Not really a showdown, but an opportunity to taste a few new releases.
Starting us off was a 2006 Joseph Drouhin Clos des Mouche Blanc - a charming wine with a nose that is creamy and nutty with light apple notes. It is of medium intensity with a hint of lime, and drinking nicely now.
The 2 red Burgs kept changing on the nose and on the palate during the course of dinner. First was a 2006 Hudelot Noellat Les Beaux Monts - a nose that was subtle and pure - red fruit and spice, with crunchy cranberries on the high toned palate. An hour later, it became mute, and then it began to show some of the earlier characteristics, but not at the same intensity. Beautiful when you caught it open. With it, we had a 2006 Denis Bachelet Gevrey Chambertin VV - at first, I found black olives and dark fruit on the nose with more of the same on the palate, but with a firm minty finish. This is the same aftertaste I noted on a Bachelet Cotes de Nuits Villages I had a couple of weeks ago, and found it equally offputting on these wines. With time, the Gevrey Chambertin showed bubble gum, while Suzanne found it to be more candied cherries. This was a tough wine to follow and I hope that it becomes tamer as it ages, as I have a few bottles at home.
A couple of Kutch pinots, 2007 Kanzler - a strong whiff of root beer was followed by a palate that was sweet with lots of raspberry fruit dripping with caramel. More than a little over the top for me, but our resident California wine lover enjoyed it immensely. Then it was a 2007 McDougal - this is lighter than the Kanzler, with raspberries and minerals. Light, easy going, enjoyable to drink now, and if it puts on weight with time, could be very nice.
The old world wine drinkers preferred the Burgs, while the one new world person chose the Kutch as her favorites. It was a night of good food, wine, and company at Union Square Cafe at $10 corkage per bottle. A very good deal.