Betsy’s birthday was last week, but folks she wanted to share with weren’t free, so we had our birthday dinner Sunday night.
Starters- Nancy brought endive spears stuffed with gochujang shrimp, I put a tarragon crab salad on potato chips
NV Goodfellow Durant Blanc de Blancs
Brisk and crisp, apple and lemon, fun. B/B+
NV JM Seleque Solessence Rose Champagne (lot 2020, dg 12/22)
Tart raspberry and strawberry, rose petals, a light almond note. Saline chalky finish, I really like this. B+/A-
Roast chickens, root vegetables, broccoli with colatura di alici
1959 Huet Le Haut Lieu Demi-Sec Vouvray
Stunning bottle. Nice bronzed color . Ripe apple, quince, citrus zest, wool. Very long, keeps developing in glass. With time some deep honeycomb. There’s sugar but it’s in background, brilliant acids, lovely wine. A
1970 Ch. Beychevelle
Lovely midweight, tobacco/cigarbox over black plum, moderate acids, long complex finish, so pretty. A-/B+
2022 Mary Taylor (Pascal Boitteau) Anjou
Used for cooking, but easy to drink later. Quince, apple, and orange zest, a little beeswax on finish. Good QPR. B
Kath had brought a raspberry cheesecake for dessert. Fun night, Betsy was happy.
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.