Roast chicken with butternut squash and onions, and the 2003 Ch. Gloria. This is quite ripe and plush, kirsch and blackberry fruit, some cedar that is just beginning to tire into ashtray. Definitely a child of the vintage,but has some pleasure for drinking now, but I wouldn?t tarry. B/B-.
Kimchi/chicken liver fried rice, broccoli, salad, with the 2020 Coudert/Roilette Cuvee Tardive Fleurie. I thought this REALLY ripe on first taste, but somehow after that settles into a beautiful balance. Ripe black cherry, red plum, some floral and smoke notes. Balanced acids, supple tannins. Long finish with a graphite minerality. B+/A-
Mackerel, scallion pancake, cauliflower korma, and the 2020 Pepiere ?Briords VV? Muscadet.(what happened to the Clos? Did the walls come tumbling down?). No matter the name, a great wine as always. This seems a bit snappier than the 2019, electric tension, citrus and saline, long rocky finish. A-/B+
With Tuscan-spiced pork tenderloin (someone gave a ?Tuscan spice? blend- citrus and marjoram for sure, unsure what else), broccoli rabe, and pasta with radish leaf pesto, the 2017 Montesecondo ?Tin.? 100% Sangiovese from Chianti Classico area raised in amphorae. Round red fruit, good acids, some green herb. Interesting, but I?d rather have Montesecondo?s straight Chianti Classico at half the price (or the Rosso at 40%). B/B-
A surprise party for a friend, at another friends huge/gorgeous apartment in Larchmont. I carried over some hors d'oeuvres (cheddar/chutney balls, chevre/nut balls, radish with pesto), another brought smoked salmon
There was a good Raventos i Blanc cava, but I didn?t see vintage- crisp, lemony, long. B/B+. I like the cava better than the Champagne. NV R de Ruinart Brut Champagne I carried because birthday girl had liked in past. Ripe briochey style, apple and honey, a little too fat. B-/B
Main course was swordfish in caper sauce, vegetable tian, and salad.
2020 La Cana Albarino Fresh, peach and grass, but a little short. B-2002 Gruaud Larose A bit lean, more tannin than fruit, but it does have some pretty classic St Julien tobacco. I wish I had tried with a steak. B/B-
2018 Besson ?Les Grands Pretans? Givry 1er Light hint of brett on nose, cherry veering towards coughdrop, still on finish there is a nice bit of tang. B-No wine Sunday with delicious Iraqi lentil soup with lamb meatballs.
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.