Corey and Linda were in town and Jay rallied the troops to greet them at Ping’s. Long leisurely meal (traffic meant a some people arrived halfway through) fried silver fish,short ribs, quail,
razor clams in black bean sauce, Peking duck, red wine braised duck breast, sauteed sea bass with crispy fried bones, hot pot of tofu skin/greens/ mushrooms. whole large shrimp from tanks, I probably forgot something
A nice assortment of wines. Nothing flawed, nothing I wouldn’t happily drink. Thanks to Jeff for disgorgement dates and correcting me on vintages
NV Benoit Lahaye Brut Nature Eloquence -disg 11/2016
Crisp, good if a tad austere. B
2013 Marie Courtin Eloquence Bdb Grand Cru Extra Brut - disg 4/2017
Too warm on first pour, but lovely on revisit- bright lithe Chardonnay fruit, slate-y/minerally finish, quite giving. B+/A-
NV Benoit Dehu “ la Rue des Noyers” Extra Brut- disg 8/2016
100% Meunier, Jeff says not varietally typical, but I don’t think I’ve had enough 100% PM bubbles to compare. Fuller than other 2, but good crispness and lovely nose. B+/A-
Dry Whites
2005 Pepiere Clisson Muscadet
I was a little alarmed at first pour, there was a light sherried note with a touch of VA. But whatever it was blew off quickly leaving a lovely wine. Fuller style of Muscadet, lemons, pit fruits, and oyster shells, there’s a little Chenin-like wool nose with air, quite enjoyable. A-
1997 Brundlmayer Alte Reben Gruner Veltliner
Somehow I had this written down as a 2005. Very youthful for 20+ GV. Big and rich, ripe nectarine fruit, but with nice underlying acid. Just a touch of GV white pepper. A-
2005 Dauvissat “La Forest” Chablis 1er
I’m a huge Dauvissat fan, but while others loved for some reason this bottle didn’t move me.
2014 Michel Redde Les Tuilieres Sancerre
Grass and gooseberry, good length. B
Reds
1995 Ponsot Clos de la Roche VV
I served this blind not to fool anyone but to take Ponsot preconceptions off table. Initial guesses were Cote de Beaune then Jeff got Morey. Perfumed, sandalwood, lovely nose but without the depth and sexiness I’d expect from Ponsot CdlR in a good vintage. A lovely midbodied red Burg, but not sure I’d think good GC from a top producer. B+
2000 Grand Puy Lacoste (Pauillac)
Big ripe structured, not really giving much right now. Think it will be good but for current drinking B-/C+
1998 La Pointe (Pomerol)
Redder fruit, leaner texture than I expect from ‘98 Pomerol, but nice flavors with a cigarbox note. Someone thinks it’s corked but I don’t get that, though there is a bit of an animal note when open a while. B/B+
Riesling with sugar
2014 Prinz von Hessen Riesling Dachsfilet
Just off dry, very full style of Riesling. B
2001 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Auslese
Those good ‘01 acids, orange creamsicle with a floral edge. B+/A-
1997 Schloss Schoenborn Erbacher Marcobrunn Auslese
Mature, balanced, lovely flavors, just not quite as electric as the ‘01 Haag, B+
Jeff shows a 2005 von Bassermann-Jordan Forster Jesuitengarten Riesling Spatlese, I didn’t note that and am not sure I tasted.
2001 Rieussec
Honey, creme brulee, orange marmalade, good acids keeps it from cloying. B+
Fun night, good to see 4 friends and meet 4 new ones.
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.