Jeff Grossman
Jeff Grossman
8/8/09
At the most recent Second Cousins Club dinner, Robyn mentions that a client of hers -- a happy client, apparently -- gifted her with 2.5 cases of wine. We both knew that these were "wine club" parcels so we didn't get our hopes up much. But this was definitely an excuse to get together and pull a few corks.
At the same time, following the exciting event at Convivio, I had gotten my partner and my upstairs neighbor all interested to try an orange wine or two.
You put the lime in the coconut and show up at my house.
I kept the menu very simple: duck legs confit served with roast potatoes and roast maitake, followed by a cheese board (St. Agur, Valencay, Epoisses, Vacherin Fribourgeois) and accoutrements (cranberry pecan bread, figs, plums, grapes, cherries). The neighbor contributed a shrimp scampi starter. She's a big-time garlic fan.
We had great fun. Conversation ranged widely. The potatoes took a little longer to roast than I had hoped, and the Epoisses was over the hill, but generally the plates went very well.
And there was some wine for the 5 of us:
Les Vins Breban NV Petillant de Syrah "PS" - Club wine. A pink sparkler to start. Robyn's happy client sent a half case of this. Papery and lacking in flavor, I can at least say that it wasn't at all sweet.
We next start slaking everyone's curiosity:
La Stoppa 2004 "Ageno" - $28 (on sale). This was one of my faves from the big event, and tonight it was non-stop odd. Every kind of VA smell, one after another, then tangerine ade mixed with pine or maybe mint. It kept this up all night. In truth, it did not make any friends among the mundanes in the room. Perhaps drinking the Kool-Aid helps one to focus?
Gravner 2001 Ribolla Gialla "Anfora" - $62 (on sale). Mute in the mouth and almost nothing in the nose. And stayed that way all night. Another not-so-friends-making performance.
Grande Reserve de Gassac 2007 Vins de Pays de l'Herault - Club wine. At least I've heard of this house. The others on the list are totally unknown to me. (Robyn said that her office was unanimous that the red from Puglia was "disgusting.") Anyway, this wine is 40% chard, 40% sauv blanc, 20% clairette. Yup, that's a white wine. A boring white wine.
Dom. le Briseau 2006 Jasnieres "Kharakter" - $24. In an effort to put something into a glass that we can all like, I open this. Minerally and with some of the waxy-wooly scents but not real expressive.
With the duck:
Pierre Gonon 1989 Saint-Joseph "Les Oliviers" rouge - $62. If I had really understood that every wine I opened tonight was just going to be blah then I would have gone straight to a bottle of port and at least gotten folks sauced. Anyway, this bottle was not off in any way, it showed a pretty little Rhone wine with age on it. Not at all like the earth-shaking bottle at Brad's party.
Grand Puy Lacoste 1996 Pauillac - 375ml. In an effort to put something with more flavor on the table, we present the Pauillac. Eh.
Dom. Bart 2006 Marsannay "Les Saints Jacques" - $20. OK, then, a young wine, a known winner as I've bought this wine several times. Kinda closed. You can wash down the cheese with it but it adds nothing of its own.
Eventually, conversation subsides and folks drift out into the night: Adam, to get some rest while his young belle is in CA; Robyn, to recall tonight's experiences to the winos in her office; Nancy, to clear plaster bits off her duvet; and Jim & I repair to the sink for hearty round of washing and rinsing.
I will follow the Ageno, Gravner, and Bart for a few days more. Maybe, if they see that it's just me, they'll come around.
At the most recent Second Cousins Club dinner, Robyn mentions that a client of hers -- a happy client, apparently -- gifted her with 2.5 cases of wine. We both knew that these were "wine club" parcels so we didn't get our hopes up much. But this was definitely an excuse to get together and pull a few corks.
At the same time, following the exciting event at Convivio, I had gotten my partner and my upstairs neighbor all interested to try an orange wine or two.
You put the lime in the coconut and show up at my house.
I kept the menu very simple: duck legs confit served with roast potatoes and roast maitake, followed by a cheese board (St. Agur, Valencay, Epoisses, Vacherin Fribourgeois) and accoutrements (cranberry pecan bread, figs, plums, grapes, cherries). The neighbor contributed a shrimp scampi starter. She's a big-time garlic fan.
We had great fun. Conversation ranged widely. The potatoes took a little longer to roast than I had hoped, and the Epoisses was over the hill, but generally the plates went very well.
And there was some wine for the 5 of us:
Les Vins Breban NV Petillant de Syrah "PS" - Club wine. A pink sparkler to start. Robyn's happy client sent a half case of this. Papery and lacking in flavor, I can at least say that it wasn't at all sweet.
We next start slaking everyone's curiosity:
La Stoppa 2004 "Ageno" - $28 (on sale). This was one of my faves from the big event, and tonight it was non-stop odd. Every kind of VA smell, one after another, then tangerine ade mixed with pine or maybe mint. It kept this up all night. In truth, it did not make any friends among the mundanes in the room. Perhaps drinking the Kool-Aid helps one to focus?
Gravner 2001 Ribolla Gialla "Anfora" - $62 (on sale). Mute in the mouth and almost nothing in the nose. And stayed that way all night. Another not-so-friends-making performance.
Grande Reserve de Gassac 2007 Vins de Pays de l'Herault - Club wine. At least I've heard of this house. The others on the list are totally unknown to me. (Robyn said that her office was unanimous that the red from Puglia was "disgusting.") Anyway, this wine is 40% chard, 40% sauv blanc, 20% clairette. Yup, that's a white wine. A boring white wine.
Dom. le Briseau 2006 Jasnieres "Kharakter" - $24. In an effort to put something into a glass that we can all like, I open this. Minerally and with some of the waxy-wooly scents but not real expressive.
With the duck:
Pierre Gonon 1989 Saint-Joseph "Les Oliviers" rouge - $62. If I had really understood that every wine I opened tonight was just going to be blah then I would have gone straight to a bottle of port and at least gotten folks sauced. Anyway, this bottle was not off in any way, it showed a pretty little Rhone wine with age on it. Not at all like the earth-shaking bottle at Brad's party.
Grand Puy Lacoste 1996 Pauillac - 375ml. In an effort to put something with more flavor on the table, we present the Pauillac. Eh.
Dom. Bart 2006 Marsannay "Les Saints Jacques" - $20. OK, then, a young wine, a known winner as I've bought this wine several times. Kinda closed. You can wash down the cheese with it but it adds nothing of its own.
Eventually, conversation subsides and folks drift out into the night: Adam, to get some rest while his young belle is in CA; Robyn, to recall tonight's experiences to the winos in her office; Nancy, to clear plaster bits off her duvet; and Jim & I repair to the sink for hearty round of washing and rinsing.
I will follow the Ageno, Gravner, and Bart for a few days more. Maybe, if they see that it's just me, they'll come around.