A fun group gathered at the midtown Peking Duck House Friday night. Ribs, fried pork dumplings, Peking duck, beef with black mushrooms and bamboo shoots, shrimp with vegetables, Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce.
NV Hebrart Rose Champagne
Herby, cherry and orange zest, vinous. Good. B+
2000 Francois Cotat Chavignol Sancerre Rose
A little flat with a lactic note, I found ok but not compelling (some liked even less) B-
2000 Belliviere Les Rosiers Jasnieres (500ml)
With small bottle we opened unsure if sweet or not, it’s quite dry. Lots of extract, a bit bitter, I don’t find pleasant at all. C
2005 Huet Le Mont Vouvray Demi Sec
Weight of the vintage evident on approach, but then a little thin midpalate. Nice flavor profile though. B
2009 Selbach Oster Schmitt Riesling
Rich, tropical, and exotic, Spatlese+, good long finish, B+
2023 Nanclares Albarino
This was tasty, but hard to taste after a couple of sweeter wines, meant to revisit.
2009 de Villaine “La Digoine” Bourgogne Cote Chalonaise
Ripeness of the vintage shows, powerful red cherry fruit, a little sandalwood, good if not classic. B
2005 Breton Galichets Bourgeuil
Tons of sediment. Worried because it’s a Neocork, but actually has survived ok. Black cherry, mint, tobacco. Not as long as I would hope. B
2011 Clos Roche Blanche “Pif”
a little odd, quiet cassis fruit, potted plant, I would have hoped for a bit more. B-/B
1993 Ch. Certan de May
lean but tasty , lots of,green pepper, lean red fruits. Retasted there’s more tobacco/cigarbox aromas. Very good in context of vintage. B+/B
1990 Ch. Gazin
Surprising lean fruit for 1990, dominated by some leathery notes (brett? One person got bandaid, I didn’t). I actually prefer the 1993 Pomerol!. B
2012 Henschke Mt Edelstone Shiraz
The ‘88 Mt Edelstone was one of my favorite Aussies of all time, the 2012 isn’t. Big red plum fruit, pepper, hint of kirsch. Just not my style. B-/C+
1970 Huet Clos du Bourg Demisec Vouvray
Minty, waxy, almost dry. Good acids, good length, good showing for a middling vintage. B+
1998 Baumard Quarts de Chaume
Nice showing, pineapple,honey, and wax, good length, most of the sugar has been absorbed. B+
2003 Maximin Grünhauser (Von Schubert) Abtsberg Riesling Beerenauslese (375 ml)
Here’s a 2003 that did well. Peaches,honey and apricot, lots of honeysuckle, balancing acids and long finish. A-
Saturday I picked up Betsy and a friend (separate flights from NC), that night I cooked dinner for them,
Blackberry (Chesapeake) Oysters with mignonette
2017 Chandon de Briailles "Ile de Vergelesses" Pernand-Vergelesses 1er
Very good showing, pear and chalk, a citrus note, bright, long. B+/A-
Strip steak, pasta with garlic scape pesto, stuffed zucchini blossoms, salad
1998 Ch. Bourgneuf (Pomerol)
Soft (softer than other recent bottles), black plum, a little cocoa, not as long or frrsh as previous bottles. B-/B
Alone Sunday (Betsy and friends are at a session at Omega Institute). Grilled squid, squash, leftover pasta, snow peas
2006 Weingut Pfeffingen Ungsteiner Mardelskopf Riesling Grosses Gewächs
Found this, no memory of buying. In a word, ugh. Hot- 14%, tastes like 15%. Heavy, unctuous, canned apricots and pears. I don’t need botrytis in dry wines. C.
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.