By late Saturday night, it looked like the "blizzard" had petered out, but awoke Sunday to discover snow coming down heavy, with high winds. Some time on the phone working with my morning groups, and then out for the morning's shoveling (not only walk and driveway, but with a low-slung Basset had to clear some paths so she could do her thing). Betsy busied herself with a goose in preparation for a couple of dinner guests. Guest arrived, and we proffered the
2003 Anselmi San Vincenzo. At first it was too cold (I had brought up from cellar, it had warmed on kitchen counter, so I stuck on back porch for 5 minutes- but it ended up being 20+ minutes). Once again when it warmed it proved itself a QPR winner. Medium-to-full bodied (much bigger than 2002 or 2001 versions), good acidity if not as crisp as those previous vintages. Distinct almond/nutty notes, on top of nice apple fruit (with tiny hint of sweetness). B/B+We continued enjoying the almost-Soave with a starter of crostini with good cheese on a dressed green salad. Then Betsy served the goose and braised veggies (leeks, mushrooms, carrots, etc), along with sides of mashed sweet potatoes w/chili oil, escarole, and broccoli. My inclination had been towards mature Bordeaux with goose, but I had opted for a CA Bordeaux blend and a younger Bordeaux:
1996 Thunder Mountain "Star Ruby" Red Table Wine (Santa Cruz Mountains). Decanted about 2 hours before dinner. Initial nose was quite funky, to an almost worrisome degree . Also though I had sat upright in cellar day before, I think I was a little careless bringing up - I decanted as carefully as possible and stopped when I saw sediment, yet there was a slight murkiness that I think might have been disturbed fine sediment. But by dinner time this was really showing well. Good ripe blackcurrant fruit, the funk now more of an earth/olive/herb style that is quite pleasant. Tannins are quite subdued, a good match with the goose. Continues to evolve over night, with some cedar and floral notes on the nose. Very glad I just picked up some more for $30 at Rochambeau's clearance sale. Jon Cook from Thunder Mountain had recently suggested that maybe 2-3 years more in bottle would help, I wouldn't argue, but with a few hours of decanting quite nice now. A- (note - this wine was made by Milan Maximovich, who used to contribute here when I first started reading AFW, and who passed away last year)After our 1998 Right Bank tasting few weeks ago, I made sure most of my good '98 Righties were put away. But stumbled across a few lesser wines, including one I have no memory of acquiring- the 1998 Ch. Les Graviers Plagnolles (St. Emilion). Where did I end up with a St. Emilion from an estate I've never heard of? Well, no problem with tannins here. Hard to believe a '98 St. Emilion could be so light, lean, and dilute. Ron notes a little spiciness, but that's the only bright note in a simple thin wine. I hope this was a gift and not something I paid for. C
Ron had brought a bottle of 2001 Pierre Gonon St. Joseph. A bit more immediately open than the Chave Offerus a few days before. Clean ripe blackberry Syrah fruit, some flowers and spice, nice length on finish. A little tannic for the goose, but a nice wine with a good medium-term future. B++
Good night with good friends.
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 Dale
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