TN: Peking Duck House (March 23, 2017)

Jeff Grossman

Jeff Grossman
attendees: Brad, John T, Joe Cz, Dale, Jeff

A visit from John Tomasso occasions a trip to PDH. The theme was "wines that Brad might like with Peking Duck". Oy.

Having been to this restaurant a zillion times we already know what to order: spare ribs, peking duck, beef with black mushrooms and bamboo shoots, and a few plates of greens.

And we jocular fellows sipped on:

Zind-Humbrecht 1989 Riesling Turckheim - A little waxy and a little smoky, very aromatic; palate is rich and silky; a fine way to start the evening; next day it's given up the ghost

Dom. Vacherin 2015 Sancerre - very intense and assertive sauvignon blanc so not for everybody; fruity and young; Joe likes it but his palate may be a little overwrought from a bunch of NZ wines lately

Zind-Humbrecht 1997 "Clos Saint Urbain", Rangen de Thann, Riesling GC - nose is pretty with elements of face-powder and tutti-frutti; the wine has a viscous texture that isn't very appealing; finish is long and shows some yellow fruit, maybe some pome fruit, but occasionally veers towards bitter

Pegau 2001 Chateauneuf-du-Pape "Cuvee Reservee" - a little initial bottle funk blows off; it's spirity but that's the only flaw: it is otherwise, clean, crisp, sweet, mid-weight, fine textured, just a pleasure to drink

Roumier 2002 Chambolle-Musigny - this bottle prompts a lot of nostalgic talk about wine prices... anyway, this is a really good bottle: suave, gentle, full of lush cherries, also mid-weight, yum

Jamet 1999 Cote-Rotie - this bottle prompts a lot of questions about who jumped which shark and when... anyway, this is a good bottle: it's wet earth and red silk and a berry basket; Joe finds it a little chunky and Brad isn't wowed, either, but I think their expectations are too high; next day it's about the same, maybe even a bit fruitier, kinda like an underripe port (in a good way)

Texier 1999 Cote-Rotie - a sharp bit of bottle funk (mustard?) on opening blows off; even so, every sip of this wine is preceded by a blast of VA, then it settles into a recognizable C-R flavor profile but very tart; not much development and kinda tough to drink by itself but it does cut well against the duck fat

Pinon 2005 Vouvray "Cuvee Botrytis" - surprisingly lightweight, lilting, very botrytis indeed, honeycomb, good acidity, a very delicate and interesting sweetie

A final note: The Texier had a stickie note fastened on it:
2017-03-23_note.jpg
And the inevitable bottle shot, thanks to Brad:
 
This is bizarre. That looks like my handwriting, but I have no recollection whatsoever of writing that note or even the context in which I may have written that note. And I don't know what "24K" means.

Can you guys clue me in?
 
originally posted by Jayson Cohen:
This is bizarre. That looks look my handwriting, but I have no recollection whatsoever of writing that note or even the context in which I may have written that note. And I don't know what "24K" means.

Can you guys clue me in?

Maybe that you thought it was gold?
 
Ahhhhhh. Brad is so close as usual.

24K was my old apartment number in NY between 1999 and 2003. I must have left this bottle for Joe with my doorman but I have no recollection at all of that. Maybe Joe does.
 
originally posted by Jayson Cohen:
Ahhhhhh. Brad is so close as usual.

24K was my old apartment number in NY between 1999 and 2003. I must have left this bottle for Joe with my doorman but I have no recollection at all of that. Maybe Joe does.

I gave you too much credit for being clever.
 
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