Thursday I went to a friend?s birthday party, a nice gathering on their patio on a perfect night, they served mussels, stuffed mushrooms, zucchini ?pasta?, kale salad, and more
2018 Commanderie de la Bargemone Rose Lighter styled Provencal rose, watermelon and lime, refreshing B2016 Ch.Saint-Roch ?Kerbuccio? Maury Sec I don?t have much dry Maury experience, this is a tad hard and angular. Possibly served too cold but not too enjoyable. B-/C+
1962 Ch. Lyonnat ( Lussac-St. Emilion) Double-decanted an hour before. Red fruit, citrus zest, acid backbone, leather. Good showing for a satellite! B2007 Hirtzberger Hochrain Riesling Ripe, a bit too ripe for me, big and full bodied with pit fruit and a little heat. B-
Friday just me, with steak, mushrooms, salad, and the 2000 Ch. D?Aiguilhe. Rich plush style, black plum and mocha, pretty alive but not very complex. B
Saturday Betsy got back from a short trip with her mom and sister, we all went over to her sister?s for dinner. I did appetizers- crudite with an anchovy/caper dip, scallop/shiso crudo, and oysters on half shell
2015 Thomas Morey ?Les Dents de Chien? Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Fuller but not soft, pear and hazelnut with long rich finish. A-/B+Cal had made ribs, dilled potatos, shisito/corn salad, and tomato salad.
2009 Scherrer Old Mature Vines Zinfandel I don?t buy much Zinfandel, but when I do it should be Scherrer. Spicy, black cherry and raspberry, earth. Good length, balance. B+Sunday night was LI flounder, delicata squash, salad, and the 2011 Thomas Labaille ?Les Monts Damnes- Cuvee Buster? Sancerre. This was rich but softer than I want in Sancerre, ripe and honied. B/B-.
We had planned a big backyard party for Labor Day, but forecast that AM was 80% chance of thunderstorms all afternoon. We canceled main party, but asked a few of the stalwarts to come over later for an inside dinner. Of course the storms came earlier and it was actually clear by late afternoon. So some calls and we ended up with about 20 people. Betsy made ribs, Ottolenghi carrots, guacamole. I did sausages (Toulouse, cacio a pepe, brats), salmon, elotes, and shishitos. Others brought quinoa salad, green salad, chard torte, sweet potato/bean/tortilla casserole, and more. We tried a lot of wines (including 3 ?98s, as one attendee turned 21 Sunday, and had made her public debut at my Labor Day party 1998).
2018 Collotte Marsannay Rose Red fruits, citrus, ripe but with a decent acidity underneath. Gets herby and earthy with air. B/B+2017 Starling Castle Riesling This was in a clear Bordeaux/SB style bottle and I was thinking it was Canadian (folks who brought just back from their place in NS). But no, this is Mosel. But it doesn?t taste like it! Sweet apple juice, low acid. C+/C
2014 Mt. Eden Chardonnay (Edna Valley ) Pear, pineapple, just a hint of vanilla. Good acids, clean. B1998 Zind-Humbrecht Herrenweg de Turckheim Gewurztraminer In good shape but I didn?t love. Soft, smoke and lychee, slightly cloying finish. B-/C+
1998 Trimbach Riesling Vendanges Tardives This is a generic Riesling, not CFE or CSH. I didn?t know what to expect, but this was delicious. Just off-dry, electric acids, pear and peach fruit framed by petrol and wet rocks. A-1986 Ch. Talbot Lovely, rich cassis accented by leather, smoke, and earth. Structured, balanced, and gets better in decanter through evening. A-
1996 Edmunds St John ?Brandlin Ranch? Zinfandel (Mt. Veeder) Bold brambly fruit, tart, fun. B+1998 Riojanas ?Vina Albina? Rioja Gran Reserva Red fruit overlaid with leather and coconut. Young, structured. B+
2017 Ultreia St Jacques (Bierzo) Spicy, red fruit coffee and black pepper, with just a hint of ripe bell pepper. B+/B2017 Meinklang Pinot Noir Light, hint of spritz, crisp raspberry fruit. B
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.