Thursday as the storm rolled in Betsy made curried shrimp and noodles from a Ming Tsai recipe, he suggested Alsatian Gewurztraminer in recipe, so I opened the 2001 Trimbach “Seigneurs de Ribeaupierre” . Dry, a petrol note that reminds of Riesling, but classic litchi and spiced peach notes. Really lovely, and in a good place. A-

Jonathan and Donna invited us and another couple to a winter dinner on a snow-covered frigid Friday. They made a slow-cooked pork roast, potatoes, squash, and peas; Betsy made an Asian styled salad and Lenore brought home baked bread.

2011 Burgans Albarino
Seems very soft and a touch offdry, I’ve liked more in past, though it might be that this was served a bit too warm. B-/C+

2011 Foillard “Cote de Py” Morgon
Lovely showing, think I made a bunch of Beaujolais converts, full and rich without being big. Red fruit, spice, smoke, nice length. A-

Saturday we had some friends over for dinner, along with a standard poodle to keep Lucy company. We opened with the NV Ayala “Majeur” Brut Champagne. Crisp, lemony, minerally, not super-complex but a nice bottle of bubbly.. B/B+

Duck was the theme, and we had it in 2 courses- first a Vietnamese style duck breast salad (with leftover Trimbach Gewurz, holding well). Next up was slow cooked legs with a mustard/panko crust, with rice, long beans, and salad.

2001 Marcarini “la Serra” Barolo
I hesitated over opening an ‘01 Barolo, but the La Serra typically drinks younger than the Brunate, and with some air this showed well. Floral, black cherries, enough tannin that I’m in no hurry, but not at all hard. B+/B

2002 Jadot “Clos des Ursules” Beaune 1er
A bit tight, still some oak and primary fruit aromas, good with air but I’ll leave remaining bottle of a while longer. B/B+

2002 Williams-Selyem Sonoma County Pinot Noir
A bit disjointed, acids seem to stick out, fruit is sweet and candied with a little cola note in background. Disappointing. B-/C+

Sunday was the last day before the dreaded 10 no-wine days of the Sonoma diet, I made Portugese clams and pork. Opened a half bottle of 2006 Bize “Bourgeots” Savigny-les-Beaune. Full, balanced acids, red-fruited, spice, earth. Nice way to go into a break. 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:
> Thursday as the storm rolled in Betsy made curried shrimp and noodles
> from a Ming Tsai recipe, he suggested Alsatian Gewurztraminer in
> recipe, so I opened the 2001 Trimbach “Seigneurs de Ribeaupierre” .
> Dry, a petrol note that reminds of Riesling, but classic litchi and
> spiced peach notes. Really lovely, and in a good place. A-

That's good to hear, Dale. Lately I've seen so many reports of PremOx'd
Trimbach wines from the early aughties that I've begun to despair for my
stash of CFEs.


> 2011 Burgans Albarino Seems very soft and a touch offdry, I’ve liked
> more in past, though it might be that this was served a bit too warm.
> B-/C+

Although this is made by Martin Codax, I've found previous versions of
it less interesting than the Martin Codax bottling. Soft, though, is
not something I associate with this wine.


>
> 2011 Foillard “Cote de Py” Morgon Lovely showing, think I made a
> bunch of Beaujolais converts, full and rich without being big. Red
> fruit, spice, smoke, nice length. A-

Jean and I had a bottle of this in Indy a few weeks ago. I'm remiss in
not posting notes, but it is indeed a great bottle of Gamay. It made a
believer even of Jean, who is no fan of most Morgons (fruit is too dark
for her tastes)


> 2002 Jadot “Clos des Ursules” Beaune 1er A bit tight, still some oak
> and primary fruit aromas, good with air but I’ll leave remaining
> bottle of a while longer. B/B+

I'm still sitting on some '99s. They do take time to come around.

> Sunday was the last day before the dreaded 10 no-wine days of the
> Sonoma diet, I made Portugese clams and pork. Opened a half bottle of
> 2006 Bize “Bourgeots” Savigny-les-Beaune. Full, balanced acids,
> red-fruited, spice, earth. Nice way to go into a break. B+

I love '06 in Savigny. I wish I'd bought some in half bottles, though.

Mark Lipton

On Tuesday, January 7, 2014 11:11:45 AM UTC-7, Mark Lipton wrote:
> DaleW wrote:
>
> > Thursday as the storm rolled in Betsy made curried shrimp and noodles
>
> > from a Ming Tsai recipe, he suggested Alsatian Gewurztraminer in
>
> > recipe, so I opened the 2001 Trimbach �Seigneurs de Ribeaupierre� .
>
> > Dry, a petrol note that reminds of Riesling, but classic litchi and
>
> > spiced peach notes. Really lovely, and in a good place. A-
>
>
>
> That's good to hear, Dale. Lately I've seen so many reports of PremOx'd
>
> Trimbach wines from the early aughties that I've begun to despair for my
>
> stash of CFEs.
>
>
>
>
>
> > 2011 Burgans Albarino Seems very soft and a touch offdry, I�ve liked
>
> > more in past, though it might be that this was served a bit too warm.
>
> > B-/C+
>
>
>
> Although this is made by Martin Codax, I've found previous versions of
>
> it less interesting than the Martin Codax bottling. Soft, though, is
>
> not something I associate with this wine.
>
>
>
>
>
> >
>
> > 2011 Foillard �Cote de Py� Morgon Lovely showing, think I made a
>
> > bunch of Beaujolais converts, full and rich without being big. Red
>
> > fruit, spice, smoke, nice length. A-
>
>
>
> Jean and I had a bottle of this in Indy a few weeks ago. I'm remiss in
>
> not posting notes, but it is indeed a great bottle of Gamay. It made a
>
> believer even of Jean, who is no fan of most Morgons (fruit is too dark
>
> for her tastes)
>
>
>
>
>
> > 2002 Jadot �Clos des Ursules� Beaune 1er A bit tight, still some oak
>
> > and primary fruit aromas, good with air but I�ll leave remaining
>
> > bottle of a while longer. B/B+
>
>
>
> I'm still sitting on some '99s. They do take time to come around.
>
>
>
> > Sunday was the last day before the dreaded 10 no-wine days of the
>
> > Sonoma diet, I made Portugese clams and pork. Opened a half bottle of
>
> > 2006 Bize �Bourgeots� Savigny-les-Beaune. Full, balanced acids,
>
> > red-fruited, spice, earth. Nice way to go into a break. B+
>
>
>
> I love '06 in Savigny. I wish I'd bought some in half bottles, though.
>
>
>
> Mark Lipton

Are half bottles of the Savigny even available? I can find almost no half bottles of burgundies.