I forgot one from weekend- 2008 Qupe “Bien Nacido Vineyard The Good Nacido Block X” Syrah. I don’t have a lot of Qupe experien ce (and that mostly white) but picked this up as some posters cited as a no n-Parkerized producer of Syrah. This was not what I expected- dark color, r oasted and toasted on nose, ripe blackberry fruit buried under tannin and o ak. Very tannic finish. I thought a little hot but turns out 13.8. I though t I might be tasting something in the ESJ range but instead this is like ho t climate Petite Sirah. Big and not my style. C+ (sure those who like style would rate much higher)
Monday David joined us at Betsy’s sister for a family party. Cal ma de ricotta/thyme/honey and garlic/parmesan bruschetta; I did prosciutto/fig rolls, cuke with smoked salmon and a curry spread, and potato/creme fraich e/roe canapes. Main course was a red lentil soup with a Brussels sprout sal ad.
2014 Red Newt Dry Riesling Not bone dry, but just a trace of RS. Lighter styled, crisp acids, apple an d peach fruit, not very long but a tasty apertif Riesling. B2014 Bouchard “Les Clous” Meursault Little if any oak notes, ripe pear fruit, hint of butterscotch and honeycom b. Good acids for such ripe fruit. B/B+
1988 Ecard “Narbantons” Savigny-les-Beaune 1er I thought this might be corked at first but it was just some bottle funk th at blew away. Raspberry & cranberry fruit perks up with air, but there is s ome oxidation edging in. Still, shows well and holds on, with the fruit ac cented with spice and sandalwood. BLast night everyone had big days and were too bushed to cook. Betsy? ?s mom took us to Harpers for dinner. I had fried cauliflower and roast c hicken, Betsy had fried oysters and salad, her mom a burger. Owner brought us a plate of robiola ravioli with black truffle. I had driven and declared this no wine night, sad as it turns out if was half-price bottle night and they have a fine list (ESJ Syrah, Arnot Roberts Chard, some Trousseau, and more)
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.