Thursday was teriyaki salmon, spicy sesame broccolini, rice with furikake (with a nice side of Northern lights, for first time in my light, so cool!).
2006 Rapet “Les Vergelesses” Pernand 1er
Red plum and cherry, herbs, moderate tannin and acid. A little much for the salmon but a pleasant wine. No hurry. B
Friday was roast chicken with root vegetables, spinach, and the 2006 Ch. Cantemerle. A gentler softer Cantemerle, soft blackcurrant and plum fruit, a little saddle leather and tobacco, just a hint of bell pepper. I don’t think this is a 50 year Cantemerle (and yes there are some) but drinking well now and I’m sure for next decade. B+/B
Some dear friends are moving to Nova Scotia (where they’ve had a summer home for a while), and a group gathered at friends for a party (with a program). Laughter, love, togetherness. Blessed with great weather for October, it was outdoors with finger food (deviled eggs, fruit, shrimp, dips, and more) and a bit of wine.
NV Charles Ellner Carte Blanche Brut Champagne
Warm apple, pastry dough, almond, higher dosage. Very popular, but I again found dull. C+/B-
Butter poached halibut on mizuna
1998 Couhins-Lurton Blanc (Pessac-Leognan)
I’ve had much fresher bottles of this, lots of nutty oxidative, lemon and grass, some quite enjoyed. B-/C+
2023 Pepiere La Pepie Muscadet
Light, agile, saline. Snappy and fresh, not the depth of the Briords, but nice for uncomplicated drinking. B
2021 Rostaing Puech Noble (Languedoc)
Dark fruits, herbs, pepper and just a touch of forest floor. Earthy and fun. B/B+
2022 Daou Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles)
Whoa, this is sweet. Blackberry syrup, a little medicinal, a bit o’prune on the finish. I discreetly moved to corner of yard to pour. As I returned someone came up to me to tell me how much they loved it (I said glad to hear it, but that was the one wine I didn’t bring, and pointed to the culprit - I mean donor). C
After a lot of knoshing in afternoon, a light and late dinner of oysters, cod cheeks, corn, & bok choy
2020 Pepiere Briords Muscadet. Great with the oysters, with cod cheeks I might have preferred something like white Burg, but the Briords did well. Seashells by the seashore, bright citrus (grapefruit), long stony finish. B+/A- , will get better.
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.