TN: Dinner at Django-old Bdx, young Burg, Rhones, CA, etc

A group of 8 tried out Django near Grand Central Station last night. Arv Rao had arranged for corkage to be waived. Very nice (big!) place, which treated us well. I quite enjoyed my stuffed grilled squid ("A La Plancha" ), as well as a taste of Betsy's scallops. For a main course I had an immense and flavorful Niman Ranch pork chop, accompanied by very good zucchini and some shallots and sundried tomato. Betsy had a beef dish featuring a ribeye AND some "Riesling braised short ribs", with tagliatelle and wild mushrooms. At least two folks had the monkfish, which they raved over.

On to the wines:

The lone dry white:

2002 Robert Chevillon Nuits-St-George (Blanc) I brought this as a wine geeks could appreciate. Like the Gouges white NSG, this is a "sport" of Pinot Noir (so Pinot Blanc). But if I didn't know that, I'd happily assume this was a very good Chardonnay. Nutty and minerally with assertive acidity, a young wine that could use time but is quite nice now. Smooth creamy butterscotchy texture, would show well in a lineup of Meursault 1ers. B+/A-

First red flight:

2000 Guy Castagnier Clos St. Denis I was interested to taste this as you don't see Castagnier often. In fact, my only previous contact was at a store tasting of the '99s, which led me to buy several. This was a pleasant drink-now wine, lacking the heft I'd expect from a Grand Cru. Still, very pleasant with clean sweet red fruit, a touch of spice and a little sandalwood. Drink up. B+/B

1990 Cayron (Gigondas) Earthier, riper, fuller. Fully mature, with lots of secondary aromas and just a hint of merde. B+

Second red flight:

1982 Ch. Ferriere (Margaux) Better nose than palate (I note that often seems the case for Margaux). Flowers and leather on the nose, rather modest dark fruit for a 1982. Fully-resolved tannins, nowhere but down from here. B/B-

1983 Ch. Magdelaine (St Emilion) Elegant, lean without being thin. In fact it's rather lush in the mouth. Dark plum fruit, some cigarbox and forest floor. Really nice wine. So many 1983s seem to be drinking well now (and at prices far less than 1982, though David says that's not as true in UK). A-

1961 Branaire-Ducru (St. Julien) Top shoulder fill. Not a very pleasant nose- very pruney. But actually improves a bit with air, and the palate isn't so bad. Some tired cassis fruit, but pleasantly funky mushroom and damp earth nuances. David said other bottle with better fill showed better. B

Third red flight (restaurant furnished a nice ripe cheese to accompany, wish I had noted name):

1993 Shafer Stag's Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa) There's still some tannins, but very fine and ripe. Quite good, with sweet black fruit and some oak morphing into some cedar and cigarbox flavors. A-/B+

1998 Kirkland Ranch Cabernet (Napa) Somewhat lifted nose, a bit sharp on the palate. Oak and slightly green fruit. Some air helps, but this is a modest middleweight, a palooka not a contender. B-

2000 Behrens and Hitchcock Petit Verdot Quite unusual to have a Petit Verdot single varietal. Actually not that distinctive, though with time it does present a bit of an herby-green note. Oak/vanilla and medium bodied. B/B-

Dessert flight:

1989 Bourllion-Dorleans Vouvray Moelleux One of the few dessert 750s I own. Sweet canned peaches and honey , not the zippy acidity I'd expect from a Vouvray from a good year. OK, but this is no Huet (of course, it's not as expensive either). Not especially Chenin typical. B

1986 d'Arche (Sauternes) Lighter Sauternes, honied apricot and some vanilla and spice. B/B+

Very nice night. Nice group of people, fun conversation, very good food, good service, good wines (even my least favorites I had plenty of- no need for a dump bucket last night). Thanks Arv for organizing.

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

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DaleW
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