Labor Day forecast was iffy, but we pressed on with plans for a backyard ba sh. Close to 90 degrees, horrible humidity, but a big crowd showed and seem ed to have a good time. About 4 hours into party we had a 10 minute downpou r, but people headed into the AC or huddled under trees and patio umbrella, and then party resumed. I had made a selection of salsas (tomatillo/avocad o/poblano, mango, & pico di gallo) and an Asian slaw; Betsy made potato sal ad and dozens of skewers- pork brochettes with a grilled tomato/chile sauce and cumin seeds, chicken kebabs with coconut curry, and shrimp with a garl icky pesto. We also grilled some sirloin, hot dogs, eggplant, and corn. Lot s of good food was brought by guests- I grilled bulgogi, sausage, elk burge rs, 2 porgies from Montauk, and more. Various green salads and slaws, grain salads, a caprese, a wonderful beet and nut salad, and several desserts. I have forgotten a lot (and some things got eaten while I was grilling).
Roses
2013 Domaine du Fondreche (mag) Crisp strawberries, some light floral notes, minerally finish, very good an d the mag is first thing drained. B+2013 Edmunds St John Bone Jolly Delicious as usual, fresh, sassy. B++
2013 Miraval Rose This is the Pitt/Jolie wine. Really not bad at all- wild strawberry, some h erby notes, pretty straightforward Provencal rose. I wouldn't buy because o f stupid bottle shape and price, but certainly quaffable. BWhites
2012 Pepiere Muscadet Saline, crisp, classic. B++2013 Lacheteau Vouvray Sec tendre, a bit simple, but clean and well-fruited and with decent acid b alance. B-
2012 Cowan Cellars Sauvignon Blanc (Lake County) Wait a minute. I didn't bring this up from cellar. But no one else at this party would be on this list. Aha, a regifter. Yep, turns out I carried to D onathan's and it wasn't opened, and they grabbed first white they saw in th eir cabinet. OK, the wine.This doesn't bear the Isa designation, and I don' t think this is skin-fermented. More typically SB than the Isa, grapefruit and a hint of herbiness, nice balance, good wine. B+/B2010 Gunderloch Nackenheimer Rothenberg Riesling Spatlese Plenty of sugar but extraordinary acids keep it razorsharp. White peach and lime, lots of body, fresh and long. Maybe best Gunderloch I remember. A-
2012 Maynes Macon-Cruzille Fresh, clean, pear fruit, tasty. BThere was also a Leitz Kab, 2011 I think, but I didn't take notes and someo ne took bottle home with them
Reds (mostly enjoyed in the AC!)
1979 Giscours Beautiful, feminine, elegant and delightful. Complex floral nose with leath er and tobacco notes. Fully mature but not faded. A-1979 Prieure-Lichine Still alive (in my opinion) but on its last legs. Cigarbox edging toward as htray, but still some red fruit. Tannin gone, acids dominate. Interesting. I mention it's from Gregory Peck's cellar, Mark says "like Gregory Peck it' s decomposing." I like more than he does. B-/B
1978 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley) Very nice showing. Cedar/cigarbox, spice, red fruits. Fully mature, nicely balanced with bright acids. B+1989 du Fieuzal Rather rich exotic nose with ripe cassis and sandalwood, but somewhat short and clipped on palate, with a roasted edge to the fruit. B-
1994 Lakespring Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa) I can't believe this is the first red emptied. Disjointed and cracking up, overripe fruit is all stewed, finish is short. C/C-1998 Vieux Chateau Chauvin Midbodied, black and red currant fruit, earth, just a hint of oak. Easy dri nking, good for a cheap '98 St. Emilion. B
2010 Desvignes "Javernieres" Morgon This was too cold at first (straight out of cooler) and it might the tannin s stand out. As it cooled to cellar temp it became a delight- black cherry, smoke, some green herbs. Balanced and long. B+/A-Despite the muggy temps and the brief downpour, a very fun party with frien ds.
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 p arty where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivi ty, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.