As usual, Ben and Wendy hosted a holiday dinner for my city group. The morning snow kept people inside I guess, so Betsy and I made record time driving to Greenwich Village (and found parking outside building).
Caviar, homemade buckwheat blinis, creme fraiche, two homemade breads, butter, and smoked salmon
2006 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Rose (Mag)
Lovely, long, rich but with vibrancy. A-
2019 Flavien Nowack 'Les Bauchets' Champagne Blanc de Noirs
Dry, vinous, red cherry and pomegranate, very nice length. B+/A-
2010 Rollin “Sous Fretille” Pernand-Vergelesses 1er
Nervy, bright, long with classic character. A-
Homemade pasta with a wild boar ragu
1998 Soldera Brunello di Montalcino
Elegant, refined, almost Burgundian but with real Sangiovese character. Perfumed, sandalwood over red fruits. A-/A
2001 Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino
Lovely and powerful, black cherry and cocoa, nice balance. A-
2001 Cavallotto Riserva San Giuseppe Barolo Riserva
Red fruits, mushroom, coffee, surprisingly ready. B+/B
2005 Giacosa Santo Stefano Barbaresco
Red fruits, anise, there’s a lot of tannin compared to the Cavalotto but not unapproachable. B+
Rich chicken in a mushroom/wine sauce, green beans
A bottle of 1990 Burguet (I think it was 1990 Mes Favorites) was corked
2008 Jadot Musigny
Black and red cherry, espresso, earth, surprisingly ready. B+
Jay served a mystery Burg. Group got 80s quickly, I got 1985, then Jay says “and surprisingly it’s ready!”and I got Gouges.Sweet red cherry and cranberry,incense/sandalwood, a bit exotic I really like. 1985 Gouges “Les St George” Nuits St Georges 1er B++
2002 Chevillon Cailles Nuits St Georges 1er (mag)
Lovely nose of red cherry, nutskin and smoke, on palate sweet red and black cherries, hint of vanilla, moderate tannins, clean acids. Open but in this format could use some time. B+ with potential
2005 Chevillon Chaignots Nuits St Georges 1er
Showing well. Pomegranate and black cherry, spicebox, firm but giving. B+/A-
2002 Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Clos Windsbuhl (375ml)
Popular at table, but I found a bit cloying even though it wasn’t super sweet. Floral, honied, a heavy texture. B-
2012 JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Gold Kapsul Auslese (375)
Just a quick sip but lively and long.
I remember there was a Hummingbird cake (because I’d never heard of that), but didn’t pay attention to desserts.
Really fun night. Sangiovese was my favorite flight, but I was happy all night long!
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.