TN: "wacky " labels, Sancerres, Madiran, Cahors, Mugnier, etc

Since this week we have opposing schedules, we decided to celebrate Valenti ne’s Day a little early at Saint George in Hastings. Betsy started with a half dozen oysters, I had escargot, we split a salad. I had brought a red but we ordered a glass of Macon-Villages (didn’t note produce r) for her oysters, typical and acceptable. Mains were duck breast and stea k frites, the wine I’d brought was the 2006 Mugnier “Clos d e la Marechale” Nuits St George 1er. Nice showing- black cherry, co coa, earth. A bit of tannin but fairly smooth, balanced acids, good length. With time an almost Barolo-like tar note, and some smoke. Betsy’s not geeky, but pleased on date night to have a wine where we’d trie d barrel samples at winery 11 years ago. A-

Friday with leftovers (pork, cauliflower, couscous) the 2000 Tronquoy-Lalan de (St.-Estephe). Fully mature, black plum and cassis, a little tobacco. Resolved tannins, lo wer acid. B

Then I went over to Roger’s for non-serious wine group. How non-ser ious? Theme was “Wacky/Unusual Labels.” ooookkkaayyy. Roger had 5 kinds of grilled sausage (bratwurst, knockwurst, merguez, chicken/ap ple and bockwurst), cheeses, etc.

Wine #1- pleasantly grapey, floral, easy to drink. I thought Gamay. Label w as indeed unusual, dense black and white graphics with skulls, 8balls, etc- kind of tattoo art. B-

2016 Vividor (100% Bobal, Utiel Requena)

Wine #2- some others liked more than me. Fleshy, jammy, sweetish, my guess was inexpensive Australian. Label is a comic style imnage of a tattooed wom an, apparently named after a bad song (which Roger tortured us with). C+ 20

15 If You See Kay (Lazio IGT)

Wine #3 -mine, Floral nose, black cherry and berries, earth and a little ro ast beef. Good balance, ready to go. Group guessed N. Rhone. A-/B+

2007 Donkey and Goat “The Recluse- Broken Leg Vineyard” Syr ah (Anderson Valley)

Wine #4- Sweet berry, some vanilla. Big 8 on label, smaler 200 is this 2008 ? Tastes younger. B-/C+

2008 (?) Cellar No. 8 Zinfandel

Wine #5 - a little green note, red berries, some cedar and dill. I guessed a slightly tired Cab Franc, dill should have tipped me to Rioja. B-/B 2001 Faustino Rioja Gran Reserva

Wine #6 - Raspberry and cranberry, quite herby, a little pine. Lightbodied but quite tasty. I got Loire and then Grolleau (after someone’s mis sed Gamay guess), but Fred had said from CSW, so partially deduction/social engineering. Label has picture of Kim Basinger from 9 ½ weeks. B+

2016 Delmee Martin 10 ½ Weeks

Fun night

Saturday we picked up some friends and drove north in the rain to Garrison for dinner. With rilletes, pates, cheeses, almonds, etc

NV Medici Ermete “I Quercioli” Lambrusco Secco Concord grape, perfume, lightly sparking, moderate sweetness, fun. B-/B

NV Can Xa Cava Light, appley, a little dull. B-/C+

A break as our friend chose a painting from a couple brought from Boston by artist for approval, and then we sat down to cassoulet and salad (followed by pears in red wine)

1991 Berthoumieu “Tradition” Madiran From a cold cellar. Double--decanted before the drive, sweet plum fruit, a little meaty note, some earth. Has held up well. B/B+

1999 Clos de la Coutale Cahors Warm almost roasted fruit, just a little tannin, bright acids, not too long . B

Sunday afternoon we went to some friends for a pre-Valentine open house. Lo ts of food, I didn’t eat, and I skipped the Cavit PG, but did sampl e the 2011 Billards St Amour I brought. Lovely showing - bright acids, cran berry and cherry, smoke and herbs. Good length. B+/A-

That night oysters , lemon sole, leftover couscous, sauteed zucchini, salad

2007 Pascal Cotat Monts Les Monts Damnees Sancerre Advanced, really surprised, I’ve had good luck with the ‘07 s, will open another soon to check in. C+

The replacement

2016 Thomas-Labaille Les Monts Damnees Sancerre Classic Chavigno. Grapefruit and a little gooseberry, minerally, a little a pple blossom. Balanced, long, and tasty. B+/A-

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
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Oh Oh, I have 2 bottles of this. Will open one and check tonight.

Reply to
Lawrence Leichtman

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