Over to an annual indoor/outdoor Valentine’s open house
2005 Ch. Potensac Double -decanted before travel. Cassis, a little leather and tobacco, still some sturdy tannins. Workmanlike, stolid. B
NV Luc Belaire Rose Provence it seems from back label. Light petilllance, fresh strawberries, just a hint of RS, fun in a silly way. B
2020 Gulp Halbo Overripe yet weedy green notes, hot, don’t gulp. Don’t even taste. C-
2021? Frenzy Sauvignon Blanc Apple, catpee, grass. Good acids, not very substantial. B-/C+
Then to Tarrytown for a dinner party Tuna tartare, smoked salmon NV A. Clouet “1911 “ Brut Champagne Very bready (brioche AND biscuit), golden pear fruit, smoke, flint. B+
Lamb shank stew with dried fruit, green beans, cucumber salad
2005 Lopez de Heredia Tondonia Riserva Actually drinking pretty well for a young LdH. Black cherry, oregano, floral, with balanced acids and supple tannin. B++
2001 Faurie St Joseph VV Fully mature, sweet Syrah berry fruit, a little barnyard, meat, holding on but don’t hold on. B/B+
2019 Marietta Christo A blend of mostly Rhone varietals, ripe and easy, sweet forward approach, decently done just not my style. B-
MIL joined us for dinner on Superbowl Sunday. I made wings, but no other SB food- we had oysters, grey sole, spinach, rice with furikake, salad
2015 JJ Prum Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett Took a long time to open up. But lovely sprightly wine when it does- apple and citrus, spring blossoms, just a hint of petrol, long minerally finish. A-
2010 Boulay La Comtesse Sancerre I’ve had variable bottles, but this one is pretty classic. Rich lemon and grapefruit, flinty minerality, very long finish. Smoky notes with air. 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.