Sesame salmon rice bowls, with the 2023 Stefan Meyer Weissburgunder Loess (Pfalz).
Fun wine, lime and orange, floral/herbal notes, nice tangy finish. B/B+
Ruby’s birthday tea, 6 dogs (cockapoo, cavapoos, golden pup, Bernadoodle, and the hound), no geeks, but one person did want a glass of red, the 2014 Chermette “Traditionnelle” Beaujolais VV did very well. Still going strong, fresh and crunchy, lightweight in a good way, floral/leafy with bright red fruit B+/B
Saturday oysters, tautog, hakurei turnip greens, koginut squash, & Brussel sprouts with kimchi. Wine was the 2023 Zidianakis Solidus. Assyrtiko from Crete. Grapefruit and green plum, a little saline note, round rather short finish. OK, but Santorini is still my preferred source for Assyrtiko. B-
Sunday we met old friends (and a couple new) at Aberdeen in White Plains for dim sum lunch. Aberdeen is losing its lease, so this is a goodbye dinner (hopefully they find a new place). Pork shu mai, shrimp shu mai, spare ribs, eggplant, bok choy, jalapeno shrimp, etc. Followed by a few main courses- ginger chicken, fried flounder, pork chops.
NV Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve Champagne
Apples and pit fruits, smoke, a little brioche, full style. B/B+
NVVilmart Grande Reserve Champagne (10/20 disgorgement)
Bright white fruits and citrus, green apple, snappy acids. Drinks like a (good) BdB. B++
2019 Falkenstein “Oncle Peter” Niedermenniger Herrenberg Spatlese Feinherb
Just a touch of sweetness, lime and white nectarine, charming long and lovely. A-
1998 M. Gaunoux Pommard 1er
On a previous trip we’d had duck, so carried this, but no dish this time really called out for it. Slightly rustic but charming Pommard, still a bit of tannin. 2/3s left, so took rest to a dinner that night, the extra air did it some good, solid black cherry with more sweetness, and accents of earth and truffles. B at lunch, B+ at dinner
After dim sum we visited Betsy’s mom before hurried trip home to walk and feed dog and prepare appetizers for a dinner (gildas and prosciutto/melon rolls), Then back in car for trip to Tarrytown for a birthday dinner. Started with the prosciutto rolls, gildas, and hummus/smoked oyster canapes.
NV Pierre Peters Cuvee Reserve Blanc de Blancs Champagne (12/21 dg, 2018 base,love those QR codes)
Pear, brioche, lemon zest. Good acids, good finish. B+
Dinner was braised lamb shanks, white rice, green beans, and salad. Besides the leftover Pommard had a couple of reds
2009 Pecina Gran Reserva Rioja
Deep, spicy, red cherry with nutty notes and a little coconut. Plenty of life left here. A-/B+
1987 Kalin Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (Sonoma)
Classic old school Cali Cab, cassis and tobacco leaf, a hinr of saddle leather, long finish, A-
Good (long) day!
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.