Betsy made a stirfry with chicken and eggplant, I opened the 2012 Donnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg Kabinett. Moderate sweetness, nervy acids, excellent length. Tangy, with pear juice and lime. I enjoyed this a lot. B+/A-
One of David's best friends from the UK is visiting NYC, we hosted a small dinner party last night.
NV Baron D'Auvergne Oeil de Pedrix Brut This is a very very pale salmon color, full bodied bubbly with good acids, fine mousse, and good length. Dosage is on higher side, but a lovely large framed bubbly. B+
First course was cauliflower steaks over cauliflower puree, I had realized this would be a first course, galloped to cellar and grabbed one of the fir st white I was, the 2011 Tissot "Empreinte" Chardonnay (Arbois). I liked th is a bit more than previously, nice pairing with the food, a full balanced Chardonnay with just a little oak, but crisp white fruits. B+
Main course was short ribs braised in Chimay, accompanied by a kale salad a nd some red wine
2006 Ferraton "Les Miaux"Hermitage Ripe black cherry, low to moderate acids, modest tannins. Pretty good len gth. Not sure that I see anything identifiably Hermitage here. B/B-1988 Ch. Meyney Drinking very well- leather, just a little Cordier funk, plenty of black cu rrant fruit. Tannins mostly resolved but enough with the acids that there i s definite structure. Good showing. B+/A-
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a pa rty where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivit y, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.