With flounder, broccoli rabe, and quinoa, I opened the 2010 Thomas-Labaille “Les Monts Damnes- Cuvee Buster” Sancerre. I’ve ha d some lovely 2010 Sancerres lately, so don’t think this is a repre sentative bottle. Slightly nutty, flat, short. I assume heat damage. This b ottle C+/B-
Replacement was 2015 Forja de Salnes “Leirana Finca Genoveva? ? ( Rias Baixas) .Lovely, lively, apple and stone fruits, citrus, long. B
++With Tunisian chicken with winter squash and carrots
2015 Martin Muellen Trarbacher Huhnerberg Kabinett Trocken. I can be scepti cal of dry Mosel, but this is lovely and a bargain. Lime, nectarine, herbs. Sprightly, nice cut. B+Some friends over Saturday night
Guinea hen pate, coppa, bresaola
2004 Moutard “Cepage Arbane VV” Champagne Probably my first pure Arbane. Peach and apple, softer than my preference, but flavorful. Not a lot of finish, and no leesy or yeasty notes. Rather re strained petillance. Others loved. B-I made scallop crudo with watermelon radish and shiso for first course, and used guests as test subjects in a cull party (2 wines I got in mixed lots where I wanted other wines)
1975 Tremblay “Les Clos” Chablis GC Whiskey colored, no real hopes, which kept hopes from being dashed. Oxidize d and volatile. D1976 Laleure-Piot Corton-Charlemagne GC I believe off year for white Burg, but good color and fill, I figured 50% c hance drinkable. I won. Some nutty oxidative notes, but not inappropriate f or 40+. Apricot, honey (botrytis?), moderate acids. Just slightly sherried. Interesting, but not especially delicious. B-/C+ . Betsy had made lamb and white bean stew, and salad
1999 Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny 1er Red fruit and spice. Nice texture, good acids, some fine tannin. Red plum a nd cherry, spice, truffle. Nice length. Delicious (though it didn’t fare well overnight) A-/B+2015 Giovanni Rosso Nebbiolo (Langhe) Pretty, easy, red fruited with a little floral note (holds up well overnigh t). B
Guests brought flourless chocolate cake and cheese
1996 Gini Recioto di Soave Renobilis (375) Sultanas, apple pie, caramel. Doesn’t taste its age but needs more acid. Sent home most of bottle with Andy. B-Friday was Ruby’s actual birthday, but Sunday was the birthday tea. Our backyard was host to a beagle mix, a bloodhound mix, 2 pugs, a Dachshund, and a great Pyrennes mix puppy. Lots of barking, lots of running. Very cool day, Betsy had hot tea and warm cider for the humans, I opened the 2002 Hug Cellars “Basse tti” Syrah. Whew. I should stick to ESJ for Basset birthday. Overri pe, I’ve never been to prison but imagine Pruno might taste like th is. Overwhelming VA, supersweet. Seems to be a little petillance in glass. I offer to open the Mulderbosch Faithful Hound but party is ending. C-
That night oysters, striped bass with mild horseradish sauce, chard/beet gr eens, golden and Chioggia beets, sweet potato. Wine was the 2013 Domaine Bo yer-Martenot Meursault En L'Ormeau. New producer to me. Full, slightly trop ical but with good cut, nice village wine. B/B+
No wine Monday with Cornish game hens with sumac and pomegranate and an exc ellent beet salad with whipped goat cheese.
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.