Friday we went up to Scarborough for dinner with friends. We were greeted w ith dips and chips, dinner was a vegan chili and, salad, all delicious. I f urnished the wines
2013 Pinon Vouvray Doesn’t say Cuvee Tradition, but this is a lovely sec-tendre. Flora l, delicate, lovely, a wonder in a vintage that was so rough on the produce r. Bravo. B+/A- 2002 Montevetrano Jim likes bigger reds, this fit the bill. Big dark fruit, cocoa, still tann ic. BSaturday a local church had a Mardi Gras gala, we arranged a table. A recep tion with a silent auction and appetizers (I liked the crawfish), then a co ncert with Mark Morganelli and the Jazz Forum All Stars, then dinner. Dinne r was Louisiana bouillabaisse, followed by a buffet (jambalaya, shrimp creo le, blackened salmon, chicken, red beans and rice, etc). Then I acted (poor ly) as auctioneer for the live auction while people enjoyed their Bourbon p ecan pie.
The wines poured at reception and dinner NV Jaume Serra Cristalino Brut Cava Light, apple and pear, straightforward and fruity. B-
2016 Pajot “Les Quatre Cepage” (Gascogne) Melon and pit fruits, but lacking in acid and interest. C+2015 Domaine Isle Saint-Pierre Red fruits, a little spice, round, not bad. B-
I’d brought 2-3 bottles each of some wines I had oversupply of to s upplement what church was furnishing for dinner
1996 Fonterutoli Chianti So I opened the case+ of wine I had brought, set aside one of these as cork ed. Put way back on table, but after concert realized server was pouring! I stopped the TCA flow. Other bottle was good- black cherry and some plum, a little cedar, leather. B2003 Domaine St. Benoit Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grande Garde Ok, on the category of 2003 CdP this is rather restrained, though there is a slight roasted take to the red fruit, it comes across as medium bodied. R ed fruits, herbs, not too long. One bottle was slightly horsey, but other n ot, and I didn’t get the possible brett when I sniffed again. B/B-
2007 Donkey and Goat “Recluse” Syrah Dark berry, woodsmoke, a little bacony edge. Good. B+1996 Sandro Fay Sforzato di Valtellina Dried cherry, red plum, licorice, tar. Some oxidative notes appear, nutty/c aramelly, time to drink up. B/B-
2007 Ch. Belair (St. Emilion) Actually sniffed this for TCA but think I never tasted.1998 Vieux Chateau Charvin (St Emilion) midbodied, black plum and cherry, leather, earth. Nice ripe balanced Merlot . B/B+
2014 Pepiere “Briords” Muscadet Long, clean, saliney/briney, bright. A-/B+1993 Dr. Loosen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett Surprise of the night- fairly sweet, but strong citric acids buoying up som e green apple and melon fruit. Good chalky/minerally finish. A-
1970 Ch. Lascombes (Margaux) Black plum fruit is holding on, but the structure is a shell- tannins are g one and acids are soft. Folks enjoy, but not what I hoped for. B-/B1989 Beringer Bancroft Ranch Merlot Surprise red of the night- offvintage but young and delicious, fresher than a bottle a few years ago, black fruit with mocha and tobacco, quite fun. B
+/A-1999 Falesco Montiano Surprisingly still rather tannic, somewhat stunted plum fruit, fading a tou ch, a bit of a disappointment though some at table loved. B-/C+
1983 Bergweiler-Prum Erben Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Eiswein Good acids, bright lemon custard and apple fruit, a little almond note, tas ty but what was gained by aging? B/B+ 1998 Tommaso Bussola “TB” Recioto della Valpolicella (500 m l) Raisins, coffee, caramel. Sweet but with some acid. Enjoyable, but I? ?d not pay retail for this (got as part of a mixed lot). BFun night, good cause, liked the painting we got at auction, had fun except when auctioning.
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.