Wednesday meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and spinach
2017 Goodfellow Last Acre Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir
Red and black cherry, autumn leaves, orange zest Good acids, a touch of remaining tannin, good tangy ferric finish., B+
Shrimp scampi with orzo, lemony broccoli, sprouting cauliflower with anchovy, and salad (wouldn’t normally do cauliflower and broccoli on same night, but after prepping broccoli realized we had the caullfower from CSA and needed to use it)
2017 Antinori Cervaro della Sala
I usually quite like this, and this had the requisite acidity and amplitude, but flavors seem flat and muted. I don’t get any TCA, but wonder if this is perhaps corked just under my threshold? Or maybe its a root day! C+
Spanish mackerel with ponzu, udon noodles, leftover broccoli
2021 Muller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten Im Breumel Grosses Gewachs
Tangy, zesty, very citrusy, with smoke and mineral. Young but fun B+/A-
Some friends of Betsy’s were in town and we hosted a small dinner party
Truffle potato chips, radishes with butter, smoked mussels
NV Charles Ellner Carte Blanche
Apple, sweet pear, brioche, this is carrying its dosage on its sleeve, reminds me of NV VC 10-15 years ago. C+/B-
Sauteed scallops
2010 Fevre Valmur Chablis GC
Flinty, chalky, steely, there’s lovely lemon and pear fruit but it’s the mineral/seashell notes that drive this. Very happy juice, A-
Lamb shanks with mustard/mint sauce, couscous, and collards
2010 Ch. Pichon-Baron
This is very good in a brawny style. Big tannins and acids as you would expect from 2010, but while it’s ripe it’s not hot. Cassis, blackberry, and some vanillin oak, long finish with a floral note. This is too young for me but I think will be excellent in time, B for drinking now, expect it’ll be an A- in a decade (or two)
2000 Ch. Talbot
Black plum, black cherry, creamy texture with some oaky mocha notes still apparent, this could use a bit less oak and a bit more acid. Still, drinking ok in a midmodern style. B
1998 Ch. Calon Segur
Dark fruit, a little anise, a touch of barnyard. Some grippy tannins, but finishes a bit short. B-
Finished with salad, some cheeses and Betsy’s lemon/berry cake.
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.