Some nice (socially distanced) dinners, a couple family dinners, and a drink in the yard
Hot day Thursday, but it was comfortable in Alex and Hilary?s garden. We started with canapes (pate, skordalia, chevre), then tarator (cold yogurt/cucumber/garlic soup), and then an excellent paella with chorizo, chicken, mussels, clams, shrimp and squid.
2019 Bagnol Cassis Rose Crisp, saline, red fruits in a taut structure. B+2018 Pardas ?Rupestris? (Penedes) Lemon,peach, and seashell, bright. B/B+
2018 Montecastrillo (Ribera del Duero) Ripe red fruits veering into stewed territory, some rather hard tannin, short. Maybe the heat of the evening, but not for me. C/C+Friday we had Danny Kaye?s Chicken Salad, with the 2019 Vorspannhof Mayr Gruner Veltliner. Liter bottle, shortest screwcap I ever saw. Light, good acid, a hint of saline, easy to drink and $10/liter. B/B-
Saturday oysters, sauteed scallops, pasta with zucchini/lemon/herbs, salad
2010 Mugnier ?Clos de la Marechale? Nuits St. Georges Blanc I?m generally not a huge fan of CdN whites, and I can?t say this is a bargain, but at moment it is a very lovely bottle of white Burgundy,. Pear and apple, a little hazelnut and citrus blossoms, integrated oak. Balanced and bright. A- Sunday afternoon a couple of friends came by for a wine exchange, we sat in back with scallop crudo, garlic scape canapes, beef sausage, and the NV Pierre Peters ?Oubilee? Champagne. Rich, leesy, good acids but in a heavier style than I expect from Peters, this is good but not my style- might appeal more to Krug fans. BThen over to friends? home to celebrate their 30th anniversary
Oysters, garlic scape pesto canapes NV Andre Jacquart ?Experience? Blanc de Blancs Champagne Apple pie, moderate acids, a little austere. B-
Red snapper crudo with watercress pesto,
2017 La Haubette Sancerre Grass, green fruit, crisp, not very complex or long but cold and a good partner to the cruso. B/B-lamb chops, potatoes, asparagus
1990 Ch. Belair (St Emilion) Double-decanted before we left home, best showing I?ve seen of this. Black and red currant, a pleasant herby/minty edge, a ferric note on finish. Nicely put together. B+2001 Baron de Ley Rioja Gran Reserva Plums, spice, ripe and ready. 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 party where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.