Jeff Grossman
Jeff Grossman
Dale and Betsy and Lucy opened their home for a summer backyard party. Attendees included some wine folk who drove up from town and lots of neighbors. There was no particular cause for the party other than Dale wanted to open some bottles that he'd rather not drag to a jeebus: some magnums and two pre-atomic era clarets.
Meanwhile, he and Besty cooked up a storm:
Green Salad with Lobster
Green Salad with Pheasant (shot by Dale's brother)
Sliced Lamb
Gazpacho
Local-made Cheddar
German-style Potato Salad
Thai-style Corn on the Cob (fish sauce and sugar)
and some munchy/nibble things.
Jay Miller contributed:
Yellow Cake with Strawberry Frosting
Lots of convivial conversation, as people moved between the dining room and the patio. Lucy gave us a few barks so we acknowledged her presence... and then we got back to the wines:
Trimbach 1997 Riesling "Cuvee Frederic Emile" - magnum; totally fresh, yellow-fruited, mature, still crisp, absolutely perfect
Egon Muller 2011 Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett - 02 12, mouth-watering acidity is sharper than the Trimbach's, less ripe (more green grapes than yellow plums), also very yummy
Foillard 2007 Morgon "Cuvee 3.14" - fresh, earthy, red berries, tingly, wow
Thevenet (Dom de la Bongrand) 1996 Macon-Clesse "Quintaine" Cuvee Tradition - magnum; some controversy here: I think it's robust, rich and silky, almost waxy as chenin, but Dale says it is too ripe and the honey scent is atypical
Bornard 2007 Cotes du Jura "Les Gaudrettes" - tweaky chard but seems skimpy in this company
Vatan 2006 Sancerre "Clos de Neore" - Chavignol, really; I get the taste of Robitussin but others say it's just bone dry; in any case, interesting but not more
Chidaine 2002 Montlouis sur Loire "Les Tuffeaux" - another one for controversy: some of us think this is rich and redolent of orange blossoms, a bit low acid but tasty, while others say it's slightly oxidized and tired
Van Schubert Maximin Grunhauser 2008 Abstberg Riesling Spatlese - pleasant, outclassed by the Muller (which it resembles)
Gravner 2003 Bianco Breg Anfora - rather dark gold color, you can definitely taste the clay pot, quite ripe, mixed reception
R. Jobard 2002 Meursault 1er "Les Charmes" - taste of straw and floral powdery candy, rather nicer than that makes it sound
Poujeaux 1929 Moulis-en-Medoc - excellent condition: looks more like a wine from the 1950s than the 1920s, mahogany reddish-brown color, lightweight, smooth, earthy, a whiff of faded cranberry, from the Graham Lyon cellar auction
Cazin (Le Petit Chambord) 2002 Cour-Cheverny "Cuvee Renaissance" - grapefruity and moelleux, yum
Ch de Pez 1943 St-Estephe - reconditioned at the chateau in 1976; the bottle is slightly blue (god only knows where they got the glass for it), typical old Bordeaux nose of tobacco and worn leather, less interesting on the palate due to a tinny note (one person calls brett)
Drouhin 1997 Beaune Blanc 1er "Clos des Mouches" - dead of the pox
Breton 1997 Bourgueil "Les Perrieres" - and another gorgeous bottle, not too ripe, glyceral feel but what a great nose!
A few pix:
And the master of ceremonies himself:
Meanwhile, he and Besty cooked up a storm:
Green Salad with Lobster
Green Salad with Pheasant (shot by Dale's brother)
Sliced Lamb
Gazpacho
Local-made Cheddar
German-style Potato Salad
Thai-style Corn on the Cob (fish sauce and sugar)
and some munchy/nibble things.
Jay Miller contributed:
Yellow Cake with Strawberry Frosting
Lots of convivial conversation, as people moved between the dining room and the patio. Lucy gave us a few barks so we acknowledged her presence... and then we got back to the wines:
Trimbach 1997 Riesling "Cuvee Frederic Emile" - magnum; totally fresh, yellow-fruited, mature, still crisp, absolutely perfect
Egon Muller 2011 Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett - 02 12, mouth-watering acidity is sharper than the Trimbach's, less ripe (more green grapes than yellow plums), also very yummy
Foillard 2007 Morgon "Cuvee 3.14" - fresh, earthy, red berries, tingly, wow
Thevenet (Dom de la Bongrand) 1996 Macon-Clesse "Quintaine" Cuvee Tradition - magnum; some controversy here: I think it's robust, rich and silky, almost waxy as chenin, but Dale says it is too ripe and the honey scent is atypical
Bornard 2007 Cotes du Jura "Les Gaudrettes" - tweaky chard but seems skimpy in this company
Vatan 2006 Sancerre "Clos de Neore" - Chavignol, really; I get the taste of Robitussin but others say it's just bone dry; in any case, interesting but not more
Chidaine 2002 Montlouis sur Loire "Les Tuffeaux" - another one for controversy: some of us think this is rich and redolent of orange blossoms, a bit low acid but tasty, while others say it's slightly oxidized and tired
Van Schubert Maximin Grunhauser 2008 Abstberg Riesling Spatlese - pleasant, outclassed by the Muller (which it resembles)
Gravner 2003 Bianco Breg Anfora - rather dark gold color, you can definitely taste the clay pot, quite ripe, mixed reception
R. Jobard 2002 Meursault 1er "Les Charmes" - taste of straw and floral powdery candy, rather nicer than that makes it sound
Poujeaux 1929 Moulis-en-Medoc - excellent condition: looks more like a wine from the 1950s than the 1920s, mahogany reddish-brown color, lightweight, smooth, earthy, a whiff of faded cranberry, from the Graham Lyon cellar auction
Cazin (Le Petit Chambord) 2002 Cour-Cheverny "Cuvee Renaissance" - grapefruity and moelleux, yum
Ch de Pez 1943 St-Estephe - reconditioned at the chateau in 1976; the bottle is slightly blue (god only knows where they got the glass for it), typical old Bordeaux nose of tobacco and worn leather, less interesting on the palate due to a tinny note (one person calls brett)
Drouhin 1997 Beaune Blanc 1er "Clos des Mouches" - dead of the pox
Breton 1997 Bourgueil "Les Perrieres" - and another gorgeous bottle, not too ripe, glyceral feel but what a great nose!
A few pix:
