Thursday AM was spent shoveling snow, shoulder was a bit sore and I thought it affected my mood. Made dinner for Betsy and I (shrimp/clam/fennel pasta ) and opened the 2016 Pepiere La Pepie Muscadet. Light, easy, saline, but a bout halfway through meal (and first glass) I realized I was ill. So left r emainder, Betsy used for cooking next 2 nights. I didn’t make any n otes at time, but think a pretty credible effort in a tough year.
By Saturday I was better, a couple of friends helped Betsy start packing up kitchen to prepare for dinner, we had helpers and their spouses for dinner . Starter was smoked salmon on toast with a little mustard/horseradish sauc e, and a summer truffle “salsa” on toast
2010 Yann Alexander Blanc de Blancs Champagne. Acids and tight bubbles, bri ght, green apple, slightly shrill but fun. BMain was meatloaf, with mashed potato/turnips, broccoli and salad.
1989 Ch. Gazin Nice showing with black plums, cocoa, and a distinct smoke note. Tannins ha ve mostly receded, good finish, gets a bit herby at end. B+2012 Calluna Cuvee CVC Nice Bdx blend, black cherry and plum, a bit of vanilla/oak but not overwh elming, good acids, nice framing of tannin. B/B+
Sunday we walked over to some friends for a nice dinner party. Started with liver mousse and garlic pesto canapes
NV Guillot Champagne Brut Appley, sweet, a bit coarse, C+/B-
2016 Caves de Pomerol Picpoul de Pinet Light, citrus and kiwi, easy. B-Then to table, where we started with an excellent scallop carpaccio
2016 Michel Vattan “Calcaire” Sancerre Apples, grass, just a hint of gooseberry. Moderate ripeness, not really a m ineral Sancerre. B-Delicious butterflied Catskill chicken, a Thai risotto (broth had coconut m ilk & lemongrass added), and Swiss chard.
2001 Ch. Bourgneuf Still some tannin, but open and inviting. Red and black plum, a ferric mine ral note, some green garden herbs with air. Not a headturner but a solid va lue Pomerol. Drink or hold. B+2015 Ch., Maris (Minervois) Label proclaims Biodynamic Syrah-Grenache is large print (much larger than producer or appellation). Actually pretty decent in a typical southern/Lang uedoc ripe style, with a peppery note. B/B+
And with a selection of Bobolink cheeses
1999 Kiechlinsberger Olberg Gewurztraminer Eiswein (Baden) (500 ml I think ) Others liked this, certainly alive, with some tropical fruit and marzipan n otes, but I didn’t find at all complex., and not noticably Gewurz-i sh. B-/C+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.