Thursday Betsy made corned beef and cabbage, a dish that I tradtionally serve with Riesling (what, I ask, if the dish if not a riff on choucroute?). Wine was the 2009 AJ Adam "Hofberg" Kabinett (Mosel). Clean apple and peach fruit, big, powerful for Kabinett. Good length, laser pointer acidity, mineral. Very very nice. B+/A-
Friday was another table d'hote event by my friends Alex and Fred. Main course was cassoulet, so I picked out a dependable mag of Madiran and a very iffy old bottle of Fronton, and decided to double decant for sediment. Mag smelled fine, and I packed it to go. The Fronton I decided out of politeness to leave behind
1987 Ch. Bellevue La Foret (Cotes du Frontonnais) No one in their right mind ages Negrette 20+ years, but this was $5 as a shipping filler. I occasionally like to try longshots. Once in a blue moon they pay off, this wasn't one of those. This wine is passed on! This wine is no more! This wine has ceased to be! This wine expired and gone to meet its maker! This wine's a stiff! Bereft of life, this wine rests in peace! This wine's kicked the bucket, THIS IS AN EX-WINE! FSo we get to the dinner, during the stand around meet'n'greet there's beautful little glasses of gravlax with mild pink peppercorns, the wine is the NV Delacroix (Vin mousseux de qualite) . A Chardonnay/Chenin blend, just a hint of RS, apple cider, rather simple but I've had far worse cheap bubblies. B-
First sitdown course was a chilled zucchini soup, served with the
2008 Olivier Morin Bourgogne-Chitry. More minerally than fruity, flinty and chalky, good acidity, fresh. Good match to cut the cream of the soup, nice wine. BMain course was delicious, duck and garlic sausage cassoulet. Fred served the 2007 Ch. Payral (Bergerac). Fairly round, fresh black plum fruit, just a hint of earth. B-
Ned had also brought a bonus wine, the 2005 Albrecht Pinot Noir. Darker and bulkier than I expect for Alsace PN, nice fruit but with a surprising new oak note and a funny celery seed edge. B-
The magnum was the 1996 Ch. Montus "Cuvee Prestige" Madiran. Solid black fruit, a bit of barnyard, mostly integrated oak, earth. Not glossy, drinking well from mag. B+
Dessert was creme brulee, and I passed around a bottle of the 2003 Coutet (Barsac). Peaches and tangerines, honey, large framed but pretty good acidity considering the year. Nice to have an occasion to open a full bottle of Sauternes. B+
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.