Monday we went to Betsy’s sister for a light dinner (salads and cheeses ) and to exchange presents. Couple of wines were opened
2004 Mugnier “Clos de Marechale” Nuits St George 1er Cru While I’m not especially pyrazine sensitive, I had found a bottle of this a couple years ago to be seriously flawed by greenie meanies. But decided to bring one and give it a shot. Surprised, there’s some light pine needl e and herb notes here, but nothing like what I remembered. Black cherries, smoke, oregano. Medium acids, tannins receding. Pleasant if not profound. BMas de Gourgonnier Rouge Les Baux de Provence 2011 Very herby, pepper, dark fruits, juicy and fun. B/B+
We were planning a quiet NYE, but got a call from Dave and Mary Kate inviti ng us to her parents’ home- they were cooking dinner. A nice table of 9, with fish tacos, goat tacos, chorizo tacos (and all the trimmings) , roaste d kale, arugula salad
2010 Tilia Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon Fruit driven, juicy, straighforward and well-done. B-/B2011 Mark West Pinot Noir I found this a bit clipped and cloying, others liked more. C+
2011 Occhipinti Frappato Killer, ripe cherries, earth, iron, smoke. A-2010 Bosco Falconeria Catarratto I carried this as I thought MK’s parents and siblings would like to taste a wine from estate they worked this summer, but it was corked
Home for some oysters we had gotten for an appetizer, with the 2011 Michelo t Bourgogne blanc. Intensely lemony, green apple, good food wine. B
We puttered around the house, but made it till the ball drop, with a toast with the NV Pierre Peters “Cuvee de Reserve” Blanc des Blancs. Chalk, p each blossoms, biscuit dough, bright and refreshing. B+/A-
We got a last minute invite for New Year’s lunch, were greeted with the N V Tribaut Brut, nice crispness, but a little coarse and a tad sweet. B- Lunch was saffron risotto (made by a talented 11 year old!), a mushroom/tom ato salad, and braised endive. I had carried along a 1966 Ch. du Tertre as it is host’s birthyear, and I wanted to try my new Durand (I liked!). Win e was showing a bit tired, but still had some interest- leather and wet lea ves over some black cherry fruit, nice complexity, but some hints of prune and ashtray make me guess this would have been better 10-20 years ago. B-
New Year’s dinner was Judy Rodger’s chicken bouillabaisse , but of cour se with blackeyed peas (actually black eyed pea cakes made with corn meal, a recipe from Atlanta Journal-Con last week) and collard greens. Gamay seem ed like a nice light way to start year, so we went with the 2011 Chermette (Domaine du Vissoux) “Cuvee Traditionelle” Beaujolais. A little tight at first, opens well, full for Beaujolais AC, cherries and raspberries, ear th tones, good acids, singing. 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 objectivi ty, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.