Great weather for a concert by the river, we carried duck breast and grapes over purslane (our favorite weed), caprese, potato salad, and broccolini. I’d had a few days of no wine (caloric reasons), was ready to try some
2011 Jadot Clos des Ursules Beaune 1er I had planned on this, but chose another bottle after CT notes made it sound pretty closed. And then somehow opened wrong bottle. Damn. And this was pretty angry at being opened- some deep cranberry/raspberry fruit, but high acids and hard tannins. Keep away, keep away. C+ for drinking now2022 Peyrassol “Commanderie” (Cotes de Provence) Pale, strawberry and melon, decent Provencal rose. B
2018 Chateau du Bernat 'Lartique' Bordeaux Superieur Merloty black plum, anise, soft and easy BMet friends at St George in Hastings Thursday, sat outside and enjoyed good company. I had excellent beef tartare and good curried mussels (with nice frites), Betsy had a good if salty mushroom soup and ok steak.
2008 Piuze Les Clos Sweet lemon, orange zest, good acids, nice chalky/mineral finish. Just slightest hint of almonds indicating its got some sage. B+/A-2004 Bonneau “Reserve de Celestins” Chateauneuf-du-Pape I don’t drink CdP often, but when I do I want it to be Bonneau (or Rayas). Red cherry, fennel, underbrush, but I thought heat was creeping in back end. Put it in ice bucket for sbit, liked more cool, a real treat, B+
Gathered some friends old and new on patio Friday, perfect night to dine outdoors. Betsy had made dinner with a kind of Middle Eastern theme - meze (hummus, baba ganoush, Armenian pepper dip, taramasalata, olives) followed by 2 dishes from Ottolenghi- a broccoli/gorgonzola pie and a spiced chickpea salad (peppers, onions, radishes, tomatoes, cukes)
2018 Bisol Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore Relio Rive di Guia Brut This is an expensive Prosecco, which tastes like a cheap Prosecco. Applesauce, canned peaches, no real precision, C+2022 Tiberio Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo Dark color, fresh and zesty, Bing cherry and strawberry, oregano. Super food friendly. B+
2002 Camille Giroud Vosne-Romanee No memory of buying this, but it turned out pretty well. Some Vosne spice, but a little more burly than expected, more NSG or Gevrey. Fairly dense red and black cherry, some earth, that spicy note. No hurry. B+/BGrade 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 party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.