TN: US (NY & CA), FR (Loire, Burg), IT (Tuscany, Lazio), DE

With swordfish, the 2014 Pinon "Deronnieres" Vouvray. A little sweeter than expected, more demi-sec than sec-tendre, but nice lemony acidity balances the sweetness. Wax, flowers, and pit fruits. Fresh with nice length. B+

A friend recenty gave me 2 bottles of NY Cab Franc. The Bedell Cellars Cab ernet Franc (North Fork) is corked. With assorted leftovers, the 2013 Inspi re Moore "Wisdom" Cabernet Franc. Softer & sweeter style of CF, but with a bit of a weedy note on backend. B-/C+

With salmon, the 2011 Rapet "Ile de Vergelesses" Pernand-Vergelesses 1er C ru. This was pretty tight at first and I worried it would stay shut down, b ut it perked up and filled out nicely. Once it opened some floral notes on top of the red and black cherry fruit, and some earthier notes. Tannin is a bit obvious, I'll hold off on rest of these. B/B+ for drinking now with po tential for improvement. Saturday we walked to some friends for a dinner party, they started us on p atio watching sunset with charcuterie, olives, pesto, and the 2013 Eminence Road Farms Gewurztraminer. Rich, full, peach, lychee, ginger. I was a litt le sceptical of Gewurztraminer as an apertif, but it did well. B+/B

Inside for prosciutto wrapped asparagus, followed by brisket in a tomato br aise, lentils with eggplant, potatoes.

2013 Eminence Road Farms Cabernet Franc Dark berries, herbs, just a hint of green pepper. Spicy and long. B+

2006 Fontodi Chianti Classico Tannic but without hardness, big black cherry fruit with leather and a litt le mocha. B+

There was dessert and a couple of Bobolink cheeses, with:

2000 Domaine des Sablonnettes Coteaux du Layon Vieilles Vignes Soft (for Loire CB approaching flabby),, cheesey, some wax and wool, modera te sweetness, alive but a rather uninteresting take on Chenin Blanc. C+

Sunday some friends and their pooch visited. The dogs had marrow bones, whi le we started with Ron's smoked seatrout and my tomatillo guacamole. Start er was the NV Chollet "Oeil de Perdrix" Cremant de Bourgogne. Dry, crisp, b ut with a little metallic edge, and a somewhat clipped finish. C+

Main was feta-brined chicken over arugula, with basil chickpeas & spicy bro ccoli rabe.

2014 Keller "von der Fels" Riesling Dry, minerally, citrus zest and wet rocks. Plenty of acid but balanced by pit and citrus fruit. Full and long. I often think Keller is a little overh yped but this is very very good. B+/A- 2007 Donkey & Goat "Recluse" Syrah Fuller than I remembered, sweet black fruit and bacon, earth, some tannin, good length. B+

1995 Falesco Montiano Soft, tobacco and plum, good but a little less fresh than another recent bo ttle. B

No wine Monday with a Thai vegetable curry

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.

Reply to
DaleW
Loading thread data ...

I know what you mean about Keller. Their wines were ubiquitous in Munich when we were there, giving rise to the impression that they're a Gallo-like operation, yet I read about the praise for Keller's GGs. I have the '12 von der Fels in the cellar and some '14 on the way. Based on Gilman's comments, I have high hopes for both.

Mark Lipton

Reply to
Mark Lipton

I've always liked the wines, just haven't seen the values in some of the GGs, but haven't had that many. On under $30 bottles I think the trockens are definitely better than the off-drys.

Reply to
DaleW

DrinksForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.