Cold Cuts and "Rhônes"

Tonight we had a light supper on our patio with our contribution to the weekend’s “dead wines”. We started with a 1997 Jaboulet ‘Parallèle 45’ Côtes du Rhône (tasting notes are in Wine Talk). It was pleasantly surprisingly good with with our platter of - Fra’Mani Salumetti Piccante, Mini-Chorizo, Pepperoni, Salcisson de Vic, Comte and Hudson Valley Sheeps’ Milk Camembert, and Mozzarella rolls with prosciutto & basil, spicy salame, pizza seasoning with salame; & Buffalo seasoning. This was accompanied by Cerignola olives, Artichoke hearts in Olive Oil, TJ’s Parmesan Crisps & 5-Cheese Flatbead, and black & green olive pastes. We’d finished the CdR before we’d finished the food, so I went to the cellar and got a 2001 Jos. Phelps ‘Le Mistral’ - brighter and more youthful than the CdR, but a similar flavor profile. It made a nice finish to a good light warm Spring supper. Tonight was the first on our patio this year. The winds were too brisk to eat on our balcony, the patio is protected from the prevailing southwest winds and cooler since it’s on the northeast side of our house…