On Saturday evening we had a few friends over for dinner. All wines were served non-blind, in courses. This is my favorite way to enjoy wine; with friends and good food over conversation.
We started with assorted Olives and Spanish Almonds:
NV L. Mawby Blanc de Blancs (Michigan)
Around $20, Ohio. Light golden in color with a lot of medium bubbles. The nsoe has grapefruits and a bit of baked bread. Nice acidity. Easy to drink and surprisingly complex for its price. This bottle had a few years of bottle age on it which did not seem to hurt it. 50+4+12+16+6=88
Eggplant stuffed with cheese amid Chimichurri sauce (
With 2003 Hirsch Gruner Veltliner Heiligenstein Lammern (Kamptal, Austria)
Screw capped. Green gold in color. The nose has asparagus and white pepper. Full bodied. Slightly flabby but not bad and a product of the vintage. Goes well with the food. This wine is in great shape with little sign of age. 50+4+12+17+6=89
Spring Salad of Avocado, Pink Grapefruits, Belgian Endives and Shallots
With 2006 Donnhoff Riesling Kabinett Oberhauser Leistenberg (Nahe, Germany)
Decanted two hours. Gorgeous wine. Slivery gold in color. The nose is minerals/wet stones, and grapefruits. Full bodied. On the palate, this is slightly sweet with loads of complexity. Great texture. Really open and drinking well right now. Obviously young, but so what. Great match. 50+4+13+18+7=92
Curried Cashew-Vegetable Soup
With: 2001 Zind Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Herrenweg Turckheim (Alsace, France)
Golden in color, lighter than expected. A nose of minerals and jasmine (odd?). Great thick texture. On the palate, this is complex with no bitterness. Layers of minerals. Great balance. Still youthful. Excellent. 50+4+13+17+7=91
2008 Sineann Gewurztraminer Celilo Vyd (Oregon USA)
Light gold in color. The nose is lychees and minerals. Classic. In past years, I told Pete I found his Gewurz atypical, but the last two vintages have been classic (he disagreed with my past assessments btw). Just a gorgeous nose. On the palate, this wine is fat with great fruit. Not a lot of acidity but still well balanced. Awesome match with the soup. Tropical fruit notes with only the slightest shade of bitters. Long finish. 50+3+14+18+7=92
Spring Vegetable Risotto with Polenta points & Morel Mushrooms
With 2004 Sandra Fay Il Glicine (Lombardia, Italy)
Decanted 4 hours. Ruby in color with a bit of purple. The nose has dried cherries, violets and roses. Very pretty. Drinking quite young (which it is), with firm tannins. On the palate, this is quite elegant but still has good fruit to it. Cherries and dried cherries with a nice acidic backbone. Long finish. 50+4+13+18+8=93
1996 Mauro Veglio Barolo Castelletto (Piedmonte, Italy)
Decanted 4 hours. Classic Barolo. Ruby in color, clear and bright. The nose has cherries, tar and roses. With air some anise notes. Medium bodied. On the palate, this seems mature and complex. Light tannins. Cherries and earthy/tea notes with some anise. Great acidity. Long finish. Wonderful with the food! 50+4+13+18+7=92
Cheese Course with Dalmatia Fig Spread
Vella Dry Jack (California), Shaft’s Aged Blue (California), Beemster Aged Gouda 3 Year (Holland)
With: 1999 Clark Claudon Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley, California, USA)
Decanted 5 hours. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has cassis, coffee, black raspberries and smoke. Mild tannins. On the palate, this is a classic Cal Cab. Very good and mature but in no danger of fading. Layers of cassis and earth. Nice finish. The crowds favorite. 50+4+12+18+7=91
1999 Grand-Puy-Lacoste (Pauillac, Bordeaux, France)
Decanted 5 hours. Purple in color with some ruby at the rim. Mostly opaque and bright. The nose has cassis and currants. Some oak. Full bodied. On the palate, this is drinking well and as with many 99’s in a great space right now. Layers of complexity with cassis and tobacco notes. Good finish. The better match with the cheeses if not the “better wine”. 50+4+13+17+7=91
Dessert: Strawberries & Lemon Crème with a Butter Almond Thins
With 2005 Baumard Quarts du Chaume (Loire Valley, France)
Love this wine. It is starting to shut down though and I would not open another without a long decant. Light golden in color (screw capped). The nose is honey and sea air and floral. Full bodied. Great thick texture. On the palate, this is slightly sweet with the acidity to cut thru it. The fruit is not as strong as a year ago, and the layering is still tight. A gorgeous wine but time to lay down for a nap. 50+4+13+18+8=93