Friday salmon rice bowls, with the 2007 Jadot “Baudes” Chambolle Musigny 1er. Vibrant black cherry, a little coffee, moderate acids, some tannic grip. Drinking well but not hurry. B/B+
Saturday traveled to NJ for a cassoulet dinner. Paul had 2 beautiful cassoulets, we started with cheeses, bread, nuts, olives, etc
2012 Bollinger Grand Annee Rose (mag)
I’m not always a Bolly fan but I loved this.Strawberries and blood orange, chalky mineral, brioche. Long, balanced, vibrant. A-
To table for cassoulet (excellent!) and salad
1996 Leoville-Poyferre
Black currant, pencil lead, a little green tobacco. Nice backbone, good finish. B+
1990 Ch. de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Maybe the cleanest bottle of this I’ve ever had, some leathery notes but no stable. Raspberry and black cherry, smoked meats, forest floor. Long and fine. A-/B+
1986 Ch. Gruaud Larose
After a surprisingly easy and elegant bottle a few weeks ago, this tastes more like 86 GL. Brawny, meaty, with rich black fruit and a bit of Cordier funk. B+/A-
1986 Ch.Pichon Lalande
86 power Pichon finesse. Cassis, coffee, cigar humidor. Long, complex, enticing. A-
2001 Chave Hermitage
Blackberry, black plum, a little roasted meat, I think others loved the Chaves, but I found a little too generic plush wine. B
2004 Chave Hermitage
Even rounder, big jammy dark fruit, low acid., again others loved. B/B-
Really fun night
Sunday we went to a holiday party in Tarrytown. Nice assortment of food, and lots of wine
2023 Lauverjat Sancerre rose
Strawberries, rose metals, fresh acids, pleasant. B
NV Sanfellato Prosecco
Sweet cidery and empty. C/C+
2011 Jaboulet St. Pierre Cornas
I didn’t have high expectations, but this is a fairly classy N. Rhone. Peppery, solid black fruit, earth and good acids. B+/B
2022 Produttori di Barbaresco Langhe Nebbiolo
Classic and dependable, black cherry with violets and a little tarry element, ready. B/B+
2012 Taurino Salice Salentino
This was stewed and sour, showed quite old, clipped finish unsure if representative bottle or poorly stored (others seemed to like, quickly finished). I've liked producer before. This bottle C
2014 l Auvigue “Solutre” Pouilly-Fuisse
Never heard of producer, but this is quite nice,showcasing the excellence of 2014. Pear, apple blossoms, orange zest, chalky finish, no apparent oak. B+
That night we had fish (cod) tacos with a chipotle sauce, salsa, and cabbage. The 2013 Nikolaihof Weingebirge Gruner Veltliner Smaragd showed well with a difficult pairing. Limey, floral, with tensile acidity and a rocky mineral finish. B+/A-
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.