As we did prep for Tues dinner on Monday, we had a nice meal of Japanese chicken curry, rice, broccoli with ssamjang sauce.
2011 Drouhin Morgon
Plenty of life left, black cherry and a little smoke, long and balanced. If I had a quibble it has aged well but not really gained in complexity. B/B+
NV Helfrich Cremant d’Alsace
Sweet apple fruit, good mousse, on simple side. C+/B-
We had a nice group for the Feast of the Seven Fishes Christmas Eve. After some navigational errors everyone arrived and we began the parade of seafood.
Paddlefish caviar and creme fraiche in potato chips
NV Savart L’Ouverture Extra Brut (dg 9/23)
Bright and lean, vigorous mousse, tart apple, minerally. B+
2007 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Rose
Absolutely lovely, cherry and blood orange, plush creamy texture but buoyed by bright acids. Long chalky finish. A-/A
Gravlax and mustard sauce on knekkebrod (Norwegian rye crackers)
2018 Tempier Bandol rose
Acids have softened a bit but still lively, raspberry and hillside herbs. Good flinty finish. B+
Pernod mussels with garlic butter
2018 Envinate Taganan Blanco
Saline, sassy, peach with almonds and a bitter citrus edge. I liked this a lot B+/A-
Mark’s Famous Shrimp
2023 Yves Martin Sancerre
Crisp, easy, classic Chavignol flavors. B/B+
Frisse/Arugula salad
Baccalau fritters
(a return to the bubbles, and a Chardonnay run)
2011 H. Lamy Les Frionnes St. Aubin 1er (375 ml)
I liked this more than some others, pear and a little hazelnut, good balance with just a touch of vanilla. B+
2011 Bize Corton-Charlemagne
We were on a good streak, but this is totally premoxed. C-
2010 Mt Eden Reserve Chardonnay
Controversial. One person thought tired, I didn’t but thought showed strangely. This showed lactic and buttery/cheesey, like a bad Napa rather than a good Santa Cruz Chardonnay. It did improve with time, B-/C+ to start, B to finish, but other bottles have been better.
2021 Joseph Colin “La Garenne” Puligny-Montrachet 1er.
A little reductive, but opens with air. Pear, citrus zest, hazelnut Good length. B+/A-
Revisited wines through last 2 fishes
Spaghetti vongole
Halibut in court bouillon (I forgot to serve the broccoli rabe)
Judy’s Flourless Chocolate Cake with whipped cream
Really fun night, outstanding company!
Over to Betsy’s sister’s for Christmas dinner ( smoked pork loin, homemade potato chips with tobiko and paddlefish roe, chicken liver pate, then crab and avocado soup, pasta with bacon and squash, broccoli rabe)
NV Goodfellow Whistling Ridge Brut
A bit tighter than a recent Durant, but lovely lively wine underneath, crisp and steely. B for now, look for improvement.
2000 Ch. la Lagune
I had to have at leastone claret for Christmas. Entering the early edge of maturity, some framing tannins left, good acids. Black plums, soil, a little tobacco. With air a little autumnal note. B+
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.