Wednesday was linguine with shrimp and leeks, and the 2014 Pepiere ? ?Briords” Muscadet. Classic, saline, seashelly, long. A-
Thursday we hosted a group welcoming some former NYers visiting from Ashevi lle. Started with pate, rillettes, and sable butter crostini. Wine was the 1996 Henriot Brut Champagne, which has been variable, but this was easily the be st bottle I’ve had. Quite complex with pear, brioche, and sour appl e candy flavors. Good acids, lively. A-
One NC visitor likes bubbles through the meal, I also opened the NV Lingot Martin Cerdon. Raspberry pop, a litte black cherry, moderate sweetness. Most of my Bugey-C erdon experience is with Renardat-Fache, which I think has a little complex ity missing here, but this is still fun. B-
First course was individual pumpkin ramekins, I opened the 2004 Paul Hobbs Chardonnay (RRV)Wow, oak hasn’t integrated at all, this is just oak /vanilla on top of overripe peach/apple fruit with a lactic note on finish. C
2009 Cotat “Les Monts Damnes” Sancerre Big powerful with good acids, matched well with the pumpkin, good length. B +Betsy made the Ottolenghi chicken with onions and cardamom rice, another gu est brought a tomato cucumber salad. We tried a variety of wines
2015 Pampelonne Rose (Cotes de Provence) .Lighter styled Provencal pink, fr esh, not particularly exciting but goes well with the dish. B2015 Artner Rose - Zweigelt pink. A little candied, could be crisper, but o k
1989 Duhart-Milon (Pauillac) This seemed a bit clunky and never really opened up. Some cassis, still som e tannin, not very long. A bit disappointing, B-/C+1996 Gini “ Renobilis”Recioto di Soave (375 ml) And now for something completely different. Honied, musky, floral, with a l ong finish. Never had a dessert Soave before, quite interesting. B+/B
Fun night with friends
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.