For many years Dobbs Ferry was cursed with a Chart House on a great
piece of land by the river. The restaurant was a testament to the idea
of "the better the view, the worse the food." It finally closed, and
new owners opened up Half Moon in spring. We visited the first week,
went back last night to check it out now that it was really up and
running. Corkage was $20, I carried a bottle (list was ok, actually,
no bargains but some decent wines like Inama Soave, Boillot Rully,
etc)

I liked my "angry calamari salad" and a couple of Betsy's Blue Points;
I had good skate "a la plancha" (griddled) and Betsy a assortment of
mussels, clams, scallops and shrimp with a tomato broth. The 2000 Ch.
La Nerthe Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc went well with the skate, ok with
the rest, something with more acid would have better complemented the
oysters and Betsy's dish; something with a bit of RS the shichimi
calamari. But a fairly satisfying wine overall. Seemingly fully mature
but not fading, big and somewhat fat but not flabby. Nose of pears
overlaid with ground spices, on the palate there's honeydew and pears
and a bit of almond paste. I don't buy a lot of CdP Blanc (value just
isn't there for me) and this doesn't spur me to look for more, but an
enjoyable bottle. B+/B

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.

DaleW wrote:

> I liked my "angry calamari salad" and a couple of Betsy's Blue Points;
> I had good skate "a la plancha" (griddled) and Betsy a assortment of
> mussels, clams, scallops and shrimp with a tomato broth. The 2000 Ch.
> La Nerthe Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc went well with the skate, ok with
> the rest, something with more acid would have better complemented the
> oysters and Betsy's dish; something with a bit of RS the shichimi
> calamari. But a fairly satisfying wine overall. Seemingly fully mature
> but not fading, big and somewhat fat but not flabby. Nose of pears
> overlaid with ground spices, on the palate there's honeydew and pears
> and a bit of almond paste. I don't buy a lot of CdP Blanc (value just
> isn't there for me) and this doesn't spur me to look for more, but an
> enjoyable bottle. B+/B

Angry== shichimi?? And I thought you were the guy who didn't like white
Rhone wines!

Mark Lipton


--
alt.food.wine FAQ: http://winefaq.cwdjr.net

On Sep 22, 12:36�pm, Mark Lipton > wrote:
>
> Angry== shichimi??

Yes. I usually see "angry lobster" on menu, but this was calamari
(with frisee, spinach, and a "aji" dressing - latter was quite mild,
and actually countered heat). . Shichimi (7 spice) comes in different
strengths, Betsy uses the mild one for a pork chop dish, but this was
clearly the hot one.

>�And I thought you were the guy who didn't like white
> Rhone wines!
>
Not a big fan. According to CT, this was last one I own (I might have
an inexpensive Texier CdR blanc or a La Vieille Ferme). But I liked
this one at a tasting on release, bought a couple. Especially unusual
for me to like Southern Rhone, I like white Hermitage more, but prices
are ridiculous. I often find Rhone whites too fat and oily. IIRC
someone theorized based on some I did like that and others I didn't
that I don't like Clairette and Grenache Blanc, but I have no idea
what composition of this was.