Dinner Friday was steamed lobster with a sorrel sauce; wine was the 2012 Ed munds St John "Heart of Gold." Rich, slightly oily, pears and flowers, good length. I shared with friends who arrived later and they all enjoyed. B+
My friend Dave was scheduled to host our local non-serious group, and picke d a narrower-than-usual theme: South West France, south of the Garonne. The n he ended up having to drive to Boston for a soccer tournament, I stepped in as host. I greeted guys with the Heart of Gold, and then Fred brought th e 2009 Torus Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh sec. Light, crisp, slightly funky nose w ith green papaya and musk. Interesting. B
On to the blind reds (nothing really seemed like Irouleguy to me, so I went with the odds and just guessed Madiran, and was always correct)
#1 black fruits, a bit of oak, anise/licorice, lots of tannin, touch of br ett. I think most people liked, but for apparently different reasons- Fred called it "elegant" while I thought rather rustic. 2009 Labranche-Laffont Madiran Vielles Vignes. B+/B
#2 -mine, no guesses. 3 hours in decanter did this a lot of good. Powerful cassis fruit, leather, tobacco, good length. Tannins present but not intrus ive. 1995 Ch. Montus "Cuvee Prestige" Madiran A-
#3 Riper, more new worldish, big tannins, needs time. 15%abv reported vs. 1
2.5% on the '95 (though that might be low) 2001 Ch. Montus "Cuvee Prestige" Madiran. B/B+
#4- quite a bit of barnyard, some tannin but least of the bunch, rounder re dder fruit. 2008 Ch. Peyros Madiran (60% Tannat, 40% Cabernet)B
#5 -fresh, tannic, black cherry, good. 2006 Ch. Montus Madiran B
Fun night.
Saturday we did littlenecks and basil over pasta, with sauteed spinach and squash. A 375 ml bottle of the 2010 Ramonet Chassagne-Montrachet showed we ll- pear and white peach, herby/minty, nicely balanced, fun half bottle. 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.