Thursday Betsy said she was doing Cornish hens. I was contemplating red wine, maybe even dipping into cellar for a smaller mature Bordeaux, then she said it had a raspberry glaze. Hmm, maybe not. I went looking for simpler and food-friendly, decided on the 2004 Donnhoff Estate Riesling QbA. This bottle showed its usual friendly puppy dog personality, sweet red fruit that's probably more cherryish, but I kept thinking raspberry- brainwashed by the glaze! A bit of lime, good length for level. B
Friday was SOBER's annual pilgramage to Central Seafood, where we bring our spouses and have many many courses of food, along with good Champagne. The killer dish is a jalapeno stuffed with shrimp, but I also enjoyed whole shrimp, pork with hot peppers, water spinach, baby bok choy, Dungeness crab, lobster, and chicken dishes (and some chow fun). I hope I have the wines noted correctly, I forgot my notebook and was writing on a teeny pad that Betsy brought. I'll also note that I was getting a cold, and am less than consistent with Champagne even at the best of times. My opinions often seemed to diverge from group (actually, I find in general the group's preferences are more different with Champagne than in any other region)
1988 Jacquesson Brut Good fruit, nice leesy aromas, maybe a tad short, but tasty. B/B+2002 Huet Vouvray Petillant One of my offerings, this was young and a bit tight, but showing lots of potential. A-/B+
NV Duval-Leroy Brut I think some others liked more than I did. This seemed a lighter style, which I generally prefer, but this was a tad short. Clean and tasty though. B
1995 Henriot Cuvee des Enchanteurs (I think) I've seen a lot of offers for this recently, but am glad I didn't buy. Medium-bodied, good length, nicely crisp. But this has an underlying aroma of fish oil that bothers me- it's subtle, but there (for me, didn't hear any other negative comments). Without that I think I might have liked this a lot. B-/C+1999 Jacquart Rose This had the advantage of arriving with a fresh batch of the jalapeno shrimp, great match helped my impression of the wine. Lovely fresh crused red berries, lively mousse and acidity, good length. A-
NV Godme Rose I quite enjoyed this, too. Bright strawberry and cherry fruit, a dash of lime, good length for NV. Good value. B+/A-
1985 Heisdeck "Cuvee Charlie" I can't read my little scribbles, but I know I liked this. Full but in a non-oxidative style, clean mature Champagne. B+/A-1996 Veuve Cliquot "La Grand Dame" My other offering. Apple betty meets tarte tatin, some light oxidative notes. Good, but not great, and as I paid about 3X what I paid for the Huet not a rebuy! B+
1996 Taittinger "Comtes de Champagne" Young, coiled, but showing its pedigree. At once powerful and graceful. Fresh-baked parker rolls over pear and apple fruit. A/A-1995 Taittinger "Comtes de Champagne" I think most preferred this to the '96. I disagreed, but that doesn't mean I didn't like this. More open and forward, lovely wine that I would have flipped over if it wasn't positioned between its 2 siblings. A-/B+
1990 Taittinger "Comtes de Champagne" This is what Champagne should be to me. Beautiful anjou pear fruit with some lemon peel, some yeasty and baking bread notes just hovering in the background, alittle chalk great length. Long, solid, yet ethereal. I'm happy Betsy is with me- and driving- I go back for more! A1989 Krug I should say up front I'm just not a big fan of the Krug style. Others flipped over this. I actually liked this better than some Krugs, but it never moves me to "wow" B+/B
1985 Moet and Chandon "Dom Perignon" I had already written "WOTN" by the '90 Taittinger when we got to this. Oops, a tie. I've generally regarded Dom as more a marketing triumph than a winemaking one, but I did think this was great. A more delicate and subtle style than I expected, certainly a big Champagne, but not the least ungainly. Very young, very sweet pear fruit. Good acids. AA couple of non-bubblies
1999 Trimbach "Seigneurs de Ribeaupierre" Gewurztraminer This had been intended for earlier, but served late. You get a sense of sweetness from the litchi/pear fruit, but this is solidly dry. Some herbs and flowers, rich without seemed oily, nice wine that's more ready than a '98 sibling tried not long ago. B+/BI confess to virtually no memory of the 1989 Suduiraut, I had a quick sip while packing up. Memories of very dark color, a little creme brulee.
Really fun night, good to mix my wine friends with my wife. Food was very good, one of the best nights of champers I've ever had, company extraordinary.
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