Some friends came over for dinner tonight, I shucked a few oysters, we had some cukes with smoked salmon and creme fraiche, and started with the NV Br emont “Cuvee Prestige” Brut Champagne. I’ve still g ot some of this from a lot several years ago, but this is a fresh graymarke t., Fresh, citrusy, bread and herb notes. Good, and my friend Ron says to s ource him some. Big but bright. B+/A-
Dinner was a couple of small roast chickens, with Ottolenghi green couscous (arugula, herbs, pistachio) and his roast sweet potatoes with lemongrass c reme fraiche.
1995 Edmunds St. John “Les Cotes Sauvages” As others have reported, this is in a nice place. Smoky, meaty, with red fr uits and a touch of herb. The tannins are resolved, raspberry and strawberr y fruit is quite fresh. Fun! A-/B+
2012 Louis Boillot Bourgogne rouge Fresh red cherry fruit, touch of earth, pretty. B
2013 Pinon Vouvray Sec-tendre, apple and wool with an overlay of spring flowers. Tasty. B+ 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.