Jeff Grossman
Jeff Grossman
attendees: Jay & Arnold, Don & Melissa, Marty & Jill, Suzanne & Kenny, Eden & Scott, Andrew & Jennifer, Sharon, Brad, Chris, Jeff
A pleasure of the winter season is the wino gathering at Jay and Arnold's house. As you can see, many illustrious inebriates were present, and much merry was made.
The table and the counters were heaped with plates, notably a whole roast suckling pig (yes, apple in mouth). But there was also boeuf bourguignon, darkly hued, and lumpia with their sauce. There was a tray of sisig made with squid (and lettuce leaves to wrap). Of course, the smell of freshly-baked gougeres wafted down the hallway. Several small bowls offered up smoked duck and crispy little fishes. Finally, there was the hallucinatory-good babka, as well as cake and pie -- no one got away without some dessert!
And a few drinks, too:
O. Raffault 1993 Chinon Blanc "Champs-Chenin" - this is all chenin, as the name suggests, but it is sold in very limited quantities, even Don has only had it once or twice; this bottle seems a bit closed up, sulfury, high acide, light texture, it offers more citrus than honey, we decant it a while to try to wake it up
Karthauserhof 2011 Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Spatlese - spring water, flowery, ethereal
Dirler 2004 Grand Cru Spiegel Riesling - much more serious, much more texture, quite dry, flavor reminds me of orange blossoms but only just barely
Musar 1975 Blanc - decanted for some time, I taste resin and nail polish... and it wows me; later on, perhaps less so
Selosse "Substance" - disgorged 11-Jan-2002, wow, what depth of flavor, meaty, umami-filled, tingly, long, best wine all night
Drouhin 2010 Beaune 1er Greves - bright cherries, dancing and transparent, I like (as do others)
Ch. Magdelaine 1995 St-Emilion GC - a good bottle but a bit hollow (or closed) in the mid-palate; the structure is subduing the fruit; maybe it will open up later
Dom. de Roally 1996 Macon-Vire "Tradition" - clean, crisp, nicely ripe, I like this and I am no friend to white burgundy
Prager 2001 Riesling Achleiten Smaragd - beautiful, green grapes, winey, silky but not at all unctuous or sticky
Jasmin 2005 Cote-Rotie - tannic, very ripe, spirity black cherries, yum
Ogier 1995 Cote-Rotie - more funky than the Jasmin, also spirity, dried fruit and kirsch, also yum
Lapierre 2011 Morgon - sturdy, vigorous, slightly astringent, slightly exciting
B. Amiot 1993 Chambolle-Musigny "Les Chatelots" - slight sour mash nose, mid-weight, pleasant or a bit more
Herve Souhaut 2011 "La Souteronne" - unlike some other wines this is gamay from just outside of St-Joseph, gorgeous, rich and dark, Sharon says the St-Epine is also worth trying
Freemark Abbey 1984 Cabernet Sauvignon - yup
Below here my notes are sketchy-to-non-existant:
Huet 1990 Vouvray Moelleux "Le Haut Lieu" - no note?
Drouhin 1993 Bonnes Mares - corked
Eminence Road 2012 Pinot Noir "Elizabeth's Vineyard"
Bow & Arrow 2012 Pinot Noir, Chehalem AVA - good, dry
Mongeard-Mugneret 2007 Chambolle-Musigny 1er "Les Orveaux" - fresh, minerally
Maximin Grunhauser 2002 Schubert'sch Schlosskellerei Riesling Auslese
Dom. du Traginer (J-F Deu) NV Banyuls "d'Ambre" - aged 13 years, I liked this because it was mildly sweet but not cloying
PS. Jay gave me pork and beef to take home, as well as a slice of babka. You know what got eaten first!
ETA: Photo of pig (click to embiggen)!
A pleasure of the winter season is the wino gathering at Jay and Arnold's house. As you can see, many illustrious inebriates were present, and much merry was made.
The table and the counters were heaped with plates, notably a whole roast suckling pig (yes, apple in mouth). But there was also boeuf bourguignon, darkly hued, and lumpia with their sauce. There was a tray of sisig made with squid (and lettuce leaves to wrap). Of course, the smell of freshly-baked gougeres wafted down the hallway. Several small bowls offered up smoked duck and crispy little fishes. Finally, there was the hallucinatory-good babka, as well as cake and pie -- no one got away without some dessert!
And a few drinks, too:
O. Raffault 1993 Chinon Blanc "Champs-Chenin" - this is all chenin, as the name suggests, but it is sold in very limited quantities, even Don has only had it once or twice; this bottle seems a bit closed up, sulfury, high acide, light texture, it offers more citrus than honey, we decant it a while to try to wake it up
Karthauserhof 2011 Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Spatlese - spring water, flowery, ethereal
Dirler 2004 Grand Cru Spiegel Riesling - much more serious, much more texture, quite dry, flavor reminds me of orange blossoms but only just barely
Musar 1975 Blanc - decanted for some time, I taste resin and nail polish... and it wows me; later on, perhaps less so
Selosse "Substance" - disgorged 11-Jan-2002, wow, what depth of flavor, meaty, umami-filled, tingly, long, best wine all night
Drouhin 2010 Beaune 1er Greves - bright cherries, dancing and transparent, I like (as do others)
Ch. Magdelaine 1995 St-Emilion GC - a good bottle but a bit hollow (or closed) in the mid-palate; the structure is subduing the fruit; maybe it will open up later
Dom. de Roally 1996 Macon-Vire "Tradition" - clean, crisp, nicely ripe, I like this and I am no friend to white burgundy
Prager 2001 Riesling Achleiten Smaragd - beautiful, green grapes, winey, silky but not at all unctuous or sticky
Jasmin 2005 Cote-Rotie - tannic, very ripe, spirity black cherries, yum
Ogier 1995 Cote-Rotie - more funky than the Jasmin, also spirity, dried fruit and kirsch, also yum
Lapierre 2011 Morgon - sturdy, vigorous, slightly astringent, slightly exciting
B. Amiot 1993 Chambolle-Musigny "Les Chatelots" - slight sour mash nose, mid-weight, pleasant or a bit more
Herve Souhaut 2011 "La Souteronne" - unlike some other wines this is gamay from just outside of St-Joseph, gorgeous, rich and dark, Sharon says the St-Epine is also worth trying
Freemark Abbey 1984 Cabernet Sauvignon - yup
Below here my notes are sketchy-to-non-existant:
Huet 1990 Vouvray Moelleux "Le Haut Lieu" - no note?
Drouhin 1993 Bonnes Mares - corked
Eminence Road 2012 Pinot Noir "Elizabeth's Vineyard"
Bow & Arrow 2012 Pinot Noir, Chehalem AVA - good, dry
Mongeard-Mugneret 2007 Chambolle-Musigny 1er "Les Orveaux" - fresh, minerally
Maximin Grunhauser 2002 Schubert'sch Schlosskellerei Riesling Auslese
Dom. du Traginer (J-F Deu) NV Banyuls "d'Ambre" - aged 13 years, I liked this because it was mildly sweet but not cloying
PS. Jay gave me pork and beef to take home, as well as a slice of babka. You know what got eaten first!
ETA: Photo of pig (click to embiggen)!
