Brad organized a big 1995 Loire horizontal Saturday, a couple of friends and I took the train down to Marble Hill and walked over to Inwood to Don and Melissa’s. A nice crew gathered, and brought a great selection of wones- and food: roasted chicken thighs, pork loin with prunes. homemade bread, GF bread, pate de campagne, pickled shrimp, (smoked salmon, creme fraiche, capers, dill, and crispbread), honeynut squash with lentils, black lentils, Cantonese roast pork, latkes, green salad, cheese, and things I forgot.
Tons of wines, just brief notes on my phone
1995 Huet Le Mont Vouvray Sec
Nice showing, generous with bright acids, A-/B+
1995 Robert Denis- Azay-le-Rideau Sec
Yowza acids, yet well integrated and not shrill. Long and complex. A-
1995 Luneau Papin L’d’Or Muscadet
I thought this a bit advanced and oxidative at first, but a later tasting was very nice in a cool wet rock mineral vein. B- to start, B+/B later
1995 Baumard Savennieres "Trie Speciale,"
Peach and wax, a bit ponderous, I think others liked more than I did. B/B-
1995 Lucien Crochet "Vendange de 25 Octobre" Sancerre
If Sancerre want to carry some RS, it better be Cotat. I wasn’t a fan of this at all. C+
1995 Robert Denis Azay-le-Rideau Demi-Sec
Bright, vibrant, long (most people preferred to Denis Sec) B+/A-
1995 Huet Clos du Bourg Vouvray Demi-Sec
Nice showing, classic wooly/waxy. On drier side of Demi-Sec. B+
1995 Foreau Vouvray Demi-Sec,
Dark color, but very fresh on palate with peach, quince, and honey. Lovely and great with food (chicken and cheese both) A-/B+
1995 Sourdais "Les Cornuelles" Chinon
New producer to me, Good, cool character, hint of pepper, herby, B/B+
1995 Bernard Baudry "La Croix Boissee” Chinon
Loved this, Complete and complex, long. A-/A
1995 Druet "Grand Mont" Bourgueil
I liked this, but man you need to be tolerant of green pepper. Red fruit, green pepper, herbs, more green pepper. B/B+
1995 "Breton"Les Pèrrieres," Bourgueil
If it was there I know I must have tasted but no notes and no memory
1995 Breton"Senechal" Bourgueil
I did taste this Breton. Surprisingly sweet, it settled down and got quite spicy, and I enjoyed B+
1995 Druet "Vaumoreau" Bourgueil
No notes but I liked less than others and gave B/B-
1995 Filliatreau"La Grande Vignolle," Saumur-Champigny
Some found tired and lacking, but I thought while fully mature it still gave pleasure. Fun, B+/B
1995 Clos Rougeard Le Bourg Saumur-Champigny
Dark fruit (cassis and black cherry), coffee, long and complex. Lovely, A-
1995 Clos de la Coulée de Serrant Savennieres Moelleux
Interesting, least sweet of moelleux wines, cinnamon and apple pie, fun. B+
1995 Foreau Vouvray Moelleux
So the guy bringing Foreau Reserve cancelled at last minute, and I grabbed a bottle of the regular to represent Foreau. Uh oh, TCA
1995 Huet Clos du Bourg Vouvray Moelleux 1ere Trie
Nice showing overall, although I (and I think only me) thought there was an odd iodine note sticking out. Still, nice example of mature sweet Chenin. B+
1995 Pinon "Cuvee Botrytis" Vouvray
Caramelized apples, apricot, honey, very nice,. B+/A-
1995 Huet Cuvee Constance Vouvray
Long and complete,apricot and honied botrytis notes, tangy. A-
1995 Baumard- Quarts de Chaume
2 375s, one tired/oxidized,other fresher but corked!
1995 Pierre Bise "L'Anclai" Coteaux du Layon
I tasted and think I liked, wrote down nothing
1995 Papin-Chevalier- La Pierre du Coulaine- Savennieres Doux
Wow, tons of sugar, moderate acids, I find this simple and uninteresting. B-/C+
1995 Clos Rougeard "Breze SGN" Coteaux de Saumur
Fun and different, candied quince, Earl Grey, apricot, long. A-
And a bonus bottle that was a bit older
1955 Huet Clos du Bourg Vouvray Moelleux
Modest sweetness, apricot and quince, orange zest, some (nice) mushroomy notes. B+
Great night, great 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.