No wine Saturday (oysters, grey sole, corn, tomatoes)
Sunday Betsy and I headed up to finish a weekend birthday celebration (I skipped the Saturday festivities). Lovely setting above a lake. Two paellas were being cooked over coals (pork/chicken/shrimp/lobster and rabbit/snail), plus people made great sides- smoked bluefish pate, a zucchini/creme fraiche tart, tomatoes with feta and more.
2014 Lopez de Heredia Gravonia Rioja Blanco
Citrus and coconut, nutty yet not oxidative, very long, very fine. B+
2008 Gimonnet Millesime de Collection (mag)
I believe this was all BdB, bottled only in magnum. Cranking acidity, yeasty, long and fresh. B+
2013 Lopez de Heredia Gravonia Rioja Blanco
A little leaner than the ‘14, lemon and dilly herbs, more coconut, almond. I like even more. B++
1995 Luneau-Papin L d’Or Muscadet
I brought this because the ‘93 was so good Fri. Meyer lemon, oyster shells, wet rocks. B+/A-
1987 Lopez de Heredia Tondonia Rioja Reserva Blanco
Wax, tangerine, and ginger, stony, good length. B+
1994 Riojanas Monte Real Rioja Reserva
Red fruit, spice, but not a lot of depth here to me (others liked more) B
1991 Lopez de Heredia Bosconia Rioja Gran Reserva
Maybe not best showing of this, had a better bottle year or two ago. Still it’s got some character- red fruit, cinnamon, earth, just not the length or depth ot previous tries. B
1985 Lopez de Heredia Tondonia Rioja Gran Reserva
This is hitting on all cylinders. Raspberry and cherry, cloves, smoke, fallen leaves. Fresh acids, background tannin. A-
1982 La Rioja Alta 890 Rioja Gran Reserva
Red fruits, citrus zest, anise. More sedate than lively, but good. B+
1981 CVNE Vina Real Rioja Gran Reserva
Great. Red and black raspberry, coffee, sandalwood. A little coconut, woodsmoke. Complex and long. A-
NV Jean Vesselle L’Expression Nature Champagne
I think this was quite popular but I found it rather flat (in flavors, not bubbles). Apple and biscuit, but somewhat muddied. Others liked much more. B-/C+
1976 Marques de Murrieta Ygay Rioja Reserva Blanco
Wax , dry peach, and lemon rind, tangy and complex. B+/A-
1976 Lopez de Heredia Tondonia Rioja Gran Reserva Blanco
Quince and blood orange, wax, flowers, almondskin. Stony and long, A-
Really fun afternoon, and I didn’t have to spit everything as Betsy was available to drive home. Apparently many great older Riojas appeared after we left, but you can’t taste everything.
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.