A great friend was celebrating a big birthday, so a nice group of about 20 gathered at Aberdeen in White Plains for dim sum, 2 big tables (about 10 each), with the wine geeks narrowly outnumbering the civilians. Great people, fun afternoon.
The initial dim sum poured out from kitchen- pork shu mai, shrimp shu mai, spare ribs, eggplant stuffed with shrimp, jalapeno shrimp, shrimp rolls, and more. Later Peking Duck, pork chops, and steamed whole flounder made their way out.
Some fun wines
2007 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne BdB
Not the greatest Comtes, but drinking so well now. Pear, hazelnut, brioche, creamsicle. Lovely and long. B+/A-
2007 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Rose
Red cherry, orange, structured with grip. Elegant and long, A-
1990 Dom Perignon (mag)
Ready to go, broadboned, bruised apple, citrus zest A-/B+
1995 Perrier-Jouet Fleur de Champagne (3L)
This was a generous bring, sound bottle but I found it boring. But pretty bottle! B
2007 Prager Stockkultur Achleiten Gruner Veltliner
Old vines,. Rich tropical fruit, really zippy acids, long rocky finish. B+/A-
2022 Samuel Billaud Valmur Chablis Grand Cru
Tasty but a bit soft, needs a touch more acidity to put in top shelf. B
2022 Samuel Billaud Bougros Chablis Grand Cru
Better cut, more minerally, precise. B+/A-
2022 Samuel Billaud Les Clos Chablis Grand Cru
Dense and powerful but with excellent brightness. A-
2005 Ch. Carbonnieux Blanc
In a good spot but fully mature, lemon, pineapple and wax, honied finish, more rich than snappy.B
2012 Egon Mjuller Scharzhofberger Riesling Auslese
Lovely, on the BA end of Auslese with botrytis notes. Honey, honeysuckle, apricot, and fig. Bright, long, complex. A-
2017 JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese (mag)
Peaches and cream, apple, white flowers. Very nice but in toughspot next to the Muller. B+
Mystery Muller Catoir - a illegible label from a cellar with severe dampness issues, could see a Ri. I voted Rieslaner from 90s, as it seemed broader and more exotic than HGS’s Rieslings. Not a lot of sweetness, but quite good with tropical fruit, clover, and petrol.More savory than sweet. B+
2005 Chandon de Briailles Corton-Bressandes
Young but lots of potential, structured with red fruit, orange zest, and a hint of cinnamon (?). Spicy, powerful but with balance. B/B+ for now, think will soar.
2022 Weinbach Les Treilles du Loup Gewurztraminer
Quite typical, lychee and nectarine, a kiss of RS. OK acids. Not bad but I’m just not grooving on Gewurz these days. For me B-
Great time, nice people, sweet and loving stories about Mark. Honored to be there.
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 the only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.