On Jun 14, 10:55*am, DaleW > wrote:
> Sunday afternoon we went to a high school graduation party, where I
> nibbled on sushi and had a small glass of the 2008 Nora Peitan
> Albarino. Clean, easy, ripe, with good acidity, not complex, but not
> bad for inexpensive Albarino. B-
>
> Then we headed to city to meet JC (visiting from NC), Ramon, and
> Marina. I was a bit worried re parking due to the Puerto Rican Day
> parade, but it rained a bit in afternoon, so on our way down we saw
> huge traffic jams heading out of town, but we were able to zoom in and
> park within a block of our destination.
>
> Ramon had come up with the Bar Room at the Modern for our dinner, and
> I quite enjoyed. Food is delicious, service was quite good. I tried to
> minimize our needs by saying we could get by with reusing glassware,
> but they still furnished new stems for every wine. Betsy and I shared
> a tarte flambe, then I had "egg in a jar" (poached egg with lobster,
> asparagus, and uni froth) while she had wild mushroom soup with fried
> chorizo ravioli, then I had 5-spice squab with braised lettuce, she
> had pork belly with a pea/mint puree. Everything was tasty, and other
> dishes (sausage, sweetbreads) looked good too. I had some nice cheeses
> (a buffalo cheese from Lombardy and a NY cheese called Kumik) and
> other dessert (I know Marina and Ramon split beignets, actually didn't
> note what Jane and Betsy had).
>
> A very nice assortment of wines, I was happy with all of them. Brief
> notes, from scribbling in car after dinner (I love when Betsy
> drives!):
>
> 1990 Laurent-Perrier Brut
> Mature but with good life, leesy/yeasty notes over apple fruit. The
> fruit has a slightly baked edge, but more in an apple pie sense than
> aging. I quite enjoyed, thanks Ramon! B+/A-
>
> 1983 Trimbach Cuvee Frederic Emile Riesling
> I was a bit worried about this one, good color but some ullage. But
> shows well, if anything a little tight at first- my favorite sip was a
> revisit with the cheese! Ripe apples, plenty of petrol, a bit
> minerally. Full on palate, with a bit of an oily edge. Good acidity
> (though not really as high as most CFEs). Long, complete at the end of
> meal. Of course, I'm always a sucker for CFE! A-
>
> 1999 Prager "Steinriegl" Smaragd Riesling (Wachau)
> Peach, apple, big, hint of heat but nice acidity. This was good with
> nice length, but I thought it paled a bit next to the CFE. B
>
> 1990 Maison Leroy Chassagne Montrachet rouge
> Ripe, round, and ready. No roasted notes, just ripe cherries and red
> berries, smoke. Ramon had said he was uncertain re storage on this
> one, but I think this is lovely for 20 years old. B+
>
> 2000 Chevillon "Les Roncieres" Nuits St George 1er
> Like many 2000s, showing well now. Raspberry, cherry, some earth.
> Fairly low acid, light tannins, but pretty fruit. Don't think I would
> have pegged this for NSG blind, but a tasty bottle. B+
>
> 2007 Lioco Pinot Noir (pretty sure Sonoma, though I neglected to note
> details)
> Bigger than the Burgs, black cherry and kirsch with some light cola/
> vanilla notes. Some tannins, I think this would have done well with a
> steak. B
>
> (with some regret I told Ramon it would be wasteful to open the 98
> Chave and 01 Dauvissat he had brought)
>
> 1994 Trimbach Pinot Gris Selection de Grains Nobles (375 ml)
> Honey, sweet pears, apricot. Sweet, but good acidity. Some botrytis
> notes, but in background. B+
>
> Fun night, great to spend time with Ramon, Marina,and Jane.
>
> 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.

correction, the Lioco was Michaud Vineyard in Chalone AVA of Monterey
County