Since this week we have opposing schedules, we decided to celebrate Valentines Day a little early at Saint George in Hastings. Betsy started with a half dozen oysters, I had escargot, we split a salad. I had brought a red but we ordered a glass of Macon-Villages (didnt note producer) for her oysters, typical and acceptable. Mains were duck breast and steak frites, the wine Id brought was the 2006 Mugnier €œClos de la Marechale€� Nuits St George 1er. Nice showing- black cherry, cocoa, earth. A bit of tannin but fairly smooth, balanced acids, good length. With time an almost Barolo-like tar note, and some smoke. Betsys not geeky, but pleased on date night to have a wine where wed tried barrel samples at winery 11 years ago. A-

Friday with leftovers (pork, cauliflower, couscous) the 2000 Tronquoy-Lalande (St.-Estephe).
Fully mature, black plum and cassis, a little tobacco. Resolved tannins, lower acid. B

Then I went over to Rogers for non-serious wine group. How non-serious? Theme was €œWacky/Unusual Labels.€� ooookkkaayyy. Roger had 5 kinds of grilled sausage (bratwurst, knockwurst, merguez, chicken/apple and bockwurst), cheeses, etc.

Wine #1- pleasantly grapey, floral, easy to drink. I thought Gamay. Label was indeed unusual, dense black and white graphics with skulls, 8balls, etc- kind of tattoo art. B-
2016 Vividor (100% Bobal, Utiel Requena)

Wine #2- some others liked more than me. Fleshy, jammy, sweetish, my guess was inexpensive Australian. Label is a comic style imnage of a tattooed woman, apparently named after a bad song (which Roger tortured us with). C+ 2015 If You See Kay (Lazio IGT)

Wine #3 -mine, Floral nose, black cherry and berries, earth and a little roast beef. Good balance, ready to go. Group guessed N. Rhone. A-/B+
2007 Donkey and Goat €œThe Recluse- Broken Leg Vineyard€� Syrah (Anderson Valley)

Wine #4- Sweet berry, some vanilla. Big 8 on label, smaler 200 is this 2008? Tastes younger. B-/C+
2008 (?) Cellar No. 8 Zinfandel

Wine #5 - a little green note, red berries, some cedar and dill. I guessed a slightly tired Cab Franc, dill should have tipped me to Rioja. B-/B 2001 Faustino Rioja Gran Reserva

Wine #6 - Raspberry and cranberry, quite herby, a little pine. Lightbodied but quite tasty. I got Loire and then Grolleau (after someones missed Gamay guess), but Fred had said from CSW, so partially deduction/social engineering. Label has picture of Kim Basinger from 9 ½ weeks. B+
2016 Delmee Martin 10 ½ Weeks

Fun night

Saturday we picked up some friends and drove north in the rain to Garrison for dinner.
With rilletes, pates, cheeses, almonds, etc

NV Medici Ermete €œI Quercioli€� Lambrusco Secco
Concord grape, perfume, lightly sparking, moderate sweetness, fun. B-/B

NV Can Xa Cava
Light, appley, a little dull. B-/C+

A break as our friend chose a painting from a couple brought from Boston by artist for approval, and then we sat down to cassoulet and salad (followed by pears in red wine)

1991 Berthoumieu €œTradition€� Madiran
From a cold cellar. Double--decanted before the drive, sweet plum fruit, a little meaty note, some earth. Has held up well. B/B+

1999 Clos de la Coutale Cahors
Warm almost roasted fruit, just a little tannin, bright acids, not too long.. B

Sunday afternoon we went to some friends for a pre-Valentine open house. Lots of food, I didnt eat, and I skipped the Cavit PG, but did sample the 2011 Billards St Amour I brought. Lovely showing - bright acids, cranberry and cherry, smoke and herbs. Good length. B+/A-

That night oysters , lemon sole, leftover couscous, sauteed zucchini, salad

2007 Pascal Cotat Monts Les Monts Damnees Sancerre
Advanced, really surprised, Ive had good luck with the "07s, will open another soon to check in. C+

The replacement
2016 Thomas-Labaille Les Monts Damnees Sancerre
Classic Chavigno. Grapefruit and a little gooseberry, minerally, a little apple blossom. Balanced, long, and tasty. B+/A-

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.

On 2/12/18 10:57 AM, DaleW wrote:
> 2007 Pascal Cotat Monts Les Monts Damnees Sancerre
> Advanced, really surprised, Ive had good luck with the "07s, will open another soon to check in. C+

Oh Oh, I have 2 bottles of this. Will open one and check tonight.