Fun night at La Sirene, good to see some old chums and meet Ernie. La Sirene is a tight space, but food is good and BYO is free. Waitstaff was very accomodating. I started with excellent mussels, and then had quail (good, but fruit sauce was a little overwhelming), and we finished with cheese. Matt kept up conversation with a nice older couple with a bottle of Domaine Sirene, and Zack at another two top sent over a bit of 1995 Montus, but I stuck to our theme, the Loire valley.
2004 Belliviere "Giroflees" Rose This was a bit different. Fairly sweet, rather appealing Tang™ character, but a little strange on the finish. So it seems if I smell it, not corked. If I take a teeny tiny sip, not corked. But if I take a deeper sip, it tastes corked. I don't really remember a wine that seemed corked on palate but not on nose. ????
2001 Angeli "La Lune" Anjou This was all the rage in geekdom 5-7 years ago, but I haven't seen since. It actually has aged pretty well, opens slowly, sec-tendre, waxy. A little strange combination of mineral and tropical fruit profile, with herby note with air. B/B+
2005 Huet "Le Mont" Vouvray Sec I thought this might be closed, but it showed well. Wool, citrus, great length. B+
2007 Chidaine "Les Bournais" Montlouis Sloppy puppy kiss of a wine, quite approachable and with a long finish. A-/B+
2002 Pascal Cotat "La Grande Cote" Sancerre Some thought this at peak, I'll agree but think it'll be a long plateau. Balanced,.fresh, full. A-
1989 Olga Raffault "Les Picasses" Chinon Only a hint of brett (I've found these very variable), solid and perhaps a little stolid. B/B+
1986 Domaine du Petit Clocher Anjou Rouge Alive, but soft and a slightly lactic note. Interesting, but not compelling. B-C+
1985 Breton "Les Perrieres" Bourgueil I gently double-decanted this before train in - black gunk under capsule, stained cork but it came out cleanly with AhSo, and wine smelled sound. Showed quite well. Pretty red fruit, meat, herb, a gunflint note. One of my faves. A-/B+
1996 Breton "Les Perrieres" Bourgueil Fresh fruit, good acids, needs a bit more time but quite fine. B+/A-
1988 Joguet "Clos de la Dioterie" Chinon Some debate at first, but I thought a sound bottle, and liked more than table. Sweet red fruit, leather, tobacco and earth, very nice. B+
2005 Joguet "Clos du Chene Vert" Chinon Big, fruity, fresh. Nice length, not super complex. B
1997 Forges Quarts de Chaume Not a producer I really know, though I think maybe I had a Savennieres once. Big, sweetness almost overtakes acidity, honied, nice. B
Quite a fun night with a good group. Wines basically showed quite well, and I was glad for long walk home after train ride, as the table was too small for a dump bucket. :)
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.