Thursday Dave joined us as Betsy made a stirfry with turkey, snow peas, bro ccolini and I opened the NV Thierry Germain “Bulles de Roche” Saumur Br ut. Hey, this is fun stuff, quite dry and crisp, minerally, lots of granny Smith and orange pippin apple fruit, quite nice. B+
Friday I braised a big venison roast and opened the 2012 Huet “Le Mont” Vouvray Sec while I greeted my non-serious local wine group. Crisp, full, wax, honey, and orange blossom, very nice length. B+
So the theme was Wines of the Medoc. Everyone bought an on-theme bottle (or were supposed to), wrapped.
#1- Medium bodied, a bit of development, some tannin, there’s a plush qua lity and lots of berry fruit, makes me guess a minor Margaux. Nope. 2005 Ch . Greysac (Medoc), B
#2 - mine, in decanter for about 90 minutes before being served. Blackcurra nt fruit, leather, some tannin remaining, the acidity of the vintage showin g. Spice, cigarbox. Good showing!
1979 Ch. La Lagune (Haut-Medoc). B+/A-#3 Ripe, full, a bit of oak, this is nice in a somewhat Californian style.
2009 Ch. Greysac (Medoc). B#4 A bit clipped/short, but otherwise a pretty straightforward luncheon cla ret. 2010 Ch. La Grave (Medoc) B-
#5 Pretty tight at first, opened in glass nicely, my guess was 1996 Potensa c, medium bodied, some remaining tannin, good. 1995 Ch. Talbot (St. Julien) B
#6 Sigh. So in invite I had listed the possible appellations of Medoc (Medo c, Haut Medoc, Margaux, St Julien, Paulliac, St Estephe, Moulis, Listrac). This wine was very plummy and round, confectioned fruit, seemed Merlot-y . I said “I would have thought this Right Bank” Unveiled it turns out Al ex hadn’t read invite very well, a Bordeaux AC from 20 km south of St Em ilion. 2010 Ch. Thieuley (Bordeaux). C+/B-
#7 Warm, a touch jammy, but with nice structure, I guess a 2005. 2003 Ch. P otensac (Medoc) B-
We finished with a non-blind 1985 Ch. Rieussec. Medium bodied, some botryti s, orange marmalade, not very long, seemingly fully mature. Others liked mo re than I did. B/B-
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.