On Monday, October 3, 2016 at 2:35:08 PM UTC-4, Bi!! wrote:
> On Monday, October 3, 2016 at 1:28:28 PM UTC-4, DaleW wrote:
> > Betsy was away in Maine most of the week.I sampled several wines, alone and with friends
> >
> > 2015 Domaine de Pere Caboche rose (Vin De Pays de Vaucluse)
> > Soft sweet and empty, this is what Im not looking for in rose C/C+
> >
> > 2015 Pepiere €œClos des Briords€� Muscadet
> > Crunchy saline and nervy/vervy, this is what Im looking for in Muscadet. Maybe not quite the depth of th "12 or "14, but delicious and a super value. B++
> >
> > 2015 Richter €œWehlener Sonnenuhr€� Riesling Kabinett
> > Zippy acids, grapefruit and earthy elements, sweetness well-balanced by the acids, fine value at $16 B++
> >
> > 2015 Donnhoff Qba Riesling
> > Sweet apple, some slatey mineral notes. Nice easy drinking, but finishes a little sweeter than my ideal. Still a very good wine for the level. B/B+
> >
> > 2012 Pavelot Savigny les Beaune
> > Im a huge Pavelot fan, but this left me a bit unimpressed. Modest black cherry fruit, light tannins, ok finish. Maybe this is just a little shut down? B- for this bottle
> >
> > 2014 Cavallotto Langhe Nebbiolo
> > Apparently 2014 was a tough vintage in Piedmont (lots of late rain I think) and Cavallotto was down so much they put all of the harvested grapes (including what is usually single vineyard) into the generic Nebbiolo. Pretty good stuff, in a medium-bodied ready to drink style. Crunchy red fruits, a little spice and tar, not much tannin. B/B+
> >
> > So Saturday was my birthday. With Betsy having a concert Saturday in Maine, I said well skip my birthday dinner this year, and she could make me dinner Sunday. A friend brought over red sauce with meatballs and sausage for Sat dinner. I opened the 1995 Montevertine €œIl Sodaccio€� - mature, maybe getting a little tired, black cherry, leather, dried flowers. B/B-
> >
> > Sunday Betsy said shed make a Rosh Hashanah dish of flanken in a pomegranate sauce - so wed have leftovers later in the week. She cooked and set the table for 2. I picked up some Copps Island oysters to start, I shucked and we had those with a small glass of the 2014 Fevre Chablis (from 375ml). Very good for Chablis AC- granny smith, citrus, and a little seashell note. B/B+
> >
> > For the beef I decanted a claret. Then there was a knock on the door and Betsy asked me to get it, where I discovered 7 hungry friends (local and from an hour+ away). Total surprise. The friends were bearing squash, rice, cheeses, appetizers. Betsy put them to work adding leaves to table and resetting, I was told my only job was choosing wines. My favorite job
> >
> > 1979 La Lagune
> > This is the wine I had already decanted. Red and black plum, lots of tobacco, structured more with acid than tannin. Lively and popular. B+
> >
> > 1981 Pichon Baron
> > This is considered a weak period for P-Baron, but this is actually a very nice, mature, elegant wine. Black currant fruit, laced with cedar/cigarbox. Midbodied, just a touch of tannin remaining, good length. Pleasant surprise. B+/A-
> > 2006 Fontodi Chianti Classico
> > Big styled Chianti, brawny, black cherry and leather. B
> >
> > 1983 Le Bon Pasteur
> > Still some fruit, but driying tacky tannins, some brett, short. C+
> >
> > 2001 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc
> > Last bottle was poxed, but this is quite young and fresh. Oak still overlaying everything, but theres enough stuffing that it doesnt overwhelm. Pear, citrus zest, and vanilla, well balanced, big and long.. B+
> >
> > 2015 Kofererhof Pinot Grigio
> > Big but with lively acids, pit fruits and a little grapefruit, pleasant floral note. If I need to drink PG, might as well be from Alto Adige. B+/B
> >
> > Fun night, total surprise.
> >
> > 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 only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.
>
> I'm a total sucker for Domaine de Chevalier Blanc. Glad this one showed well. I still have a 2001 and a couple of 90's vintages left to drink. I get the occasional clunker but so far most have been great.

When premoxed it's sad, but when on....