Tuesday went to Betsy’s sister’s home. We carried appetizers (ham/asparagus rolls and oysters to shuck there), and Cal did a great dinner- cod with cilantro yogurt sauce, mushrooms and polenta with homemade chili oil with Sichuan peppercorns, salad. Afterwards we all walked over to our house so those that like dessert could try Tokyo Banana !?!?)
2021 Tiberio - Trebbiano d'Abruzzo White pit fruits, white flowers, a light bitter edge that is fun, juicy acids. B2021 Peter Lauer Fass 4 Riesling Feinherb A little sweeter than I expected, but a strong girdle of acid keeps it lively. White peach, plum, herbs. Nice length, B+
No wine Wednesday with chicken with scallions and sesame, rice with furikake, purple cauliflower steak on purple cauliflower puree, salad
Thursday tilefish Veracruz, rice, spinach
2021 Pewsey Vale Dry Riesling (Eden Valley) Very lime, with peach blossom and a little woodsmoke. Lithe, not weighty, fun. B+/BFriday we hosted a small Hannukah dinner, matzo ball soup, brisket with caramelized onions, latkes with applesauce and sour cream, broccoli. NV Hebrart 1er Cru Blanc de Blancs (Dec 2021 dg) Apples, pears, and pastry cream, balanced dosage, nice. B+
1998 Ch. Bourgneuf An old friend (whether labeled Bourgneuf or Bourgneuf-Vayron)still going strong. Black plums, cassis, mocha. Resolved tannins, but not flagging, great value. B++2002 J Voillot Volnay This however was not going strong. Red plum fruit edged with Sweet-tarts, but strong ashtray scent, this is past it for my tastes., C+/C
Over to Roger’s yesterday for his annual outdoor Nikolaus party, I had a little Glugwein with a sausage. It was warm! The 1999 Jean Noel Gagnard “L’Estimee” Chassagne-Montrachet rouge Was quite popular, ripe black cherry and some cedary wood, but nothing to write home about, So many better ‘99s B-
Home for a quick sShrimp scampi cooked with orzo, broccoli rabe, salad
2019 Pepiere Clisson Muscadet Fatter/fuller version of Clisson, but classic Muscadet saline/seashell flavors, just on a bed of ripe fruit. I liked a lot B+ 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 party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.