Monday Betsy was in the Verdi Requiem at Carnegie Hall , so I decided
it was a good time to indulge in liver and onions (as she doesn't care
for it). Wine was the 2006 Canneto Rosso di Montepulciano. I confess
when I got this I actually thought I was buying a very well-priced
Rosso di Montalcino, I didn't realize my mistake till putting it in
the cellar. Well, as mistakes got this wasn't at all painful. Medium
bodied with rich black cherry fruit, a little bit of chewy tannins, a
sturdy Sangiovese that is satisfying if not quite exciting. B

Tuesday we had a couple over in late celebration of their joint
birthdays. Alex had told me he had never had a birthyear wine, so
thought this was a good time to try a half of '61 Gloria (with some
backup claret). Betsy made goat cheese/chive.mustard souffles as
starter, followed by squab in a porcini marinade with mashed potatoes,
an endive and watercress salad, and cheese. My only culinary
contribution was butchering the squabs (these were plucked, but Betsy
prefers not to do entrail/head removal) and slicing the bread.

With the chevre souffles, the 2007 Domane de la Charmoise Sauvignon
(Touraine). Lemon and gooseberry, fresh and crisp, nothing especially
complex but a clean, correct, and comfortable Sauvignon Blanc. At $12
I'll buy again. B

On to the reds, with the squab:
1961 Ch. Gloria (St Julien), 375 ml
So I knew I was taking a chance buying a couple of half bottles. Great
vintage, but 47 is really stretching it for a Cru Bourgeois in this
format. I warned it might be a disappointment, and the fact the cork
was basically sawdust made me pessimistic. But lo and behold, as it
went through funnel into decanter the color was dark and pure. In the
glass there was some bricking around the edges, but overall quite
bright. Nice sweet cassis and black plum fruit, a bit of earth and
tobacco, amazingly young. I can't say it was the most complex older
claret I've run across, but it was quite enjoyable, and the real
pleasure was watching Alex marvel at a wine as old as himself. Lasted
well through the course. B+ for the wine, A for the exceeding
expectations.

1970 Ch. de Pez (St Estephe)
I've had this a few times, always a pretty dependable wine, if not
exciting. Redder fruits, higher acids than the Gloria. Maybe a bit
more happening on the secondary/tertiary level than the St Julien,
there's lots of damp earth, as well as cigarbox and cigarsmoke. A bit
sharp after some time in decanter. B/B+

1990 Ch. Haut Brisson (St Emilion)
Youngest red of the night, closest to the grave. Red plummy fruit, a
hint of prune, some earth. Resolved tannins, some nice tobacco-y
notes,but short for a '90. Drink up fast if you have. B/B-

Fun night with fun people.

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.
*