Tonight was our annual cassoulet dinner, celebrating the depths of winter and, this year in a bittersweet twist, the retirement of my comrade-in-arms Bartow (our chemistry librarian) who has made and supplied saucisse de Toulouse for this event for many years now. Bartow, though soon to depart for a life in France, supplied not only the sausage again this year, but some excellent lingot beans that he purchased this Fall in France. With the cassoulet, I served several wines:
2007 Schloss Gobelsburg Steinsetz Grüner Veltliner nose: minerals, honey, white stonefruit palate: good acidity, medium body, honey and fruit
2007 Leitz "Einz Zwei Dry" Riesling nose: lime and stones palate: dry, crisp, muted finish
1999 Ch. Montus Madiran "Prestige" nose: horsey Brett aromas, dark, plummy fruit palate: soft tannins, decent acidity, Brett
2001 Ch. La Roque "Cupa Numismae" Pic St. Loup nose: oak, blueberries palate: soft entry, medium body, fruity
2006 Kim Crawford Pinot Noir Marlborough nose: smoke, tart cherry palate: soft acidity, smoky fruit
Of the red wines, the Montus was the hands-down favorite match for the cassoulet despite its Bretty showing tonight. All in all, a fun meal and a great way to wish Bartow a happy future in France.
Mark Lipton
The white wines were consumed for the most part with our limited appetizers. Of the red wines