Sunday afternoon we went to a high school graduation party, where I nibbled on sushi and had a small glass of the 2008 Nora Peitan Albarino. Clean, easy, ripe, with good acidity, not complex, but not bad for inexpensive Albarino. B-
Then we headed to city to meet JC (visiting from NC), Ramon, and Marina. I was a bit worried re parking due to the Puerto Rican Day parade, but it rained a bit in afternoon, so on our way down we saw huge traffic jams heading out of town, but we were able to zoom in and park within a block of our destination.
Ramon had come up with the Bar Room at the Modern for our dinner, and I quite enjoyed. Food is delicious, service was quite good. I tried to minimize our needs by saying we could get by with reusing glassware, but they still furnished new stems for every wine. Betsy and I shared a tarte flambe, then I had "egg in a jar" (poached egg with lobster, asparagus, and uni froth) while she had wild mushroom soup with fried chorizo ravioli, then I had 5-spice squab with braised lettuce, she had pork belly with a pea/mint puree. Everything was tasty, and other dishes (sausage, sweetbreads) looked good too. I had some nice cheeses (a buffalo cheese from Lombardy and a NY cheese called Kumik) and other dessert (I know Marina and Ramon split beignets, actually didn't note what Jane and Betsy had).
A very nice assortment of wines, I was happy with all of them. Brief notes, from scribbling in car after dinner (I love when Betsy drives!):
1990 Laurent-Perrier Brut Mature but with good life, leesy/yeasty notes over apple fruit. The fruit has a slightly baked edge, but more in an apple pie sense than aging. I quite enjoyed, thanks Ramon! B+/A-1983 Trimbach Cuvee Frederic Emile Riesling I was a bit worried about this one, good color but some ullage. But shows well, if anything a little tight at first- my favorite sip was a revisit with the cheese! Ripe apples, plenty of petrol, a bit minerally. Full on palate, with a bit of an oily edge. Good acidity (though not really as high as most CFEs). Long, complete at the end of meal. Of course, I'm always a sucker for CFE! A-
1999 Prager "Steinriegl" Smaragd Riesling (Wachau) Peach, apple, big, hint of heat but nice acidity. This was good with nice length, but I thought it paled a bit next to the CFE. B1990 Maison Leroy Chassagne Montrachet rouge Ripe, round, and ready. No roasted notes, just ripe cherries and red berries, smoke. Ramon had said he was uncertain re storage on this one, but I think this is lovely for 20 years old. B+
2000 Chevillon "Les Roncieres" Nuits St George 1er Like many 2000s, showing well now. Raspberry, cherry, some earth. Fairly low acid, light tannins, but pretty fruit. Don't think I would have pegged this for NSG blind, but a tasty bottle. B+2007 Lioco Pinot Noir (pretty sure Sonoma, though I neglected to note details) Bigger than the Burgs, black cherry and kirsch with some light cola/ vanilla notes. Some tannins, I think this would have done well with a steak. B
(with some regret I told Ramon it would be wasteful to open the 98 Chave and 01 Dauvissat he had brought)
1994 Trimbach Pinot Gris Selection de Grains Nobles (375 ml) Honey, sweet pears, apricot. Sweet, but good acidity. Some botrytis notes, but in background. B+Fun night, great to spend time with Ramon, Marina,and Jane.
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.