Mitsommer & Mass Market Blancs

Our governor has imposed ever more stringent guidelines to cope with the crisis, so we combined Fathers Day festivities (NB Festivus begins with the Airing of Grievances) with next week’s marking of Mitsommer, the longest day of the year. This tends to be a seafood oriented smorgasbord here, and there were other items too, but white wines were on duty. Most of my kinsmen do not care for geeky/severe wines, so ‘supermarket/Costco’ style blanc was the house pour.
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The crustaceans were prepared sous vide, by parboiling them on a skewer (to keep them straight), a quick ice dunk, then deshelling (more work than I’m letting on).
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Three pats of butter, several springs of fresh dill, some chopped chives, and then 60 min in a water bath at 137F. After they are done, the tails get another ice bath for a few min, and then go into the fridge til serving time
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The 2020 Josh ‘sauvignon blanc’ [California] was poured with the breadstuffs; this 13% abv SB is watery and innocuous for my tastes. I’d give it a C+ overall. Screwcap closure, but it feels a bit more premium packaging than the $13 price point suggests. The clear glass bottle does have a coarse seam though!
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The 2017 Beringer ‘Private Reserve’ Chardonnay [Napa] is a big plump 14.8% abv wine that is barrel fermented with weekly lees stirring. I like it, but this is a style I enjoy, and I think many WB would not admit to that unpiety. It’s good quaffing/sipping, especially in non serious environments. Lots of wood, butter, vanilla, and so on. I think other older vintages have been better though, and would only give the 2017 a B+ rating. Personally, I have always enjoyed the consistency, quality, and availability of this, even if I am only opportunistic in purchasing this full bodied chubber.
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I should be grateful that the Skandi side of the family has mutually agreed that lutefisk, hakarl and other biowar variants are banned under normal smorga rules of engagement. (This was an aquavit free night too). For my part, I have left my precious jar of Dundicutt peppers sealed too, so there is some bilateral disarmament.

Skol!