So Memorial Day it was raining in AM, but forecast said 0% chance after 1 P M. So we decided to go ahead with our party. It did mist a few times, but m ostly held off, though it was gloomy and cool. I’ve never had a Mem orial Day party (or any outdoor party) where people were wearing coats, dow n vests, and sweater (I was defiantly in shorts). People (and dogs) had a g ood time though.
Betsy and I made clams with fried garlic, ribs, bulgogi-ish steak, charred leeks with anchovy/caper vinaigrette, poat dot (Cambodian style corn) mango salsa, tortilla chips, as well as a few purchased things such as hot dogs, sausages, chips, and pate Others brought a great assortment, including Kobe ribeye (so marbled it loo ked white), more sausages & pate(I liked a rustic one from Brooklyn with pi stachios), deviled eggs, a great Russian beet/potato salad, couple of grain salads, green salads, and much I have forgotten (or missed). Load of desse rts (a purple yam one got people excited).
Couple of geeks there, and I blinded a few wines:
1984 Sonoma Cutrer “Founders Reserve” Chardonnay (3L) Put about 750ml in a decanter. At first nutty and a bit advanced on nose, b ut cleans up, quite floral. Some clean pear fruit, a little hazelnut, modes t finish. Mark gets CA Chard right away. Some liked more than I did (said t heir wine of the day), but I did enjoy, though after the level went down in big bottle to expose a big surface it started to oxidize. B
1982 Burgess Zinfandel Some thought this too volatile (initial guesses were Piedmont) but I enjoye d- brambly fruit, minty, some earth. B+
1966 Produttori di Barbaresco Barbaresco A good showing for an poorly regarded vintage. Mark’s first guess w as ‘68 Piedmont. The caramelly note shows its age, but I still thou ght it quite interesting, with light black cherry fruit and lots of tar. B
1988 Trimbach “Seigneurs de Ribeaupierre” Gewurztraminer Mark got Gewurz immediately, though first guess was pre-Olivier ZH (good gu ess!). Dry, intense, ginger and lychee, with great acidity for Gewurz. A-/B
+
Other wines
1995 Kalin “LD” Chardonnay DOA. Too bad.
2001 Michel Colin-Deleger “ Les Corbins” Meursault I was told this was DOA as well (no surprise, Colin-Deleger is near top of PremOx offenders), but I tried towards end of night and found quite alive. Pear, honeysuckle, a little vanilla, but lower acid than I like my white Bu rg. B/B-
2001 Trimbach Cuvee Frederic Emile Riesling I had told Craig I’d open as all of his 01 CFE were oxidized, and n one of mine were , and broke my streak. Tired. C+
2015 Schwedhelm Schwarzer Herrgott Riesling Crisp, rocky, tart. Great tensile/nervy spine. B++
1981 JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett Lovely mature Riesling, apple and lemon with light petrol and smoke notes. A-
2015 Merkelbach “Urgluck” Auslese Limeade! Fresh, snappy, good length. B+/A-
2016 Edmunds St John Bone Jolly Rose Cranberry and mineral, a little smoky, fun B+
1979 Ducru-Beaucaillou Dark fruit, little tannin, plenty of acid, a little metallic note on finish , but I like (more than others) B/B+
2014 Olivier Cousin “La Franc” Bing cherry and barnyard , bright acids. B
1986 Monticello Cabernet Sauvignon Minty, red fruits, smoke, a little drying on finish but I like. B/B+
2013 Flor do Crasto Red fruits, a touch jammy, simple. B-/C+
1998 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Cotes du Rhone Showing it’s age, red Grenachy fruit with some earth, ok but drink up. B/B-
2014 Meinklang (Burgenland) Easy, juicy, bright. B
2014 Chevillon Nuits St George VV Mark and Craig didn’t like, but though I found it surprisingly ripe , I thought well balanced. Ripe black cherry, a little mocha, earthy finish . B+
1982 Rocche dei Manzoni “Vigna De La Roul” Barolo Riserva Just entering maturity, ripe but not overripe, rose petals, tar, and orange zest. B+
2014 Hollis Cabernet Sauvignon Big fruit forward style, blueberries and mocha, some loved. B-
Fun day, despite the weather (at least I was warm by the grill).
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.