I am very happy to have now met Sherri and grateful that she was able to organize this OL in New Jersey. Also very gratified to have David Frankil and his wife Allison make the drive and lovely to meet Colleen and Allen Prince as well. Rounding out our party was my good friend John Meany (I have been staying with he and his wife Anne for the last 2 nights).
I chose Coq au Vin for my main and they did do a very solid job, though not quite on a par with Volnaysien in Burgundy. Really relaxed service and rest of food was quite good too.
I let the gang have some leftovers of the 2011 Pape Clement and 1992 Montelana Cab
2014 Walter Scott Ex Novo Chard
Allen and Colleen brought, an Oregon producer I have not tried. Fragrant, with gettable pear and gingerbread. Flavourful and balanced dans la bouche, flowers with pear replays and length as well. Quite prettily sedate, especially for so young.
2015 Broc Cellars Vine Starr Zin
I brought this. Real interesting nose–a cross between chocolate mint and plum pudding. Round–as round as can be–and extraordinarily smooth. Watermelon (!) accents to cherry and plum. I didn’t get any real spiciness, though David did find that here, for me it’d be a dead ringer for a Merlot…but it IS goo-ood. #3 tonight.
2009 Hobel Cab
Treat from David and Allison–I haven’t had anything from here either. Bits of cedar, bits of pine needle, lots of black cherry in the aroma and very composed. Palate, there’s no question what this is. Full and rich and meaty feel with quite sweet plum and black cherry. While not at all killer alcohol and well-made, it is not in my style of Cab. Sturdy though, should hold here for some years, and glad to try a new producer for me.
2014 Antica Terra Botanica Pinot
Takes some time to unlock, but earth and peppercorn show up over blackberry and rhubarb. Tasty, if very young, but already well shaped.
2001 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino
When Sherri gave me some choices, I asked for some Italian. This was some bring. Pop and pour, fun little scent of walnut paste behind chickoree, currant and raspberry. This is splendid to taste. It just washes through your mouth and has a lovely Christmascake sidebar. Very friendly with my coq au vin as well. Just a study in harmony and effect. WOTN
2010 Paul Jaboulet Petite Chappelle
My contribution on John’s behalf. Filled with cedar closet and all manner of baking spices. Roses and even honeysuckle maybe underneath. First taste, even with an hour’s decant, is still very kinetic. Kind of surprisingly fruit forward. Tons of stuff but needs at least 10 years to figure itself out…or does it? I loved how dramatically this kept changing with air in the glass. it pulled itself together marvelously over 5 minute periods, with black tea worked in and by the last sip was drinking darned close to a full La Chappelle. #2 and Sherri and John were swoonful about this.
Another dramatically delightful night, this is the first one where I met all new people. It had better not be the last with this fine group.
Skal
Mike