Wednesday NY looked like a scene from "Noah", but I drove Betsy, her sister , her mom, and a friend to Williamsburg where Dave gave a tour of Mast Brot hers Chocolate (fascinating process, though I don't eat chocolate). Then th ey went to dinner while I hopped on the L train to Chelsea. I arrived at Fr anco's to be greeted with waygu bresaola, great burrata, and a mag of the N V Benoit Lahaye "Essential" Champagne Brut, Apples and white cherry, fullbo died, nice balance, I quite liked B+/A-
To table for the Musar-a-thon. The first flight was with a great assortment of cheeses and a delicious rabbit pate
1991 Ch. Musar (blanc)-darkest color, brassy, cider-y, but fresh. B
1993 Ch. Musar (blanc) lightest, soft acids, nice flavors. B/B-1995 Ch. Musar (blanc) full, rather tropical fruit, honied, floral, long. B+
Arianna had made a chicken liver mousse with a shallot/raisin chutney (whic h someone said reminded them of charoset) which went well with next flight:
1967 Ch. Musar (blanc) Tiring, cheesy, a lot of VA, but actually gets a bit better with air. B-1969 Ch. Musar (blanc) rich, full, ripe, waxy (kind of Chenin-like) B
1975 Ch. Musar (blanc) Nutty, saline, I think it runs a little hot. B/B-One thing I should say was disagreement about favorites was rampant for who le night for both whites and reds- I don't think there was a consensus favo rite among group. While we disagreed about individual wines, I think I'll concur with John's opinion that older whites seemed to have survived well, but without adding a lot of complexity.
We moved on to reds, with the first flight served with smoked morels and pe as en papillote.
1959 Ch. Musar Full, rich, red fruited, a bit of brett, rather CdPape-ish. A-/B+1961 Ch. Musar This was the turnaround of the night. When this was first poured I didn't t hink I could drink it- all prunes and caramel. But the pruneyness seemed to fade (to me, again others disagreed) and it became much nicer- still a lit tle brown sugar, but on ripe plum rather than overripe/roasted fruit. B+/A-
1964 Ch. Musar Ripe, also reminiscent of CdP, less delineated/precise than flightmates. B-Next flight served with lamb on pita with labneh
1969 Ch. Musar Now this one really separated folks. Clear brett, but for me this was "a wa lk through the barnyard" while for others it was more "stuck in a traffic jam next to urban sewage treatment plant." Manure, earth, leather over red fruits. B+1975 Ch. Musar Again, my least favorite was a leader for others. Brett with a metallic mee ts band aid edge, a bit short. B-
1978 Ch. Musar Sweet, spicy, good, my favorite of flight. B+/A-1979 Ch. Musar Lighter framed, more delicate, this is more Burg than CdP. B+
Last four reds served in two flights
1986 Ch. Musar Bright, floral, red fruits, mushroomy. B+1989 Ch. Musar Others really liked, I thought a tad volatile and a tad hot. Good flavors o therwise. B/B-
1991 Ch. Musar Bright, high toned, nice texture I quite liked at first, but picked up a ju st a hint of pruney note with time in glass, but not enough to keep from f avors. B+/A- 1994 Ch. Musar A bit muddy in flavors, ripe red plum, cocoa, good acids but feels plodding . BOverall a very enjoyable dinner, thanks Craig for organizing.
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a pa rty where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivit y, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.