A little going away event for Salil got moved to my place rather than city, easier on a work night. We had baba ganoush, lamb, stuffed squash blossoms , salad, squash, smoked trout ( I missed Betsy, she would have done a bette r job with the blossoms and wouldn’t have overdressed salad). Salil brought chicken and dal, Cathleen and Steve brought a nice cheese ass ortment. Special thanks to Steve for his grilled help as I struggled to get stuff to gether (no Betsy and a work day meant I was a bit behind)
On the patio
2009 Colet Navazos A sparkling wine produced in a flor environment, but didn’t remind me of sherry. Nice complex yeasty nose, simpler on palate with apples and c itrus zest. B1985 Moet & Chandon Dom Perignon I really thought this was teetering on the edge when first opened, but it r evived a bit. This particular bottle tasted more like it was from 70s, but experienced people thought it was the bottle. It actually got better when r evisited after a couple hours, powerful style with lovely bready/nutty fini sh. B+/B
1989 Trimbach Gewurztraminer I blinded group- Salil got Alsace, John Gewurz and Trimbach on first guesse s, but they assumed the SdR, everyone was surprised there was so much life in a yellow label at 27. Lychee, ginger, good acid for Gewurz. BBack to table
1971 Sterling Pinot Noir I’ve had some good bottles of this, but not this one (fill was fair ly low and cork a little sunken). Dead, dead, is no more, bereft of life, t his is an ex-pinot C-1986 Ch. L’ Arrosee Nice showing like last week. Pretty, sweet black plums with cigarbox and co ffee. Gets a little leafy in a nice way. A-/B+
1986 Ch Pichon Lalande A little tight at first, showing that ‘86 Medoc masculine side , op ens nicely towards end, cassis with pencil shavings, tobacco, and earth. A- /B+1981 Ch. Pichon Lalande Drinking well if you don’t mind a touch of barnyard.Good dark fruit s, a pointe, good finish. B+
1959 Ch. Talbot Thanks Salil. Nice truffly/mushroomy note on nose, fresh black fruit, nice acidic balance. Long and full, holds up well over couple hours. A-1990 Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape This a nice ripe mature CdP, but there’s a bit of VA, Fleshy, spice , red fruited, but a little disjointed. Maybe a teeny bit off? B
1993 Taittinger Comtes des Champagnes I don’t know much about ‘93 Champagne but maybe I should le arn. Lovely BdB, fine mousse, citrus and chalk, elegant. A-2001 JJ Christoffel Urziger Wurzgarten Spatlese Couldn’t have a Salil event without Riesling. Vibrant acids, rich s picy fruits, beautiful tension. Full and very long. I so love 2001 Mosel. A-
Good way to send off Salil to the Midwest
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.