Duck leftovers from freezer, brussels sprouts, potatoes
2005 Pavelot La Dominode Savigny-les-Beaune 1er
Tight and a bit tannic, needs air to bloom. Sappy black fruit, leather, earth eventually make an appearance. At end B+, but give these time.
Betsy was away so I thought I’d invite some friends over for a dinner. One couple could only do Friday, the rest could do Saturday, I guess time to have 2 dinner parties!
So just 3 of us Friday, started with canapes (mussels and smoked salmon)
Raventos i Blanc de Nit Rose (375 ml)
Strawberry and cherry, lemon zest, nice and crisp, B
2022 Goodfellow Berserkers Cuvee Temperance Hill Chardonnay
Snappy, a little matchstick, brisk acids, lemon and mineral. Nice but I should have given more time (in bottle and with air). B/B+
Flannery lamb saddle, creamy ramp pesto on bucatini, broccoli rabe.
1985 La Rioja Alta 890 Rioja Gran Reserva
Fruity and forward, sweet cherry and red plum,.hint of dill, others preferred to the 1987. B+
1987 La Rioja Alta 890 Rioja Gran Reserva
Red and black raspberry, coconut and leather, less fruity but to me a little more complex. A-/B+
Good night
Then Saturday night
7Up pickles, broccoli stem pickles, smoked salmon
NV Grongnet Blanc des Blancs Champagne
Crisp pear, bright apple,chalk. Comes across as a bit higher dosage than my ideal, but very good. B/B+
Oysters with pickled ramp mignonette
2022 Pepiere Gras Moutons Muscadet
Really lovely, rich but edgy with lemon, saline, and wet stones, very long. A-
Sous vide buttered halibut (do again!), mushrooms, broccoli salad with ssamjang mayo
2005 Chidaine :Les Argiles Vouvray
I had seen some reports of oxidation on these, but this is just fine. Sec-tendre, apple and pineapple, fresh hay, a little beeswax. Good length. B+
2019 Huet Le Mont Vouvray Sec
Unlike a bottle a year ago this was clamped down pretty tight. B- for now
Leftover lamb (room temp) - the ssamjang mayo came back as lamb sauce
1989 La Rioja Alta 890 Rioja Gran Reserva
Black plum and red cherry, herbs and leather, some citrus zest. Balanced and ready. B+/A-
Ramp/sausage risotto
1990 Campogiovanni San Felice Brunello di Montalcino
Black cherry and plums, resolved tannins, good acids (not a given in 1990!), strong coffee notes. I like. B+
Really fun night, just needed Betsy
Sunday swordfish, yellow rice, broccoli rabe
2022 Fontbrune Bandol rose
Never heard of this producer before, would be content to never cross paths again. Soft with sweet empty fruit, rather insipid rose, hard to believe Bandol. C+
Betsy’s back! Chicken cacciatore, bucatini, broccoli, salad
2019 Vallepicciola Chianti Classico
Ripe black cherry, some oaky notes, a little heat on finish, not what I am looking for in Chianti, B-/C+
1990 Chionetti Briccolero, Dolcetto di Dogliani
Low hopes for 30+ year old Dolcetto, but I really quite liked! Still just a touch of grainy tannin, round but with just enough acid to keep from being boring, rich sweet black plum fruit, smoke and spice. A very surprised B+/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.
