Some friends have had us (or just me if Betsy out of town) over for dinner a half dozen times since we started on kitchen. So last week we took them o ut to Saint George in Hastings for dinner. Free BYO night, and we had a ni ce meal- split some oysters, then I had escargot and lamb chops
2007 Sauzet Chassagne-Montrachet Found a couple forgotten bottles, a bit longer than I usually hold white Bu rg now. But this worked out- no premox here, white pear fruit with a touch of lemon, good stony finish. Quite fun. B+1990 Ch. Pape Clement Double-decanted couple hours in advance. Starts out more cassis driven but with air some red cherry. Tobacco, gravelly dirt, a little saddle leather. Drinking beautifully, classic mature Graves.A-
Some other jazz musicians offered Ron a taste, but my glass was full, but n ot sure I’m disappointed to miss a blend from “Sicily, Vene to, and Puglia” that is a Luca Maroni (the James Suckling of Italy) 98. Probably not my style.
Friday we went to friends for meatloaf, potatoes, and salad.
2014 Dr. Konstantin Frank Cabernet Sauvignon Riper /less weedy than I’d expect for Finger Lakes CS, sweet fruit fruit, some light vanilla. B-2011 Tablas Creek Esprit de Tablas Fresh, berry driven, very spicy with an anise note. B+
Betsy left for the Stamford train station (getting her niece as a surprise for her sister), dropped me at my local tasting group. Theme was SW France.
Greeted with a pleasant rose where I didn’t see bottle, and an offt heme bottle, the 2011 Pahlmeyer Merlot. Black berries and blue berries, cho colate pudding, some tannin, low acid. Not my style, some others loved., C+
To table (a couscous, I managed to eat a bit despite having dinner),
One white
2016 Laballe “Les Terres Basses” Colombard, Ugni Blanc, and Gros Manseng. Lime/grapefruit, a bit shrill, bu t refreshing after the Merlot. B-/C+The reds, blind
1991 Pichard Madiran Good showing. Fred got Madiran right away, but guessed 2001. Meaty/smoky, w ith good black plum fruit. B+/B2015 Elian Da Ros “Le Vin est une Fete” (Cotes du Marmandai s) New appellation to me. 40% Abouriou (new grape to me), 40% Cabernet franc,
20% Merlot. Round, red and black plum, short finish but easy drinking. B/B-2015 Laplace Madiran Dark, quite tannic, dark berry and blackcurrant. A little hard right now. B/B-
2015 Ch., Maris (Minervois) Oops, geography a little off. Peppery red GSM blend. B2011 Montus Madiran Full bodied, moderate acids, firm tannins, dark fruits. Long finish. B+
2016 Cazerac Cahors Sweet fruit, low tannins and acids, easy/fruitforward style of Malbec. B-Fun night
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 p arty where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivi ty, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.