Local non-serious group met Friday, theme was Eastern European wines (I had a Hungarian dessert wine, but had to go shopping for a table wine). As usual Alex did a great spread- Hungarian sausages, followed by kielbasa, pierogies, and sauerkraut, and finally a delicious goulash. Usually we do the wines blind, but I pointed out as we were likely to know nothing about the terroirs, producers, or grapes, might as well leave labels out.
2022 La Sapata Babeasca Neagra Pet Nat Rose, My first thought was tea with cherries, but then realized more like Kombucha. Different, and I think would be refreshing maybe after mowing the lawn on a hot day. B-/B2021 Zlatan Otok Hvar (Croatia) Oily, tropical and musk fruits, straw. Others liked more than I did, B-/C+
2020 Kiralyudvar Tokaji Furmint Sec (Hungary) Same owners as Huet. I quite liked this Apple, lemon drop, wax, honey. Just a bit of RS. Long finish, enjoyed. B+Someone grabbed a Croatian wine to start reds, then we decided to go roughly west to east.
2020 Križ Plavac Mali (Croatia) Some liked, but I found hot and sweet. Reminded me of bad Jumilla Garnacha. C+/C2018 Cotar Teran Kras (Slovenia) Teran is grape. This was my WOTN. Fresh and sprightly, earthy, red plums and raspberries, light animal note. Fun in a natty kind of vibe. B+
2019 Vino Budimir Pro-Cou-Patz (Serbia) Prokupac is grape. Red fruits, herbs, spice. Moderate acids, light tannins. My #2 red. B+/B 2019 Adria Pinot Noir (Poland) Very light bodied, pleasant, red plums and a touch of balsamic. B/B-2021 La Sapata Babeasca Neagra (Romania) Babeasca Neagra is grape. Sour and sweet at same time, macerated cherries, a little hot (label says 14%, I guessed higher). C+/B-
2018 Bulgariana Cabernet Sauvignon (Bulgaria, obviously) Least interesting of the night. Red berry, oak chippy vanilla, short hot finish. C2011 Kiralyudvar Ilona Tokaji (Hungary) I thought this was supposed to be a non-botrytis version of Tokaji, but I got some apricot/honey notes I’d associate with noble rot, Apples, apricots, honeycomb. Not as sweet as most Tokajis I’ve had. Many people’s fave of night. B/B+
Fun night, wines were better than I feared! I’d buy the Cotar, the Prokupac, or dry Kiralyudvar. Betsy had been away, I had a seafood-centric meal ready when she got back from Boston. Oysters, a crudo with scallops/watermelon radish/daikon/peppers, then blackfish (tautog) with a curry butter, potatoes, green beans, and salad. Wine was the 2008 Fevre Montée de Tonnerre Chablis 1er Vibrant almost-electric acids, lemon zest and apple, wet stones and long finish, A-
Betsy’s stepaunt and husband were in NYC, they took train up and I picked them up for a dinner at Betsy’s sister’s house. Bruschetta with caprese, then Marcella Hazan bolognese, Brussels sprouts with shallots, and salad., Dessert eaters also had a rhubarb/strawberry/blueberry pie
NV Diebolt Vallois Blanc de Blancs Champagne. Light, easy, doughy, nice crisp acids make it go well with the tomato on bruschetta. B
1995 Lisini Brunello di Montalcino Not a big BdM drinker, but quite enjoyed this (I’ve got good record with ‘95s- not as lean as ‘96, not as uberripe as ‘97). Black cherry, espresso, orange zest. Medium bodied, balanced acids, nice length. Sorry last bottl.e B+/A-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.