I’m usually pretty on top of my schedule, but realized Th I had totally blanked on hosting my local non-serious group on Friday. Pinot Noir theme, but the coq au vin or Bouef Bourguignon ideas I had required too much time. I altered plan
As folks arrived, boquerones, cheeses (Vt Shepherd Verona, Brie, Epoisses, and a terrible English truffle cheddar), prosciutto, speck, pheasant/rosemary pate, olives.
Blind Bubbles- initial guesses were Champagne and Chardonnay. Hey guys, I stuck to theme.
Tart and tangy, slightly unripe nectarine, pear, and bread dough. Despite the austerity I really like this, as did group. But could use some time to unwind. 2022 Goodfellow Tsai Vineyard Blanc de Noirs. B+
Blind Red # 1= color shows age, nose is a tad bretty but with some floral notes and red cherry, sour cherry, autumn leaves and earth on palate, high acid, not super long. my guess was 1979 or 1980 (based on acids) Cote de Beaune. Rob got vintage. Once Fred said CdN I tried Chambolle. Nope. A Chevillon, but not Robert, never had producer before. 1983 Georges Chevillon Les St Georges Nuits-St Georges B
Blind Red #2 - red and black cherry, a little truffley note, guessed CA but flailed on producer. Ripe but not OTT. 2021 Hanzell Sebella Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast). B
Blind Red # 3 - kirsch and cola, really not my style, somewhat clipped finish. Figured CA, should have guessed RRV. 2022 Rodney Strong Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) C/C+
Here I served sous vide duck breast, potatoes with good butter, sauteed mushrooms (cremini with dried porcini and morels), green beans in duck fat.
Blind Red #4 -mine, group in Burgundy immediately. They all liked. Black fruit, dense, smoke, this is more impressive than delicious. Well done, but in an extracted style I don’t really groove on.2002 de Courcel Grands Epenots Pommard 1er B/B-
Blind Red #5 -light, juicy, somewhat simple but inoffensive, I took a wild shot with a Rogue Valley guess (though maybe Foris) .Wrong continent. 2023 Jelu Pinot Noir (Patagonia) B-
Blind Red #6 someone guess Burgundy, Tom said no but winemaker is, so I took the clue and got Oregon and DDO. Nicely balanced, lively cherry fruit accented with black tea and smoke, nice finish. 2022 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir B+
Blind Red #7- fairly large framed, black cherry and beet, some herbs, we got CA but I went for Santa Barbara (didn’t have the RRV cola). OK 2016 Teac Mor Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) B-
Blind Red #8 - bright, very herby, light but with backbone, most sprightly wine of the night. I went with Loire PN! Another whiff. 2022 Eminence Road Lamb’s Quarters Pinot Noir B+
Saturday oysters, skate with a ginger brown butter, yu choy, leftover potatoes
2014 Karthäuserhof Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Spatlese
Peach, green apple, moderate sweetness, good length. B+
2013 Trimbach Geisberg-Citrus, peach, ginger, spicy and long with a mineral finish. A-/B+
Marinated Korean chicken, eggplant with peanut sauce, Chinese broccoli, and rice with furikake
2020 Tiberio Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo. Typical light red color, cranberry and cherry, bright oregano-ish herbs, nice finish.Going strong though not sure how much has been gained by aging a few years. B+
No wine Monday with shrimp and avocado salad with peanut sauce
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.
