Memorial Day was warm and sunny, and a nice crowd of people showed up at ou r house. Betsy had made a broccoli salad and many skewers of chicken yakito ri. I made flank steak bulgogi, spare ribs, grilled sweet potato/accidental taro/scallion salad, king oyster mushrooms, poat dot (corn glazed with fi sh sauce), guacamole, and mango salsa. My teriyaki salmon had a face-off wi th Al's cedar planked salmon. Two separate people brought merguez. There we re multiple other salads, sausages, finger foods, wings, cheeses, desserts. And of course there was wine
Rose
2013 Fazi (Corsica) Pale, herby, nice flavors, light, almost approaching dilute . B/B- (thin on night 2)2013 Ameztoi "Rubentis" Crisp, minerally red fruity, but for some reason this didn't really grab me . B/B-
2013 Bedrock "Ode to Lulu" Bright red fruits, rose petal, good B/B+Bubbly
2002 Huet Vouvray Brut Not oxidized (though a hint of nutty), but totally mature. Going into drink queue. B+/BWhite
2004 Pepiere "Briords" Muscadet Great showing, in a nice place. A- (shows great on night 2)2012 Abbesse Sauvignon Blanc Grassy, light, ok. B-/C+
2008 von Hovel Scharzhofberger Kabinett Sharp, bright. B (lively on night 2)2012 Barat "Mont de Milieu" chablis 1er Sharp, angular, too acidic even for me. B-/C+
2011 Maynes Macon-Cruzille Nice texture, fresh, good. B/B+1997 Valentini Trebbiano d'Abruzzo Blinded Jay and Mark, both thought of white Rhone. Not enough acid to be a classic Valentini, but complex blend of flavors. B (edited to add: after I wrote this, I tried this tonight. Because I had stu ck in fridge so to blind Mark, this had been in an open decanter in fridge for about 27 hours. Shockingly, it was if anything fresher tasting that on Monday, with more honied notes, but nothing else oxidative)
1989 Trimbach Gewurztraminer Reserve Also blind. Mark got Gewurz in seconds, and Jay got Trimbach, but guessed t he SdR bottling. I think everyone shocked at 25 year old yellow label drink ing so well. Good acids for Gewurz, gingery. B++Red
2009 Clos Roche Blanche Cabernet Fun, juicy, interesting. B++1970 Sterling Cabernet Sauvignon Ferric mineral notes, red and black currant fruit, olives, very good but I thought shorter on finish than the '71 (though based on others' reactions I considered possibility I got mixed up). B+
1971 Sterling Cabernet Sauvignon Great dense fruit still, masculine,tar, leather, forest floor. A-1972 Sterling Merlot Still some good fruit, some ashtray notes mean it's heading to great beyond , but while a little tired and not as complex as the PN and CS it still has interest. B
1971 Sterling Pinot Noir Solid fruit, licorice, complex and evolving. Not very PNish, but I really e njoy. B+/A-2006 Levet "la Chavaroche" Cote-Rotie Only my 2nd Levet in memory, I like these. Porkfat, herby. I like a lot, an d even more when Jay suggests I try with Landaff,a cheese from New Hampshi re. B+
2011 Harrads Cabernet Sauvignon Oaky, syrupy, hot, just totally not my style. C1998 Chamonard "Clos de Lys"Morgon I had one of these in queue for this party, but realized later when I saw s till in queue that a generous guest had brought this bottle. Good acids, sm oked meat and spice, nice length. B+/A-
1971 Travaglini Gattinara I blinded this, Mark called "poor Gattinara" . I think this just needed tim e, I had given this some air, but it showed much better at end. Floral, dar k fruits. B- to start, B+ to finish2011 Poggeto Grignolino Light, spicy, fresh, surprising grip for such a light wine. B+ (holds well overnight)
2012 Vina do Burato Light, easy, juicy. B (a little spritz/pop on day 2)Fortified La Bota de Palo Cortado 34 OK, I'm just not a sherry guy. That said, I found this strangely interestin g. Raisins, caramel. Nice length. But not something I can really get my hea d around.
Fun day with friends.
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 pa rty where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivit y, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.