Jeff Grossman
Jeff Grossman
attendees: Dan+Eileen, Joe+Julie, Victor, Jay, Jeff
The impetus for the dinner was to finally meet Dan in person.
Due to various irregularities, we find ourselves at a new Chinatown destination for many of us, Uncle Lou. Clearly, a popular place as there is a mob scene up front waiting for tables. Despite that, the restaurant is on time with our big round table, extra glasses and a dump bucket.
Victor is a regular here and handles all the ordering: beef with orange flavor, chicken with garlic, a rich pork belly dish with buns, a delicate steamed fish dish, gently curried Singapore Market noodles, simply sauteed Pea Shoots. Preps were adjusted for the eating habits of the attendees, e.g., no shellfish here, less salt there. Bravo, Victor!
Don't underestimate those pea shoots, by the way, as they were fresh, crisp, and seasoned just right.
Wines were a mixed lot, as you'll see:
Voge 2019 Cornas "Les Chailles" - young syrah, root-y, maybe some wood flavors, shows some typicity tonight but mostly wrapped-up in its acidity; Day 3: the wine has opened up and shows more of the expected N. Rhone profile, blackberry and black cherry, a bit of musk and mint
Falkenstein 2021 Niedermenniger Herrenberg Spatlese Feinherb #4 - much and many corked
La Vizcaina de Vinos (Raul Perez) 2019 Bierzo, La Vitoriana (vineyard) - floral nose and quite minerally on the palate, lots of red fruit, but also lots of weight and some noticeable oak (though not enough to smother the wine), Jay likes this more than I do
Elena Fucci 2003 Aglianico del Vulture "Titolo" - opened 3 hrs ahead; another minerally and redfruity wine, this is rather brighter than the Bierzo and not at all heavy (though the 14% alc stings a little)
Liparita 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain - beautiful, fine tannins, medium weight, intense tobacco overtones with flecks of mint and eucalyptus, da bomb
Dom. Christian Moreau 2004 Chablis GC "Les Clos" "Clos des Hospices dans Les Clos" - from vines bought from the Hospices de Chablis in 1904 (though many people like his regular Les Clos just as well); exquisite: seashells and apricots, flowers and something like sage, shows its age in a slight zuzh of oxidation; with air this grows fuller with a heavy silky texture and almost a buttery richness), WOTN for many; Day 3: moreso on the same path of losing minerality and gaining fullness
Selbach-Oster 2015 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Feinherb "Ur" Alte Reben - wonderful, richly floral aromas, intense, very glyceral feel, wow stuff of green grapes and just-so peaches, decanted 2.5 hrs ahead
Now there are three zins.
Carlisle 2011 Zinfandel, Martinelli Road Vineyard, RRV - 14.6%, pretty though not especially zinny, it's evolved nicely but comes across spirity, eh
Scherrer 2014 Zinfandel "OMV", Scherrer Vineyard - 14.8%, vague and uninteresting, which is not normal for this bottling so something must be wrong with it
Ravenswood 1993 Zinfandel, Old Hill Vineyard, Limited Edition - 14.8% (even back then), this has matured perfectly!: still strong but not overwhelming, still some zinny blueberry and blackberry palate, others called out roses and brambles, even the alcohol showed modestly, bravo
Now the rest of the Italian spread.
Uccelliera 2006 Brunello di Montalcino - 15%, carries all that alky very well, round and gentle, like cherries jubilee in a glass... both the fruit and the brandy!
San Giusto a Rentennano (Martini di Cigala) 1998 IGT "Percarlo" - 14%, maybe starting to dry out, lacks any sweetness, hint of stinging alcohol and new sneakers, eh (and, yes, others liked it better than me)
A lovely dinner with new friends and old friends.
The impetus for the dinner was to finally meet Dan in person.
Due to various irregularities, we find ourselves at a new Chinatown destination for many of us, Uncle Lou. Clearly, a popular place as there is a mob scene up front waiting for tables. Despite that, the restaurant is on time with our big round table, extra glasses and a dump bucket.
Victor is a regular here and handles all the ordering: beef with orange flavor, chicken with garlic, a rich pork belly dish with buns, a delicate steamed fish dish, gently curried Singapore Market noodles, simply sauteed Pea Shoots. Preps were adjusted for the eating habits of the attendees, e.g., no shellfish here, less salt there. Bravo, Victor!
Don't underestimate those pea shoots, by the way, as they were fresh, crisp, and seasoned just right.
Wines were a mixed lot, as you'll see:
Voge 2019 Cornas "Les Chailles" - young syrah, root-y, maybe some wood flavors, shows some typicity tonight but mostly wrapped-up in its acidity; Day 3: the wine has opened up and shows more of the expected N. Rhone profile, blackberry and black cherry, a bit of musk and mint
Falkenstein 2021 Niedermenniger Herrenberg Spatlese Feinherb #4 - much and many corked
La Vizcaina de Vinos (Raul Perez) 2019 Bierzo, La Vitoriana (vineyard) - floral nose and quite minerally on the palate, lots of red fruit, but also lots of weight and some noticeable oak (though not enough to smother the wine), Jay likes this more than I do
Elena Fucci 2003 Aglianico del Vulture "Titolo" - opened 3 hrs ahead; another minerally and redfruity wine, this is rather brighter than the Bierzo and not at all heavy (though the 14% alc stings a little)
Liparita 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain - beautiful, fine tannins, medium weight, intense tobacco overtones with flecks of mint and eucalyptus, da bomb
Dom. Christian Moreau 2004 Chablis GC "Les Clos" "Clos des Hospices dans Les Clos" - from vines bought from the Hospices de Chablis in 1904 (though many people like his regular Les Clos just as well); exquisite: seashells and apricots, flowers and something like sage, shows its age in a slight zuzh of oxidation; with air this grows fuller with a heavy silky texture and almost a buttery richness), WOTN for many; Day 3: moreso on the same path of losing minerality and gaining fullness
Selbach-Oster 2015 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Feinherb "Ur" Alte Reben - wonderful, richly floral aromas, intense, very glyceral feel, wow stuff of green grapes and just-so peaches, decanted 2.5 hrs ahead
Now there are three zins.
Carlisle 2011 Zinfandel, Martinelli Road Vineyard, RRV - 14.6%, pretty though not especially zinny, it's evolved nicely but comes across spirity, eh
Scherrer 2014 Zinfandel "OMV", Scherrer Vineyard - 14.8%, vague and uninteresting, which is not normal for this bottling so something must be wrong with it
Ravenswood 1993 Zinfandel, Old Hill Vineyard, Limited Edition - 14.8% (even back then), this has matured perfectly!: still strong but not overwhelming, still some zinny blueberry and blackberry palate, others called out roses and brambles, even the alcohol showed modestly, bravo
Now the rest of the Italian spread.
Uccelliera 2006 Brunello di Montalcino - 15%, carries all that alky very well, round and gentle, like cherries jubilee in a glass... both the fruit and the brandy!
San Giusto a Rentennano (Martini di Cigala) 1998 IGT "Percarlo" - 14%, maybe starting to dry out, lacks any sweetness, hint of stinging alcohol and new sneakers, eh (and, yes, others liked it better than me)
A lovely dinner with new friends and old friends.