Patrick was in town and Ramon proposed a dinner based on traditionally styled Right Bank wines. A good group was rounded up, but it’s hard to find a restaurant in NYC for a December Saturday that has a good corkage deal. So I offered to host in Westchester. And that’s when it snowed. But the intrepid group all made it, and we were able to sample a lot of wines. While we hosted, others generously brought salmon, bread, and cheeses, which we sampled as introductions were made before we settled down. I didn’t take notes during the night, just wrote down grades as end.
Edited to add that everyone was great dealing with a very rambunctious Basset!
NV Doyard Champagne “Cuvee Vendemiaire Premier Cru” Brut
Blanc de Blancs, some age to it (auction purchase), full but a little sweet for me. B
2010 Yann Alexander Blanc de Blancs Champagne
Crisp, young, high acid, needs time. B
Before I had run to train for pickup I had put 2 whites in decanters to serve blind. This bottle of 1986 Ponsot “Clos des Monts Luisants” Morey St. Denis Vieilles Vignes was a bit darker than one last month when first poured, but by time we returned it was really dark, and clearly oxidized. I thought about grabbing another but we had so many wines.,,,
On the second blind wine John got white Bordeaux immediately, the 2010 Aile d’Argent (white wine from Mouton-Rothschild) had honeydew and grapefruit, some slightly honied notes, tasty but needs a little more zip. B/B-
Jay brought the 1989 Luneau-Papin “L d’Or” Muscadet, and a stellar showing as usual. Good acids but without any edge, wet rocks topped with lemon zest and oystershell. A-/A
Then to table. I grilled some quail and trumpet mushrooms, served over lentils. Then later roast lamb, individual potato gratins, and Shanghai/bokchoy with oyster sauce
We had 2 blind off theme reds to start.
Jayson’s wine- I wasn’t sure this was Bordeaux at first, it had a herb and pepper note that made me wonder if was like a classic 70s/early 80s Napa. But no, Bordeaux, the tobacco notes should have tipped me off. 1985 La Lagune A-/B+
JC’s wine- riper, more tobacco, earth, midbodied. I think Jason got producer. 1989 Beychevelle B+
After that, no blinds.
1990 Ch. Magdelaine- young, full, ripe and delicious. Even better when tasted at end of night. B+/A-
1990 Ch Canon - structured, but mature tasting on palate, smoke and mushrooms. B
1986 Certan de May
Still some tannin, black plum and espresso, elegant for ‘86. A-
1985 L’Eglise Clinet
Ripe, soft finish, tasty. B
1985 Ch Canon
Fresh, elegant, long. A-
1982 La Dominique
Black fruit, cigarbox, tasty. B+
1982 Ch. Magdelaine
Black cherry, plum, cocoa, and cedar. Lovely and lush but with bright acids, just lovely. A-/A
1982 Ch Canon
Redder fruits, floral, a little leather. A-
1982 Ch. Pavie
Popped and poured. Gentle black fruits, tobacco, not as long as some others but fun. B
1981 L’Evangile
Elegant, lush texture, balanced. A-/A
1970 Ch. Magdelaine
Cedar/cigarbox, red fruits, herby, smoky, long. A-/A
1970 Ch. Figeac
Herby, complex. A-/B+
1966 Ch Fonplegade
Apparently next to Magdelaine. I’d only tasted the (overmodern) 05 before. This was a classy old lady, black plum,herb, and earth. B
1966 Ch. Magdelaine
another bottle from same lot was delicious recently, but this had a definite madeira note. C
1962 Ch. Pavie
Still holding on, but heading towards generic old red. B-/C+
Jay had brought some tarts (lemon and coconut I believe), and we had some wines with sugar.
1990 Lafaurie-Peyraugey
Quite dark, apricot, lots of botrytis, a little soft. B
2001 JJ Prum Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Auslese
For a toast/tribute to John Dawson. Zingy/zippy acids, green apple and grapefruit zest, honeycomb, long finish. A-
1994 Muller-Catoir Mussbacher Eselshaut Rieslaner Trockenbeerenauslese
Tons of botrytis, red and white fruits, good finish but a little simple. Ready. B/B+
2001 Muller-Catoir Gimmeldinger Schlossel Rieslaner Auslese
Those 01 acids strike again, lovely and complex, I double check to make sure not Riesling. A-
OK, a longer night than anticipated, and more snow, but awful lot of fun. Lots of classic wine.
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.