Wednesday the official al fresco season started, I grilled Hmart marinated pork, king oyster mushrooms, eggplant (with a peanut butter sauce), and ramps (with ramp vinaigrette), Betsy made the Shangai greens with oyster sauce and rice.
2021 Emrich-Schonleber Estate Riesling Trocken
Nice acids, stony, just a touch of peach fruit. Enjoyed, but probably worth the few extra bucks for the Mineral. B
Thursday teriyaki salmon, with veggie leftovers from night before.
2011 Coudert/Clos de la Roilette Cuvee Tardive Fleurie
Really in a good place, red and black cherry, cocoa, light herbs notes. Complex and long with a silky finish. A-
2022 Mary Taylor (Pascal Biotteau) Anjou
Pear, quince, and wax, citrus zest, tangy acids. Good value. B+/B
Friday over to Rob’s for local wine group. Theme was Spain (but Not Rioja), he had pair of paellas (meat and seafood), jamon iberco, manchego with quince paste from Basque in Tarrytown, plus a kale/Brussels sprouts salad.
2016 Raventos i Blanc de la Finca
This is a Brut Nature and it is quite snappy, but there’s a fruit core that keeps it from shrillness. Group enjoyed.
Nice length, really quite the value. B+
Rest of the wines were blind.
Blind white- medium acids, melon and apple, just a hint of lemon. I guessed Godello, which was correct. More a process of elimination (didn’t taste last Viura, Albarino, etc and I only know a few Spanish white grapes). Pretty tasty. 2022 O Estranxeiro Godello (Ribeira Sacra) B
Red #1
Smoke, herbs, and fresh berries, tangy. Someone says “like a Spanish Beaujolais” and I get what they mean. I had no idea on grape, once I find out it’s Prieto Picudo I still have no idea.
But I like this.2021 Mary Taylor (Pedro Gonzalez Mittelbrunn) Castilla y Leon B+
Red #2
Big, hot, I guessed Jumilla Garnacha, when Tom said Tempranllo I was surprised, but Toro makes sense. But surprised apparently it’s Vega Sicilia. Not a fan. 2018 Pintia (Toro) C+
Red #3, My wine so no guesses. Group got Tempranillo before long (but were guessing 15-20 years old). Raspberry and pomegranate, a little coffee, some coconut and vanilla. Nice, mature, ready.1989 Pesquera Tinto (Ribera del Duero) B+/B
Red #4
Very volatile on the nose, not too pleasant on the palate! Avoid! A wine that make the Toro look good. 2019 Mas Marer (Montsant) C-
Red # 5 Rich, with red plum fruit, some vanillin oak, Earl Grey tea. 2020 Emilio Moro (Ribera del Duero). Young B
Red #6 - Big, a little hot, muscular wine that others liked more than I did.
2017 Torres Salmos (Priorat) B-
Figured we’d celebrate Mother’s Day on 2 nights. Saturday steamed lobster, asparagus, mustardy potato salad, corn.
2012 Mount Eden Chardonnay Reserve (Santa Cruz)
Rich, pear and hazelnut, balanced vanillin oak, good acids, long finish. Classic Santa Cruz Chard. A-
Sunday oysters (with leftover Mt. Eden), then seared tuna, broccoli, salad, angel hair pasta with radish leaf pesto
1997 Frescobaldi Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva
Ripe and soft as you would expect from ‘97, but holding on. Soft red plum and cherry, some light autumnal notes of fallen leaves, touch of smoke. More “soft old wine” than Chianti, but interesting. 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.