With sockeye salmon, wild rice, and broccoli
2001 Herve Sigaut Chambolle-Musigny
I didn't really mean to age, tasted pretty mature when I acquired 10 yers ago, but got buried. Turned out fine- sweet black cherry fruit, some Chambolle perfume, good acids, any tannin resolved. Not especially complex, but nice casual Thursday wine. B
Swordfish, sweet potato , and spinach
NV Barnaut “Authentique “ Grand Cru Rose Champagne
Raspberry, cherry, and orange zest, a good acid core, quite full. Good foil for the food, fun. B+
Saturday afternoon went to a pre-Valentine’s open house in Hastings, bearing wine and Korean shrimp cocktail. Not a geeky event, big spread of food
2012 Talmard Macon-Villages
Green apple,lemon, just beginning to show age (a little brown apple peel), modest acids. B-
2016 Bonny Doon Grenache
Red fruited, touch jammy, not my style. B-/C+
2015 Domaine de la Pirolette Saint Amour.
Obvious choice for Valentine party. I liked the brighter 2016 better, but this was pretty good in a riper style. Black cherry, espresso, lush. Quickly emptied. Made by Barbet family (Billards). B+/B
Some friends for dinner that night.
NV Barnaut “Quintessence du Pinot Noir” Blanc de Noirs Brut
Fresh white fruits, chalky, toasty. Quite tasty, though I don’t think I would have guessed BdN if I wasn’t looking at label. B+
With oysters (mignonette and lemon)
2015 Ch. Carbonnieux Blanc
Oak, grass, oak, citrus, oak. At moment a bit oaky for me but others loved. B- for now
Dinner was cumin/Meyer lemon quail, Italian sausage, lentils, and broccoli rabe
2006 Chevillon “Les Chaignots” Nuits St George 1er Cru
I’ve heard mixed reports about ‘06 Burgs being closed (or open), no issues here! Lovely rich black cherry and raspberry fruit, some light espresso and smokes notes, some tannic structure but easy to drink. Balanced, fresh, and some complexity. B+/A-
1978 Domaine de Chevalier (rouge)
Red plum, cedar, tobacco, mushroom. Round and ready. B+
Fun night with good people
Sunday with leftovers (quail, spinach, wild rice)
2012 FX Pichler Loibner Burgstall Riesling Federspiel
Second time this month I’ve found myself drinking a different wine than I thought- need to wear my drugstore reading glasses more (or see optometrist), I could have sworn I brought up a GV. I tasted - noted no white pepper or green peas- then read label. Oh. This says 12.5 abv, but tastes a bit headier. Lime and peaches, good acids, some wet rock minerality. I got this at a good sale price (for FXP) so decent value, B+
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.