Wednesday Korean marinated chicken, Shanghai bok choy with oyster sauce, and udon noodles, only glass of leftover Riesling - heat dome left no enthusiasm for wine.
Thursday it was much cooler, headed up to Croton for a Rhys tasting (Part 2, I missed part 1). Nice spread with speck, olives, 3 year Parmigiano-Reggiano, delice de Bourgogne, Robiolo, and a Corsican cheese.
2020 Ponson Montmiret Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature
Young, austere, what happened to enamel on my teeth? I am more tolerant of no dosage than some, but this is too ungenerous for me at moment. B-/C+
NV Suenen C+C (2020 base) Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
Very different, crisp and rich, with pear and pastry creme, long chalky finish. Delicious. A-
2016 Rhys Mt Pajaro Chenin Blanc
Tart, wool, a little cheesy note, others liked more than me, I find Chenin outside Loire to be challenging. B-
2017 Rhys Mt Pajaro Chardonnay
Sweet, long, rich Califonia Chardonnay flavors of pineapple & melon, hint of oak, good acids. B/B+
2011 Alesia Alder Springs Pinot Noir
Dark fruit, hint of cola, a little green on the finish.but there is some charm here. B
2013 Alesia Alder Springs Pinot Noir
Riper , really tastes like California Pinot, seems a bit hot on palate (13.6%) B-/C+
2013 Rhys Alpine Pinot Noir
This is more like it. Refreshing acids, some stem tones, nice length, just a little tight.B+
2013 Rhys Skyline Pinot Noir
Great complex nose with black cherry, cranberry, coffee and pine needles, a bit closed at moment on palate but nice balanced structure. B+/A-
2014 Rhys Horseshoe Hillside Pinot Noir
A subsection of Horseshoe only bottled in a few years.The first word I wrote was dense yet it has plenty of liveliness to it, powerful wine with black plum, mocha, and spices, lively acids, needs time. B/B+ for drinking now but an A wine potential -I wish I had some of this
2013 Rhys Horseshoe Pinot Noir
Lovely but tight B+ with potential to improve;
2011 Rhys Home Vineyard Pinot Noir
Delicious, the first Rhys I thought close to ready, spicy with autumn leaves and redder fruit. B+/A-
2011 Rhys Bearwallow Pinot Noir
Cranberry, herby, some cola, ok but I like the Santa Cruz bottlings more. Of course this is the wine tonight that I have multiples of at home.
B-A break while John is putting the finishing touches on dinner
NV George Laval Cumieres (2022 base, dg 8/24 )
Ripe peach and citrus zest, bread dough, a little nutty note, slightly oxidative stylet but fresh with good acids. B+
With lovely coq au vin over rice
2011 Rhys Alpine Pinot Noir
Lean with some stemmy spice, black cherry and some smoked meat aromas, unusual profile but I like. B+/B
2011 Rhys Skyline Pinot Noir
Nice complexity, on light side but with some bravado, quite elegant. A-/B+
2010 Rhys Alpine Pinot Noir
This is the only actual Rhys that shows heat to me, framboise and orange rind, not my fave. B-
2009 Rhys Alpine Pinot Noir
Lovely and complex, with black cherry and raspberry, black tea, and cinnamon-y spices. Deep and long. No hurry, but drinking well now (others thought it needed time). A-
2008 Rhys Alpine Pinot Noir
Still quite firm and structured, dark fruit and menthol, definitely could still use time. B+ and should get better
2006 Rhys Alpine Pinot Noir
quite ripe, red fruit and a bit of spice, ready to go. B/B+
Fun tasting. These wines really need time. Apparently in round 1 last week wines were more giving and opened, unsure if the subsequent heat dome affected the wine or the wine tasters.
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.