Betsy got me a ticket to last night's Figaro, and we had an early dinner beforehand. Went to the well-regarded Ouest on the Upper West Side, and thought it deserved its regard. Delicious lamb carpaccio appetizer with chevre and olives; Betsy had a nice skate dish while I had duck. Knew she wouldn't finish a glass before a performance, as there was no 375s on menu we just each got a glass. I got the 2001 Potel Bourgogne - nice earthy nose, fruit a bit on the light side. Thinner than I hoped for, pleasant enough easy wine, but can't really stand up to the tasty duck. I prefer the Lafarge or Maltroye '01 Bourgognes. B
Betsy's 2001 Fournier Sancerre had very ripe white fruit and a hint of grapefruit, a little grass and flint on finish. Nice enough wine, but riper than my tastes- not enough acidity. B/B-
While Betsy had dessert, I had a glass of dessert wine- the 2001 Babcock "Cuvee Sublime" Gewurztraminer (Santa Ynez). Sublime? I think not. Rose petal and citrus peel nose, clean sweet peach and lychee fruit, no finish to speak of. No hint of botrytis that I could spot. Nothing technically flawed about this, but when I get dessert wine I want something more than alcoholic fruit juice, even if the fruit is clean. 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. Dale
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