Gary organized a dinner at Song e Napule on the Upper West Side. Nice place- we had beef carpaccio salad, octopus salad, meatballs, pizzas (pea/prosciutto and porcini/truffle oil), pastas (Genovese and beef cheeks). Theme was supposed to be Campania, but expanded.
Good food and friendly service
NV Girard-Bonnet Champagne Grand Cru Mon Village
(2021 base, Feb 2024 dg)
I think I liked more than some others. Citrus and green apple, good acids, not as complex as other Champagnes but nice tipple. B/B+
2017 Bereche “les Beaux Regards” Extra Brut
Snappy pear and green apple., earthy tones, almond and hazelnut in background. Long and balanced. A-/B+
2012 Bollinger Grand Annee Rose
A little more mature than a recent bottle from mag, but still lovely. Red fruits, blood orange, chalk. Long minerally finish. A-/B+
NV Brice Blanc des Noirs
Tight at first, opened up but not as expressive as others, sweet apple fruit on finish. B
1999 Mastroberardino Taurasi Radici Riserva
Lighter dark fruit, a little smoke, somewhat drying tannins on finish. Others liked more. B-
1997 Mastroberardino Taurasi Radici Riserva
Ripe but balanced, red cherries and leather, good finish. B+
1982 Mastroberardino Taurasi
An elegant dowager, fading a bit but elegant and lovely. Dessicated cherries, ash, saddle leather. Drink up (with pleasure). B+/A-
2010 Fattoria Galardi Terra di Lavoro
Young, powerful, and tannic, black plums and anise-y herbs, needs time but very nice wine. B+
2003 Kellerei Lagrein Riserva
Weird, metallic edge, red fruit overlaid with almost a pool aroma, I thought corked at one point but went away. Not for me. C+
2015 Salvioni (Cerbaiola) Brunello di Montalcino
Not really familiar with producer but really enjoyed this. Red plums, cherries, cigar wrapper, a little oregano. Young but balanced. B+
2017 Paolo Bea Pagliaro Montefalco Sagrantino
Powerful, young, needs time but great profile. Black plums and black cherry, minty/herby, dense. B+
Fun night with good group
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.