Saturday was no wine after long flight, Sunday friends invited us to meet them at Spadoro in New Rochelle, a fave of theirs where we had never been. Very old school, the waitress recites the possible dishes, no menu. We shared everything- eggplant with a pistachio sauce, grilled octopus, rigatoni lamb ragu, “white” bucatini all'Amatriciana, and a veal chop. All very good.
The wine list was also recited, less fun with wine than food. The Murgo Etna Rosso was adequate (B-), the Verbo Aglianico del Vulture was a hot mess ( C ) . And markup (no idea on price till bill came) was easily 3-4X retail.
Monday grilled red snapper, oysters, & trumpet mushrooms, and made bok choy, But no wine.
Tuesday grilled Korean marinated chicken, salad, rice, and the lovely 2021 Baudry “le Domaine” Chinon. Light but with good persistence, with crunchy red fruit and herbs, long chalky finish. Just what I’m looking for in $20 Cab Franc. B+
Cod baked with cherry tomatoes and shallots, rice, baby Shanghai tips with oyster sauce.
2022 Leirana Albarino
Grapefruit, lemon cest, good acidity but with a nice round finish. B/B+
On a rainy night while solo, ostrich filet, Momofuko scallion/soy noodles, and more shanghai tips. I had a bottle of Bordeaux as backup as expectations were that the 1994 Frescobaldi Mormoreto might be dead. It wasn’t, but still contemplated opening backup, but eventually didn’t. It was quite alive, but confusing, This is Tuscan Cabernet, but if you served it to me blind and gave me a dozen guesses, I’m pretty sure neither Tuscany or CS would have figured in my stabs in the dark. Sweet light cherry and red plum fruit, lighter weight, pleasant flavors but not much on finish. Would I have guessed Gamay, Alsace PN, Zweigelt? Dunno. 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.