Christmas Eve Betsy prepared lechon asado, a Cuban pork roast. I emailed Manuel Camblor for some Cuban-food matching advice. He suggested a Burg with good acidity (he said a Gevrey had worked well for him) or a white with good acidity and little residual sugar (specifically Austrian or Alsace Riesling). As I was going to be driving a van into city for a Christmas Eve celebration on the street later, I decided to open a 375 of the 1997 Trimbach Cuvee Frederic Emile Riesling, and also try the last remaining couple ounces of a bottle of '99 Castagnier Gevrey-Chambertin). Unfortunately I realized just before dinner the CFE was corked. Curses, foiled again.
The Gevrey DID work quite well with the pork, the garlic rice, and green beans. I opened a half-bottle of the 2004 Huet Le Haut-Lieu Vouvray Sec (in line with Manuel's overall advice, which to me is more important than the specifics). Crisp Chenin-apple fruit, a teeny hint of sweetness, some minerality on the finish. Not quite the length I would hope for. Not a great Vouvray, but good. B
As to match, this wasn't bad., but Austrian/Alsace Riesling is on list for next time (and there will be a next time, as the leftovers were frozen- recipe from new Gourmet cookbook, highly recommended).
Before heading to city, we dropped by a friend's Christmas Eve open house for a few minutes. Mostly wines I'd tried before, but I did try the 2004 St. Cosme Cotes du Rhone. Nice medium-bodied red with some smoke and meat aromas, modern without being unrecognizable as a Rhone. My memory of past vintages is that this is all or mostly Syrah, and this did have a rather Syrah-y sense to it. I just had a couple sips due to driving, but will probably see if I can find a bottle to try. B
Our party on the streets was successful but exhausting, and we dragged ourselves to bed at 3 AM. Up early Christmas morn to open presents and then head to airport. Uneventful flight to Orange County, where Betsy's parents picked us up. Then to their motel in Laguna. Betsy phoned her grandmother (who had made latkes for the first night of Chanukkah ) and told that we would get main course and salad. We went for a walk on the beach, when it suddenly occurred to me that supermarkets would close early on Christmas Day (I wasn't thinking in holiday mode once I was in SoCal). Oops! Two supermarkets closed their doors in our face, the third was long closed. We ended up picking up burritos and chimichangas at a liquor store. So Christmas/Chanukkah dinner was store-bought Mexican (at least better than NY convenience store Mexican) and latkes. We sang a couple verses of Felice Chanakkuh, and enjoyed being together. I am wary of travel shock, so had brought a bottle I figured would be "tough" for travel, the 2001 Guigal Chateauneuf-du-Pape. I don't know whether this was travel shock or just overrated by press, but this didn't do much for me. Modest cherry and sweet raspberry fruit, a little hint of leather. Just the tiniest hint of herb to make one realize this might be CdP, but I have had many CdR that exhibited more Southern Rhone character than this. Nothing offensive, but nothing to make stand out either. Wasn't just the strange match- Day 2 with some roast chicken didn't show any better.B-
Tuesday was Betsy's grandmother's lasagna, and I opened the 2001 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco. With the co-op's tendency towards traditionally styled Nebbiolo and the vintage's structured reputation, I had some small fears this might be hard and unapproachable. Not to worry. A bit tight at first, but opened nicely. Medium-bodied, cherry and strawberry fruit, some floral and tar notes. Tannins are present, but ripe enough not to be harsh. This has a future, but pretty tasty now. B+
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.