Friday we had grilled bluefish for dinner with leftover Cotat, then I heade d out as my local wine group met at Alex’s house for a night of Pin ot Noir. Alex’s parents were visiting from France, and his dad join ed us. A nice spread of charcuterie and cheeses, and some wines
2005 Chapuis Corton-Charlemagne I’ve never heard of this producer, but this was a pleasant enough C C. Full bodied, citrus and pit fruits with an overlay of vanillin oak, just entering maturity. BBlind reds (we knew Old World PN)
#1-Tart, cranberry, good fruit, earth. I liked. I guessed Cote de Beaune, b ut was thinking ‘07 or ‘08.
2012 Drouhin Chorey-les-Beaune B/B+#2- No guesses as it was mine. Once someone got Germany Fred guessed produc er. Fresh, light, bright raspberry and cherry fruit, spicy, fun. 2014 Ender le and Moll Pinot Noir (Baden) B+
#3- Red fruit, somewhat funky, good flavors but a touch volatile. 2010 Chri stian Venie "La Pierre aux Chiens" Cheverny (Fred says 100% PN) B
#4- Cherry jam, kirsch, raw oak, overripe but a bit short. 2015 d'Autrefois Pinot Noir Reserve (I think this was VDP d’Oc) C+/C
#5 red cherry, light green pepper, easy to drink. Dave wins prize for first Bulgarian wine ever served to this group. It’s actually quite drin kable. V Vini Pinot Noir (forgot to note vintage) B-
I had a non-blind bonus bottle, the 1993 Moine-Hudelot Chambolle Musigny 1e r. ‘93 acids, raspberry and cranberry framed with leather and earth , but not very long. B/B- (others liked more)
Fun night, if not most spectacular wines.
Saturday Betsy made a lamb and white bean stew with orzo, I did some baby b ok choy (in a rather European style) to accompany. Wine was the 2014 Barou “Cuvee de Vernes” Syrah. I’ve liked this in previou s vintages but this seems heavier/duller to me. Darker fruits, some pepper, decent acids, but somehow no excitement. Still, not bad for $12 Syrah. B-
Sunday was salmon with olives, rice, broccoli, and salad. Wine was the 2001 Saintsbury Pinot Noir Reserve (Carneros). I liked the mid-90s Saintsbury w ines a lot, but was less happy in early aughts, and this was an orphan bott le that I’d forgotten about. The good news is the fruit is still th ere, but this is a tad hot (14.5 degrees, which isn’t so high, but it shows). Black cherries, a little oak still, mushrooms. Not sure anything gained by aging this, but it’s alive. B-
On Halloween my little village closes out downtown, and kids trick or treat on streets. Gave out about 3000 pieces of candy, then headed home for asso rted leftovers while occasionally going to door for neighborhood kids (and a few others). Opened the 2015 Schafer-Frohlich Felseneck Kabinett - easily wine of the weekend+. I won’t say this is classic Kabinett, I? ??m sure in old days this would have been a Spatlese, but it has what I love for in a Kab- racy acids, pure clean flavors, and a long finish. Appl e, fruit blossoms, slatey minerality. Zippy with beautiful finish. A-
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 p arty where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivi ty, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.