Jean arrived back home with takeout Thai food in tow, so we opened two wines to try with it.
1996 Dom. de Baumard Savennieres. This was the regular cuvee. Golden-yellow in color, a nose of honey, citrus, pear and seawater/iodine. On the palate, it had balanced acidity, a rich mouthfeel, an interesting mix of honey, pineapple, pears, iodine, and a long finish. Unfortunately, this is one of the rare instances (along with certain strongly gamey Syrahs from the N. Rhone) where Jean's tastes and mine diverge widely. She found this wine downright disagreeable ("oxidized") as she has most every aged white wine she's tried. Oh, well...2001 Navarro Gewurztraminer. The only CA Gewurz that we drink. This year's rendition is a winner. A huge nose of pears, minerals and floral notes -- classic varietal character. In the mouth, big, rich, pear and spice with perhaps just a trace of residual sugar and a crisp, clean finish. Nothing heavy, cloying or insipid about this wine. All in all, it could have been a Zind-Humbrecht wine, but sells for considerably less in these parts.
With a dinner of green curry chicken and shrimp stir fried with basil in red chili paste, both wines held up surprisingly well. The Baumard came through as fruit and honey; the Gewurztraminer as perfumed and fruity. If not improved by the food, they both at least survived the ordeal.
Mark Lipton