With salmon Thursday, the 2018 Thomas-Labaille ?Authentique? Sancerre Rose. Snappy, mineral, tasty. B+
No wine Friday, we went with some friends to Carnegie Hall to see Betsy?s sister?s final performance with the Metropolitan Opera orchestra (fine performance, Mahler?s Ruckert-Lieder with Elina Garanca, and Bruckner?s 7th Symphony)
Saturday we hosted a party to celebrate a pair of retirements - Betsy?s sister and a friend who?s a teacher. Pretty much a perfect night on patio- mild, light breeze, low humidity. We started with charcuterie and the NV Barnaut ?Authentique ? Grand Cru Rose Champagne Beautiful clean red cherry and strawberry fruit, citrus zest, full-bodied, lively. Fine value B+/A-
(what are chances of 2 wines named ?Authentique ?couple days apart? )
I handled the first courses, a scallop/radish crudo and then butter poached/tarragon lobster & shrimp.
1991 Stony Hill Chardonnay I?ve had variable bottles from this lot but liked this one. Ripe apple/applesauce, almond/nutty, some orange zest, vanilla, good. B/B+
2010 Drouhin Marquis de Laguiche ?Morgeot? Chassange-Montrachet 1er Lovely and balanced apples and pear with orange zest and a little oak. Fine length, WOTN A-
Main was bucatini all'Amatriciana along with an Ottolenghi recipe for broccolini, green beans, and snow peas in a tahini dressing
1987 Kenwood Jack London Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Red plum and black raspberry, more acid than tannin, decent length, holding on well if not especially exciting. B
2012 San Carlo Brunello di Montalcino Well, some people liked this. Hot, manipulated, and sweet, this is Brunello? C/C+
A wine event planned for an out of town guest had to be scrubbed, so we changed plans and were able to attend two graduation parties Sunday. The first featured a soft taco bar with pulled pork and chicken, Fred?s amazing gravalax, and lots of other food. I sampled a few wines:
Escudo Real Vinho Verde- I don?t know I?ve ever had a rose VV before. Light easy and fun. B- Clovis rouge (Vin de France) - guessing this is Rhone or Languedoc, red fruit with a brambly underbrush note, nice balance. B
2016 Windisch Riesling Kabinett (forgot to take down vineyard) - a bit plodding, sweet, nice flavors, needs some zip. B-/C+
At second party I had a tiny sip of a 2016 Mendoza Vineyards Malbec Gran Reserva and a Mionetto Prosecco, neither worth a note but very happy to be at the party as I?ve know grad since she was 2 days old (had a good burger)
Late Father?s Day dinner that night, a thyme-marjoram double pork chop sousvide, with the
2016 Coudert/Clos de la Roilette ?Griffe du Marquis? Fleurie. I?m going through these fast but they are so good. Dark fruit, smoked meat and coffee, floral/. Ripe and full but quite balanced. 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.