Craig was either coming or going, I’ve lost track, so a nice group met at Pings for dinner. Fried silverfish, Pekin duck, sauteed sole with lotus root and snow peas, ginger chicken, lamp chop in black pepper sauce, quail, crab fried rice, all good with friendly service.
2002 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Long, complex, apples, brioche, and campfire, someone said they prefer Comtes on release, for me this is just entering its prime. A-2013 Vilmart Emotion Rose Champagne Lovely, young and vivacious; with creamy texture, bright white (pear) and red (strawberry) fruits, with a fun little edge of cherry coughdrop.B+/A-
NV Krug (375 ml) Two half bottles, I passed on first, the “better” bottle was pretty advanced, nuts and sherry aromas. C for me
2005 Reinhold Haart Piesporter Grafenberg Riesling Spatlese Fully mature, tropical and peach fruit accented with caramel and mulligan spices, a hint of petrol. B+2012 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett AP #3 Takes a moment to unwind, my ROTN, balanced with such focus and light. Textbook Willi, precise and long. A-
2019 Von Schubert/ Maximin Grünhauser Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett Young, a little raw, but lovely, tangy acids with citrus, apple, and honeycomb and long minerally finish. B/B+ for now, but I’d love to own some2020 Steinmetz Neumagener Rosengartchen Riesling Auslese Really fun to taste, muscular, I had a little trouble wrapping my head around, I should have retried (others loved). B?
Jay blinded us with a red. Someone guessed Burgundy, a couple of us dissented, but Jayson said but definitely Pinot Noir, and I got Rhys and 2008 (but guessed Alpine for vineyard). 2008 Rhys “Home Vineyard” Pinot Noir. Rich dark cherry fruit, baking spices, a little leather to hint it isn’t young, brambly. B+
2013 Furst Schlossberg GG Spatburgunder Apparently this is a bit of a cult wine in some circles(I’ve liked the “pur Mineral” whites), I really liked the rich earthy nose , but the palate seemed a bit flat and heavy with a strong espresso note. B1987 Kalin Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Double-decanted in afternoon. Black plum and cassis, medium framed, rich fruit framed with green herbs and tobacco. A-/B+
2013 Horiot “En Valingrain” Rose des Ricey Still rose from southern edge of Champagne. Dark for rose, very floral, pomegranate molasses meets baked cherries, fun, distinctive, and delightful. A-/B+2017 Lafouge Meix-Chavaux Meursault Some didn’t like, but I did! Full, balanced, rich pear and hazelnut and a touch of creamy oak. Textbook Meursault to me,. B+
Fun night with good group
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 party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.