When I couldn't find the '05 ESJ Bassetti in NY, David Bueker generously offered me some of his stash, for a couple of players to be named later (their names turned out to be Lafarge). It took a while to get together, but we finally worked it out. On their way back home from a trip David and Laura stopped for lunch Saturday. Betsy made pasta with a pesto (lemon and spinach in addition to the normal basil, pignoli, cheese,etc). and we tried three wines (since it was lunch, and they were driving, I choose wines that could last till following night, as I was going to the dinner with J. Lardiere that night):
1989 Trimbach "Cuvee Frederic Emile" Riesling Vendange Tardive. From a half bottle. Just a touch riper and less austere than the '90 sampled the night before, a big wine with ripe apples, lemon, and grapefruit. Pretty tight, blossoms on day 2, with a complex array of herbs, minerals, citrus fruits, and almost tropical white fruits. A-2005 Pieropan "Calvarino" Soave Pear, yellow plums, nice stony mineral notes. Clean and straightforward, with good acidity, finish. On day 2 it shows more of that nutty note I associate with so many Italian whites. B+/A-
2005 Biondi "Outis" Etna Rosso Good acidity (from up on the mountain), red and black cherries, a little cigarbox note. Refreshing, nice red, though I'd put it a half- step behind the graceful 2004. Holds up well overnight from the little sip I got, our Sunday night guests slurped it up quickly. B/B+Sunday we had a lazy day, but guests for dinner. I had picked up lobsters and porterhouses, Betsy made a lobster salad, I grilled the steaks along with zucchini, corn, and sweet potatoes. We drank the rest of Saturday's lunch wines, plus some of 2 others:
2007 Domaine de la Patience Merlot (Vin de Pays des Coteaux de Pont du Gard) Soft, red plums, juicy and friendly, not a lot of structure here, but ok.B2007 MandraRossa Fiano (Sicily) Decent acidity for Sicily, mangos and apples, a bit short and simple. B-/C+
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.