Betsy was supposed to join me at another wine dinner while Gelbs were here, but wasn’t feeling well Sat. So I went to Twin Tails solo, joining 4 couples.
2008 Bollinger Grand Annee
White peach, hazelnut, brioche, very full bodied. Very well made, but not really my style (though pretty good with fried chicken). B/B+
Fried chicken tenders with creme fraiche and caviar
Whole Royal Dorade Sashimi, with salsa verde and a calamansi sauce
2010 Fevre Les Clos Chablis
Young, grapefruit and apple, orange zest, flinty mineral, long. A-
2013 Dauvissat-Camus (R&V)Les Clos Chablis
A bit dark, but shows well. Oystershell, lemon, citrus blossoms, long, A-
Lobster Spring rolls
Lime leaves stuffed with beef
2016 Pierre Ravaut Corton Charlemagne
Nice sweet fruit (apple and pear), lemon, apple blossom, vanilla. Good (not producer I know) B+
2017 Clos de la Chapelle Corton Charlemagne
Sweet pear fruit, citrus zest, almonds, touch of oak, rocky finish. B+
These showed very similarly!
Branzino with Mekong salsa verde
Dover sole with Tom Kai Beurre Blanc
Coconut rice
2006 Hospice de Beaune (Bouchard/HAG) Volnay-Santenots 1er
Ripe red fruit, a bit foursquare, vanillin oak, modest finish. B/B-
2005 Bouchard Les Damodes Nuits St George 1er
Still plenty of oak notes, but attractive black raspberry and cherry fruit, hint of sandalwood, good finish. B/B+
1997 Jadot Bonnes Mares
Jacques outdid basically everyone in 1997. Rich dark fruit, anise, incense, with some truffly/earthy notes. A pointe, and a treat. B+/A-
1999 Jadot Bonnes Mare
Young and a little tight, muscular, this needs some time but lots of potential there. B for now, could be A-
Cho Lon Duck (slices with crepes, plus fried wings and legs)
Pad Thai
1989 Montrose
A very good bottle of this, a horse passes by but doesn’t #$%^ on you. Cassis, violets, saddle leather and Chinese 5 spice. Lovely texture, long. A-
1995 Montrose
Opened at restaurant, some sediment issues. Black currant, some ferric notes, but comparatively simple and foursquare. Big but not complex, a bit Cos-y. B
Steak
Shaking beef
Broccolini
Crab Fried rice
For the dessert eaters there was an assortment including 2 souffles (chocolate and pistachio). A chocolate tort, and a lemon cheesecake (that seemed to be inside the lemons!)
Fine meal, fine wines, fine company.
Sunday was oysters, followed by grey sole, hakurei turnips and greens, and salad.
2023 Servin Montee de Tonnerre Chablis 1er
Snappy acids, lemon and oyster shell, floral. Bright, fresh, and complex. B+/A
No wines Meatless Monday with linguine with porcini/truffle sauce, Beyond hot Italian sausage, broccoli rabe.
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 the only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.