AFWer Ken Blake and his wife Eileen were visiting family in Ardsley, and we took the opportunity to get together. Busy schedules only left a few spots, but we settled on meeting at the last of the Dobbs Ferry park concerts, a bluegrass performance by a local group. Some threatening clouds in the afternoon, but by 6:30 the skies were clear, the weather was pleasantly cool, and the band was playing.
We had some cheeses, salamis, fruit, green beans, as well as a corn/avocado/tomato salad. An assortment of wines made an appearance, including:
2002 Domaine Ott "Cuvee Marine" Bandol rose I got a (for Ott) good price on this, but even so didn't think this provide good QPR. Very pale color, but rather pronounced red fruit flavors. Raspberry fruit with a distinct herbal note. I'd probably buy some more of the this (cool bottle, afterall) if it was $10-12, but it's not worth the mid-$20s price tag it normally gets (I really don't see paying that for a rose, except MAYBE Tempier). B2004 Oncone Taburno Falanghina This was one of the wines that Ken brought. Really nice clean example of a lighter-styled Falanghina- clean pear fruit with the chalky-mineral note I sometimes get (and like), a tiny bit of almond/nuttiness on the finish. Refreshing but with substance. Buy. B++
2004 Saintsbury Vincent Vin Gris de Pinot Noir Much darker than the Ott. Fairly deep strawberry and raspberry, good acidity, maybe just a slightest hint of residual sugar. Pretty popular around the table- er, I mean blanket- and I'd probably buy again at about $11. B+1996 Domaine Baumard Savennieres One of my last bottles of a favorite. Floral/wooly nose, very dry with peach and lemon fruit on the palate. Despite the dryness, there's that Chenin honey note, too. Mineral on the finish. Don't think this will be a 30-year Savennieres, but no hurry on these. A-/B+
One red, the 2002 Catherine and Claude Marechal Savigny-les-Beaune Vieilles Vignes. Maybe my favorite $25 '02 Burg for current consumption (ah, for the days Marechal 1er was $15, not $35!) , I lucked into a few more bottles and this one shows well. Nicely bittersweet black cherry fruit, good acidity, nice earth notes. Spicy without being exotic, another bottle that's quickly emptied. A-/B+
Nice night with nice people. After concert, Ken and Eileen bid farewell, but it was so nice we stayed with friends down by the water till it was really dark, then just admired the stars. I love summer.
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.