Mark Golodetz organized a Riesling/Champagne (with a few outliers) dinner at my favorite Westchester Chinese place, Central Seafood in Hartsdale. A very nice crew of 15 came together, with assorted Zachonians, multiple Dawsons, mad Croatians, serious cellar designers, and other friends new and old.
Food quality was a little varied this night, but mostly quite good. I loved the head-on shrimp, dumplings, one batch of the jalapeno shrimp, the greens, , chicken, sole with ginger. I liked the lobster, duck, Dungeness crab, rice. The beef and coriander soup was good once seasoning adjusted, and one platter of the shrimp was not as good. But overall quite nice
Many many wines. Rudimentary notes, my apologies for any goofs:
NV Mumm Cramant
As usual, a nice wine. Light yeasty/doughy notes, apple fruit, fresh, good. B+/B
NV Billecart-Salmon rose
This wasn't showing well, fruit seems a bit flat (wine itself was plenty bubbly). short, not awful (to me, at least once thought it was terrible), but not what it should be. B-
(2007 I think) Luneau-Papin "Clos des Allees" Muscadet
Somewhat rounder style of Muscadet, seashells a bit hidden under white fruit. B
2002 Taittinger Brut
Lemon peel, apples, peaches, fun. B/B+
2006 Rosacroce "Midolini" Sauvignon (Colli Orientali del Friuli)
Different and interesting SB, herbs (mint and cilantro), cat pee, and lemony fruit. Good length. B+/B
1996 Pol Roger Cuvee Winston Churchill
No notes here, but I certainly liked it, A-
1999 Godme Brut
I didn't take any notes first time around, just a positive checkmark, but quite a while later this showed very nicely, fresh baked bread with apple butter. B+
A mystery wine went around. My first guess was Gewurztraminer, but then someone suggested a Gewurz/Muscat/other stuff field blend, which seemed plausible. Quite sweet, seems a bit old/tired, short finish. It's the 2007 Penguin Bay Gewurztraminer (Finger Lakes), C/C+
1971 Scharzhofberger Auslese
Still some sweetness, light petrol, orange creamsicle, minerals, honey. Revisited after 2 hours still lively. What a vintage. A-
1988 Max. Grunhauser (von Schubert) Herrenberg Riesling Auslese
Good acidity, spices, lively fruit, strong finish. Young but with lots of complexity. Grunhauser rocks. A-
There was a 1976 Von Simmern Auslese, but I forgot to get vineyard. Very dark color, but alive on palate, some botryris, moderate acidity, good finish. B+
1988 Boch Trittenheimer Apotheke Auslese
Light color, but a tiny bit tired on palate, apples and a little slate. B/B-
2001 Zind Humbrecht "Herrenweg de Turkheim" Gewurztraminer
I love the idea of the indice of sweetness on Olivier's wines, but they don't seem in practive to match reality. This is a 2, and most ZH 2s I've had are pretty sweet, this is as close to bone dry as he gets. Flowers, litchis, a bit boring, B-
1989 Hugel Vendagne Tardive
Showing nicely, just a hint of sugar but basically dry, concentrated, long. A-/B+
1983 Scharzhofberger Auslese
Such a shame. There seemed to be a lovely wine lurking here, orange marmalade and honey, but there was just enough cardboard to convince me it was corked.
To make it worse, a 1983 JJ Prum GKA was even more corked. Ack!
1994 Zind Humbrecht "Clos Windsbuhl" Gewurztraminer
Much richer and more interesting than the '01 Herrenweg. Spatlese level sweetness. Big but not ungainly. I like this (I tend to like ZH Gewurz and PG more than Riesling). B+
1990 Berres Urziger Wurzgarten Beerenauslese
Quite young, good acids. Less sweet than I expect a BA to be, but lovely flavors of apples, pit fruits, and Eastern spices. A-/B+
Fun night, thanks to Mark for organizing, and to all for participating!
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.
