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WTN: Mazis, Etna, Macon, Alba, Roccamonfina

Sunday we went to Irvington to dinner at friends. They greeted us with shii take toasts, cheese, and olives, along with a servicable Prosecco that I ne glected to note.

Dinner was risotto with a red sauce, along with caprese, beets, and salad. She had asked for a "strong red", and I brought one

2002 Galardi "Terra di Lavoro" (Roccamonfina) This is a big wine. At first I thought it might be a little hot and stewed, but the pruney note seemed to blow off. Tons of sediment. Cassis, tar, lea ther. Like a cross between a big Medoc and a semi-modern Barolo. Lot of cha racter here., but there's a glossy oak note as well. B/B+

There was also a 2005 Corino Dolcetto d'Alba. A bit of tannin remained, che rry and blueberries, but this is quite tired with some ashtray notes and a short finish. C/C+

Monday was our anniversary and we went to Aldea near Union Square. I starte d with a gorgeous egg, with bacalhau, black olive, & potato crisps. Next I had baby squid with a romesco sauce and squid ink, followed by venison ste ak with chanterelles and baby vegetables. Betsy started with uni toast, the n had matsutake and chanterelles with Benton's bacon , greens, and egg. Her main was a variation on the classic Portugese pork and clams, with sucklin g pig and sunchokes

2001 Nicolas Potel Mazis-Chambertin Tight and a little musty at first (but not corked), opens a bit, red fruit, spice, earth. Pleasant and a good accompaniment to the food, but didn't st rike me as GC. A 2001 Drouhin village Chambolle recently had more depth. De cent wine, but a little disappointing in context. B/B-

With my squid I had a glass of the 2012 Bret Brothers Macon-Villages- fresh , nicely balanced, clean, good wine. B/B+

Last night I put together a quick pasta al Norma, with the 2012 Terre Nere Etna Rosso. Red fruits, good acids, light but noticable tannins, maybe just a hint of heat (wow, this is 14.5%, don't remember that from previous year s). Still, I like B

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.

Reply to
DaleW
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Nice sounding food, Dale. Were you both happy with your meal?

I have only one bottle of a Potel wine (an '02 Beaune Clos des Vignes Franches) and have never tried his wines. What do you make of him as a producer?

Mark Lipton

Reply to
Mark Lipton

Very happy. Food was delicious and beautiful. I left off some complimentary dishes- a couple of amuses (my favorite was a "macaroon" made of cucumber meringue with a frozen gimlet filling) and a dessert bite (warm cream filli ng inside a tiny pastry)/

I've generally been pleased with his wines from this period. I think I hav e this right (corrections welcomed): Nicolas was the son of the Gerard Potel, manager of Pousse d'Or, who unexpe ctedly died in mid-90s. Nicolas had been training to succeed his dad, but o wners sold the property after Gerard's death. Nicolas set up a negociant bu siness. In late 90s and early 00s he had a reputation for getting access to great fruit/wine, from his dad's old friends (RSV from 99 & 00 is I'm pret ty sure from DRC- obviously what they didn't use, but still pretty special) . But he overexpanded and sold controlling interest (including his name) to the folks who run Laboure-Roi about 2004. I think the 2004-2006 or so wine s were still made by Nicolas. Then parting of the ways, and since then any "Nicolas Potel" wines have nothing to do with him. He then started Domaine Roche de Bellene (estate) and Maison Roche de Bellene (negoce). Overall I've had good luck with the Potel wines 99 through 02

Reply to
DaleW

Thanks, Dale. Funny coincidence that I asked this just as you were answering on the WLDG. My wine is actually a '99 (and somehow not in CT) but still from the Nicolas Potel = Nicolas Potel era.

Mark Lipton

Reply to
Mark Lipton

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