On Oct 2, 9:54�am, DaleW > wrote:
> Last night we celebrated my 48th. Betsy had invited some friends, when
> one couple said he would be traveling, she invited another couple.
> Then travel plans changed, she said ok to everyone. With 10 people our
> table with leaves is big enough,but dining room is very snug. So we
> moved table into living room, and had a feast. Betsy had gotten two
> legs of lamb from Dines Farm, so we did the big one rare and the
> smaller medium rare to medium.
>
> As people arrived, Betsy served marinated fresh salmon roe on shiso (a
> seasonal thing she found at a local Japanese restaurant, they sold her
> some), along with some husk tomatoes/ground cherries. Most of us had
> sparkling wine:
>
> (probably grading a little harder than normal, I SAID I'm not
> consistent)
>
> NV Foreau Vouvray Brut (lot 2041)
> Bright, lively, granny smith and lemon with a little hint of Parker
> House Roll yeastiness. B+
>
> One person doesn't like bubbles, so we also had:
> 2006 Sylvain Dussort "Cuvee des Ormes" Bourgogne Blanc
> Sweet fruit balanced by zippy acidity, not much oak. clean and nice
> Bourgogne. New producer to me. B/B+
> �
> First sitdown course was were individual "pumpkin gratins" (an
> adaptation of a Jacques Pepin recipe, somewhere in the netherland
> between gratin and souffle). Hoke Harden had raved over a match
> between a Chardonnay and pumpkin soup, so I went with Chard (went very
> very well, would definitely repeat combo)
>
> 2000 Carillon "Les Combettes" Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru
> With any '96-'03 white Burg I am tense as I open, but relief spread
> over me as it was apparent this had slipped by the PremOx monster. I
> really like Carillon, and would buy more except I seldom see. This
> shows the vintage, a bit fat, but not flabby. Citrus and pear, rather
> floral, fruity but with a long dry finish. Some real Puligny stones on
> the finish. B+
>
> 1993 Marquis de Laguiche (Drouhin) Chassagne-Montrachet
> I've found this to be a great village level wine, but it's really
> beginning to show its age. Honied pears, ripe, nutty. Others found it
> younger than I did, probably because they hadn't had before. I found
> finish a bit tired. B-
> �
> Next up was supposed to be the red Burgs, but the lamb started coming
> out (along with cauliflower with pimenton and baby bok choy) ; I had
> planned on Bordeaux with the meat so went ahead:
>
> 1998 Bourgneuf-Vayron (Pomerol)
> Nice medium bodied Pomerol, black plum and currant fruit, a little
> cedar note, easy tannins. B/B+
>
> 1989 Meyney (St Estephe)
> This has always vied with the '86 as my favorite Meyney, and I felt
> this bottle showed beautifully. The most complete of the three Bdx I
> served with the lamb. Mature but not fading. Mostly resolved tannins.
> The cassis fruit may have lost a tad of its youthful verve, but it can
> still stand up to the lamb. The notes of pencil shavings, tar, and
> leather are nicely integrated. What more could you ask in a (once)
> cheap claret? A-
>
> 1970 Clos Rene (Pomerol)
> This is still alive and even fairly vigorous, probably has as much
> fruit as the Meyney. Rather thick texture, red plummy fruit, a bit of
> chocolate and earth. My non-geek friend Nancy is surprised she finds
> it the oldest but not as complex, I think she's right. Still, a
> perfectly acceptable wine, and it was �fun to open as one of the
> guests (Annabelle) is a '70. B
>
> As the platters came around with seconds and thirds, I passed the two
> Burgs that had been opened earlier but not poured:
>
> 1980 H. Boillot "Les Rugiens" Pommard
> Beguiling nose, a bit light on the palate. Fred found it his wine of
> the night. I really like this wine, the nose is amazing. Cherries,
> woodsmoke, truffles, and earth. �Just a hint of barnyard. The palate
> is ok, high acids, red fruits - it just doesn't measure up to the
> nose. Still, I love a great nose. B+
>
> 2000 Domaine �Parent "Les Chaponnieres" Pommard 1er Cru
> There's nothing truly wrong with this, a perfectly acceptable but
> anonymous Burg. Black fruits, a little earthy note, not a lot on the
> finish. I am a fan of Rugiens and Epenots/Epenaux, but other Pommard
> 1ers tend not to excite me. B-
> �
> We had moved on the the cheese course (a local cheese called Drumm,
> Stilton, Muenster, "Camembert" (Hudson Valley), and 4 yr old Gouda. I
> thought about a Port for the Stilton, but instead went with an Alsace
> for the Munster and another Bdx for the Gouda:
>
> 1989 �Loberger Gewurztraminer Vendanges Tardives
> Auslese level sweetness, nose of roses and ripe fruit. Lychees and
> pineapple/mango tropical notes on palate, with a little hint of that
> Gewurz oiliness. Pretty decent acidity for the grape, but not the
> longest or most complex. B
>
> 1979 Domaine de Chevalier (Graves)
> Best bottle I've had of this yet. Nice balance of fruit and acidity,
> mostly resolved tannins. Red plums and currant, cocoa and cigarbox.
> Rich but not heavy claret, this is really singing. A-
>
> Nancy had brought a lemony dessert, knowing that I don't eat dessert
> Annabelle showed up with a small "cake" for me (a napolean of granny
> smith, cream cheese, chives, and salmon). Good night for wines. I'd
> happily have my 2 least favorite (Drouhin and Parent) on my dinner
> table. Really a fun night, I felt blessed to have such good friends,
> such good luck with the wines, and such a talented cook for a wife.
>
> Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent
> wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. 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.

Happy Birthday. Nice lineup of wines...!