No Runs Tuesday or Wednesday (driving to city and board meeting), Thursday I made a pork/cauliflower casserole, and opened the 2009 Knoll Ried Kellerb erg Durnsteiner Riesling Smaragd. Ripe exotic fruit (guava, mango) with spl endid acids, powerful but not overbearing. There’s a gingery note t o finish. Very tasty. A-
Friday was assorted leftovers, and I opened a bottle of the 2008 St Cosme “Les Deux Albion” Cotes du Rhone that was accidentally cel lared. Fruit is holding on, but I kind of wish it wasn’t - jammy da rk fruits, sweet edged, thick tasting. C+
I really couldn’t face drinking the CdR (though I revisited a coupl e of times), and for my dinner opened the 2015 Abbattuci “Faustine ” rose. Not a fruit driven rose, though there’s plenty of s trawberries there, but mingled with herbs, wet rocks, and pine needle. B+
Saturday was local flounder with a caper sauce, lentil salad, leeks, and ar ugula. Wine was the
2014 Fichet Bourgogne Aligote. Typical Aligote acids, lemon and orange, tan gy without being sharp. Good value. B/B+
A couple of friends came over Sunday. I had canapes of smoked salmon on pum pernickel with a horseradish spread, and opened the NV Le Mesnil “R are Wine Company Cuvee” Blanc de Blanc Champagne. This is a co-op w ine that RWC contracts for, and they recently had on sale ($26) with free s hipping. Really a fine deal. Pure Chardonnay fruit (green apple and pear), warm bread, nice chalky note on finish. You’re not going to mistake this for Comtes, but as good of a under$30 BdB as I’ve had in many years. B+
There was also the 2013 Ehmoser “Hohenberg” Gruner Veltline r, Peach, pear, and a little white pepper. Good typicity, if not especially exciting. B/B-
I had made mushrooms and pak choi, had some tuna steaks for the grill, and Marc brought a lovely 2 lb ribeye from our new whole animal butcher. Grille d the surf and the turf, and we had a couple of reds
1986 Sociando-Mallet Took a little while in the decanter to sort itself out, but quite nice once it does. Still a bit of tannin, but not intrusive, solid cassis fruit with cedar, green herbs, and a little anise. Good length, pretty classic Socian do. B+
2007 Bart “Echezots” Marsannay A pointe, sweet black cherry fruit, double smoked bacon, earth. Nice balanc e, good finish. Seems like ‘07s are mostly drinking nicely now. B+
Fun night. No wine Monday with white beans, sauteed arugula, and leftovers.
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.
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