Thursday I headed into city for a dinner welcoming some visiting NZ wine folks. #6 line from Grand Central was having signal problems, I eventually made it as far as Union Sq and walked to Noreetuh from there. I was late, but not the latest.
They had sent out mushroom tempura and truffle taro chips, which we enjoyed with sparklers as everyone straggled in.
2012 Ultramarine Blanc de Blanc
Nice cut, pear and lemon, bright. B+/B
2006 Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill.
Young and full, biscuity, some citrus notes and hazelnut. B+
1999 Taittinger Comtes Comtes de Champagne Rose
Elegant and floral, cherries and citrus zest, bready notes, long chalky finish. A-/A
After everyone was there, we moved on to whites (I had a nice grilled octopus starter)
2008 Roulot Perrieres Meursault 1er
Lovely, though it needed some air to really come out. Full and rich. bright framing acids, “wow” length. Just a hint of vanilla, lots of orange zest and nuts, totally delicous. A-
2008 Roulot Charmes Meursault 1er
Another lovely Meursault, though I thought it more reserved than the Perrieres (others disagreed). A bit more tropical, rounder, B+
2009 Bell Hill Canterbury Chardonnay
A bit of matchstick/reduction took a while to blow off, but this was a headturner. Thanks to Rauno for bringing a NZ Chard that could stand with head up in a flight with his Roulots. Nectarine and Bosc pear, chalk, apple blossom. Full and balanced. B+
We all shared some of the mochiko fried chicken
There was a blind bottle, but apparently off, I never tasted, apparently Domaine des Forges Clos de la Roche (late 90s vintage but I never really looked at it)
1996 Groffier Bonnes Mares
I think I liked a bit less than table. Framboise, flowera, a bit dense. B-
1999 Potel Romanee St Vivant
I think I liked a bit more than table. Spice and sandalwood, black cherry, a little tight with some noticeable oak, could use a little time. B+
I had the 5 spice pork chop with grilled fennel
1996 Jadot Chambertin
I liked more than some others. Black fruit and coffee, acid and tannin apparent but in balance. B+/A-
1996 Jadot Chambertin-Clos de Beze
This was tight and ungiving, lots of acid and tannin, opens a bit in glass. I’ve liked this a lot more in past. B-/B
1997 Jadot Bonnes Mares
Ripe cherry, plum, some spice and forest floor. Ready to go. B+/B
Final flight made me almost buy a megamillion ticket today, just so I could dream of buying more Dujac.
2001 Dujac Charmes-Chambertin
Starts off tight but opens nicely. Dark fruits, perfume, a little meaty note, big and full bodied yet lithe. A-
2001 Dujac Echezeaux
Starts off nice and just gets better and better. Black cherry, incense and spice, smoke. Long and complex. A-/A
Really great to have Rauno and Adithi visit, charming and generous people. A nice crowd of NYers as well, and Noreetuh gave great service as well as delicious food. Really nice wine night as well!
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.