Betsy was out of town, but Dana was here, we went over to her aunt?s for a birthday dinner. Cal had made a spread for do it yourself rice bowls (5 spice pork, kimchi, cucumbers, eggs, daikon, avocado, etc )
2008 JJ Prum Bernkastler Badstube Riesling Kabinett In a very good place, slatey and citrusy, just a hint of petrol. Nice acidic balance. Going to start working through these. B+/B1988 Jadot Chapelle-Chambertin Birthyear for D.Quite refined for ?88 and Jadot, red cherry and plum, spice, damp earth. Still a bit of tannin, but quite approachable. A-/B+
Met friends at the park concert, I threw together 2 salads (shrimp/avocado/tomato, smoked duck/stilton/arugula) and carried wine.Plenty of notes on 2020 Baudry Chinon Rose already- I like.
2015 Thomas Morey ?Les Dents de Chiens? Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Full, rich, pear and a light marzipan note. Moderate acids. B+/B2019 Guigal Cotes du Rhone blanc Floral leaning towards musky, thick textured, low acid. Not my style but I?m not big white Rhone guy. C+
No wine Thursday, but Friday Betsy was back, we had family dinner on patio with a guest from Denmark Oysters with Asian mignonette and ikura
2008 Piper Heidsieck Brut Champagne This is a pretty good Champagne, but doesn?t measure up to some other 2008s. Apple, toast meets brioche, a little citrus. Nice mousse. BHmart marinated meats (chicken, pork belly, bulgogi), oyster mushrooms, rice, baby Shanghai greens
2010 Rhys Alpine Pinot Noir Stemmy, crunchy cranberry and raspberry, a little pine. Interesting, but this needs to integrate a bit to be tasty. For now B/B-Saturday just Betsy and I - grey sole, green beans, potatoes with truffle butter
2008 Boulay ?La Comtesse? Sancerre Fresh and shockingly young, yet complex and in a glorious place. Grapefruit , green apple, and citrus blossom, with a long chalky finish. A-Tropical storm Henri came to town, lots of rain but no real scary winds, had a guest over for dinner
Oysters (mignonette, Asian mignonette with ikua, or lemon)
2018 Picq Chablis More zippy than some 2018s, pretty classic profile, lemon and flint. B/B+5 spice duck breast, mujaddara, roasted vegetables (carrot, parsnip, radish), and salad
2004 Mugnier ? Clos de la Marechale? Nuits-St-Georges 1er Opened as a tribute to Becky Wasserman. The greenie meanies have pretty much gone, only a faint pine needle meets oregano note. Black raspberry, black tea, a little smoke and the herbal note. Very nice wine but seems like time to drink up. B+Monday bluefish Dijonnais, leftover mujaddara, burrata caprese, and salad. Wine was the 2001 Trimbach 375eme Cuvee Frederic Emile Riesling. I bought a bunch of this but not enough. Apple, wet rocks, a hint of petrol. Balanced, long, and lovely. A-
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. 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.