A really nice group gathered at Balvanera Monday, with no set theme
2005 Pepiere Briords Muscadet - I have found Briords a bit spotty at aging, but this was very good. The solar vintage shows, more lemonade than lemon, white flowers, enough seashell to make it recognizably Briords. B++
NV Suenen Oiry Blanc de Blancs (2021 base)
Several people didn’t care for this, but Sasha and I loved. Racy, pear and citrus, fresh baked bread. Elegant mousse. B+/A-
NV Calsac “L’Echappée Belle” Blanc de Blancs
This seemed a bit flat to me (maybe a little warm), but inviting aromas of orange zest, pear, and brioche. Nice flavors as well, but seemed a tad short compared to other Champagnes, though I liked overall. Some loved. B
2020 Pauline Collin Bereche Ludes VV Champagne
Lovely in a fuller style, Bosc pear with herbs and chalk. Very lush mouthfeel while retaining freshness. A-
First round of food included arancini, bacalau croquettas, salad
2014 Clos Roche Blanche Pif
Crunchy red raspberry fruit, tobacco leaf, chipotle pepper. Fresh bright and lively, amazingly lively A-
2019 Dirty & Rowdy Familiar Mourvedre
I’m told this was the base/drink now bottling, but it’s holding on fine. As always with Hardy wine, the Mourvedre has a redder profile, but in such a nice way. Raspberry and cranberry, leafy greens, spice. B++
Tasty octopus, and some corn empanadas I didn’t try
1995 Drouhin Corton Bressandes
Perplexing wine. Nose was aromatic and complex, but tight and tannic on palate. Given some air, the tannins seemed to begin to let go, and you could get cherry and red plum fruit with some earth. But with a bit more air it seemed to totally shut down. B+ at apogee, but more time at B-
1990 Ch. Lagune
Really nice showing. Black cherry and cassis, cigarbox, just a hint of pepper and truffle. Resolved tannin, rich mouthfeel, excellent length. I expected to like this but it exceeded expectations. A-/B+
1985 Ch. La Louviere
Hand carried back from a cold European cellar, promising but it’s corked
Hanger steak, chorizo, morcilla, lamb sausage, fries, and carrots
1971 La Mission Haut Brion
Another perplexing bottle, some thought corked. I never got any TCA, but the leathery notes overwhelmed the fruit for the most part, though you could get an occasional glimpse of a fine wine underneath. Nothing like a wonderful bottle last year. B-
1993 Rene Engel Grands-Echezeaux
A bit coiled, some light matchstick, black cherry and cocoa, a good wine in a slightly awkward space. B/B+
1990 Ch. Angelus
Rich black plum and cassis, nice but plenty of wood , quite extracted. Some others liked more. B
1998 CVNE Imperial Rioja Gran Reserva
Weird and woody, with an edge of dill pickle. I’m told it got better, but I didn’t retry., C+/B- for me (and I’m a Cune fan)
2018 Pinon Goutte d’Or
A tad spritzy, Earl Grey, orange marmalade and beeswax, fun and different dessert wine. B+
There was also a Spatburgunder I never tasted, others felt off, and with this much wine I didn’t feel the need to experiment.
Fun night with good people (and good food and good service). Cool when a Loire red impresses more than GC Burgundy.
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.