For my birthday some friends gave me a gift certificate to the Daniel Boulud group of restaurants, I took Betsy to DB Bistro Moderne for our anniversary last night. We had a couple of nice complimentary starters (a tapenade spread, and a tarte flambe). Betsy had the lobster salad and the famous DB burger (shortribs and foie gras) with pommes souffles, I had the duck pate and a choucroute special (about 8 kinds of meat). I ordered a couple quartinos, she started with white and I with red, then we switched for main courses
2007 Keller Trocken QbA (Rheinhessen)
Light and lovely dry Riesling, a little hint of diesel over a firm fruit body of grapefruit and peach fruit. Despite the initial impression of lightness, plenty of body to stand up to the choucroute. B+
2005 Château de la Maltroye Bourgogne
A little sharp edge to the acidity, a bit tannic, but a solid body of fruit. Cherrries, black raspberries, and a little earth. I resisted the urge to join conversation of couple next to us, with woman bitterly complaining "this isn't Pinot Noir, I drink PN from California all the time, it doesn't taste like this!" This could use more concentration/length, but ok for me. B/B-
Betsy got some oolong and a dessert of blueberry tart with candy corn ice cream,plus they gave us some madelaines. I had a glass of the 2006 Kracher Cuvee Beerenauslese. Often I find some Kracher too fat for my tastes, but this had a solid backbone of acidity, clean and clear botrytis, and excellent length. A-/B+
Nice evening, nice meal, better company.
With leftovers (capon, squash, quinoa, bok choy) on Tuesday the 2007 Emrich-Schonleber "Lenz "Riesling (Nahe). Well-done QbA, a bit off-dry with moderate acidity. Some mineral notes (chalk and flint), limey citrus fruit with a little cherry, nice length for the level. Not especially exciting, but interesting enough I to make me want to try their pradikat bottlings.B
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. 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.