, and rye bread. Complex and full. B++
2014 Pepiere Briords Muscadet
One of my favorite vintages of one of my favorite bottlings. Rich, bracing acids, oystershell and citrus. Long, saline, and complex. A-
2011 Leitz Rudesheimer Berg Roseneck Spatlese
Exotic, with lush mango and papaya, honey accents, tropical flowers, sweet but with good acids. A bit much for me but well done. B
1986 Beychevelle
Chosen for dragon boat label (year of the Dragon). Quite refined tannins for a 1986, cassis and black plum with leathery cigarbox notes and a little minty spice.Sorry my only bottle. A-/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.