Last night a delightful group got together to welcome JC (Jane) who was stopping in NYC after a trip to the Finger Lakes. We went back to La Grolla, where Jay, Paulo,and I had all eaten Memorial Day weekend. A nice round banquette, eager service, and mostly good food. I really enjoyed my spinach salad w/pancetta and shiitake, the veal ragu was the highlight of the meal,and my duck breast was good (if a bit overdone). Betsy's smoked trout ravioli were nice but would have benefited from a bit of sauce; her lamb chops were tasty if unexceptional. In general I think people really appreciated the food.
A nice assortment of wines, with 6 of us plenty of chances to revist, and people nicely chose wines in an attempt to please others. Really a fun group of people, and I quite enjoyed myself (of course, I always like having Betsy along, especially when she is designated driver).
NV Camille Saves Brut Champagne Bright fruity nose, kind of an apple melange, Granny Smith and Golden Delicious. Light chalky note, just a hint of fresh-baked bread. Pretty but not compelling (someone said it blossomed later, but I didn't retry). B
2004 Bibi Graetz "Bugia Bianco" (Toscana ) Apparently this is from Ansonica grapes, grown on an island off Tuscany. Big unusual nose, kind of the bastard child of a Meursault and a Falanghina. Butterscotch, almonds, and pears. A little oaky and angular. Interesting, but I wouldn't pay the $50ish price tag at my local store (this was a gift).B2006 Hermann J. Wiemer Dry Riesling One of the nicer Finger Lakes Rieslings I've run across, really pretty. Very floral nose, with some spiced apple notes. On the palate there is just a pleasant hint of bitter over clean fresh fruit. I quite enjoy. B+
2004 Donnhoff Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Spatlese Tight and ungiving at first, revisited much later a delicious Riesling had emerged. Peach and grapefruit over a layer of minerals, great length, nice balance between acidity and sugar. Better with cheese than as an apertif. A-1980 Henri Boillot "Les Rugiens" Pommard 1er Cru I had brought a backup bottle of Lafarge in case this didn't show well. It stayed in bag. Not for those that value fruit above all else, but popular at our table. Cedar, smoke, mushrooms, and peatmoss waft above the red cherry fruit, a little sharp on palate but with food it goes down smooth. A distinct graphite note that I'd associate more with mature Bordeaux on the finish, yet it blends in seamlessly with the more typical Burgundy notes of forest floor and fungi. After awhile Jay gets some brett notes in his glass, I smell it too, but very light- in my glass it's more a light gamy note. Revisited through night it remains delightful, while putting on some weight and developing coffee aromas. My WOTN (by a hair). A-
1978 Haut-Bailly (Graves) Pretty tight at first. Does well later with some hard cheeses. Medium-bodied, good acidity, resolved tannins. Red fruit, some tobacco and cedar. I wish I had taken more time to appreciate, I just was enjoying the Pommard and Spanna too much. B1958 Vallana Spanna Oh yeah, the Spanna. Youthful and vibrant, still a bit of tannin, pretty red cherry and plum fruit with orange peel, earth, Doesn't budge over 3 hours. I'll not contest those who claim there's a bit of Taurasi fortification here. A-/B+
1990 Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico OK, for those that say Amarone is good with duck, I admit you're right (at least with duck with a balsamic reduction). Black plum, raisins, leather. Nice old-fashioned medium-bodied Amarone, still some tannins, good length. One person found it too acidic, I thought it one of the lower acid reds on table. B+1999 Domaine Arlaud Morey "Les Ruchots" Cuvee Unique St. Denis 1er Cru JC worried that this might be too woody- she had the Arlaud Ruchots before, but this was the NBI Cuvee Unique. It was showing some oak, with red fruit and a little mineral on finish. A little more cellar age to integrate the oak more might help. This was opened too late in the evening to give it a chance to develop. A possibly unfair B-, would like to try again in 3-5 years with an evening to watch it.
NV Glenora Port By the time this came around, I was winding down, and a bit more interested in retrying some of the earlier wines with my cheese. I did try a little of this with the gorgonzola, reminded me of a ruby. I didn't pay enough attention.
2006 Pineto Brachetto d'Acqui Fun and bright Brachetto, macerated cherries with a little hint of strawberry, light fizz. I like, but as always with Brachetto think I'd as soon spend a few less dollars for a Bugey-Cerdon . BThanks everyone!
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 party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency