Dana arrived on Monday, and we invited Betsy’s sister and BIL for a family dinner. Pate, Benton’s country hame (served like prosciutto, smoked bay scallops. Then shrimp risotto and a mizuna salad, followed by first strawberries of the year and ice cream.
NV Henri Goutorbe "Prestige" Champagne
Applesauce and apple cider, some white flowers, a little rye toast, finish is short and quite sweet, I’d prefer much less dosage. B-/C+
2022 ColleStefano Verdicchio di Matelica Snappy, lemon and nectarine, nice saline edge to finish. B/B+
No wine Tuesday with a delicious chicken schnitzel with anchovy/caper dressing over mint salad.
Wednesday a family dinner on patio:
tofu/herb/snap pea salad with spicy peanut dressing.
Steamed broccoli with a silken tofu dressing
Somen with a sesame dressing
2019 Muller-Ruprecht Riesling Trocken
Ginger, lime, and peach blossoms, lightbodied but wth nice rocky edge to finish. B
2018 Leipold Silvaner Gassberg Trocken
Lemon, pineapple, with a a kind Chenin-like wax/wool thing on the finish, as well as some chalk. Big but balanced, impressive. B+
Thursday just Betsy and I, she made chicken meatballs with kale, Swiss chard, and preserved lemons, with rice and furikake on the side. 2009 Gouges Chaignots Nuits St George 1er. It used to be I would have told anyone they were nuts for opening a Gouges 1er (from a big vintage) at 15. No hurry, there’s plenty of structure, but the tannins are smooth and the fruit is on display. Black cherries, red plums, with earth and spice. Long silky finish. Excellent.A-
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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.