With assorted leftovers Thursday, the 2001 Nozzole Chianti Classico Riserva. I had actually quite liked the 2000, and expected to like the 2001 more. Nothing really wrong here- clean dried cherry and raspberry fruit, light tannins, no overt oakiness; yet despite no obvious flaws the "package" left me a little bored. B
Betsy has been fighting a cold for 3 weeks, and Friday went to the doctor, who prescribed antibiotics for bronchitis. A good excuse to skip a party we didn't want to go to anyhow, and stay at home for New Year's Eve. Betsy insisted on cooking a dinner for two, making the lobster newburgh recipe from the new Gourmet cookbook. Lobster makes me think of white Burgundy or California Chardonnay, though I though the creamy sauce might do better with a crisper Chard along the lines of a 1er or Grand Cru Chablis. But I went with the Cote d'Or, choosing the 2001 Henri Boillot Meursault. While the Meursault had a mouthfilling texture, there was enough acidic spine to balance the richness of the sauce. Honied pear fruit with distinct hazelnut and earth notes, good length and balance. I find that village level Meursault can often be disappointing, but this was quite the pleasant wine. A-
Betsy dozed after dinner, waking up for a little "picnic" of boar terrine and cheeses just before midnight. I opened the NV Piper-Heidsieck Champagne for a toast. I frankly found this a bit disappointing. I've generally liked the Piper (in its typical lighter style), but this seemed too soft and unfocused. Nice mousse, a bit of bisuity yeast on the green apple nose, but without a "center". Unsure if this is a batch issue, a storage issue (bottle was a gift), or a "my tastebuds took a holiday" issue. B- for this bottle.
New Year's Day Betsy was feeling better, and we decided to go to a party. I carried along cheese (a so-so Camembert, delicious Cow Girl Creamery Point Pierce and Westfield Hubbardston Blue Cow) and an assortment of wine for a non-geek crowd. As there was 2/3s of both the Meursault and Champagne, and 1/2 the CCR, I carried them over (hosts aren't shocked by my bringing open bottles). Quick tastes confirmed previous opinions, the crowd liked them all. I also brought:
2002 Christian Moreau Chablis- classic clean unoaked Chardonnay, I might like even more than the Brun Beaujolais. Zippy acidity underlying good apple fruit, nice chalky finish. Great QPR at $12. B+2000 Ch. Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley). Rich CS for the price, ripe black plum and blueberry fruit, fair amount of vanilla-ey oak. Good qpr for the style. B
Other wines at the table:
2003 Basa Rueda Our hostess' favorite wine (the only wine she's ever bought by case), and with good reason. Zippy acidity, clean rich tropical fruit, nice clean finish. B/B+1997 Bader-Mimeur Chassagne-Montrachet rouge Let's see- producer I've never heard of, so-so vintage, and an appelation not really known for its reds. I lower my expectations, but not enough. Oaky, thin, and ugly. Not knowing who brought this, I hold it (sniffing in vain occasionally for improvement or something of interest) as I'm trapped in conversation until I can quietly escape to the kitchen sink. This is a poster child for the Burgophobes. C-
2001 Clos du Bois Merlot This is a typical US low/mid range Merlot , soft, easy,and oaky. Actually a bit dilute, but after the bad Burg a relief none the less. B-/C+2002 Hess Select Cabernet Sauvignon A bit more structure here. Good red fruit (I'd have guessed Merlot blind), more integrated oak, not bad for a $13 red. 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 party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency Dale
Dale Williams Drop "damnspam" to reply