WTN: Lunch w/Buekers, etc (CFE VT, Soave, Etna,Fiano, VdP)

When I couldn't find the '05 ESJ Bassetti in NY, David Bueker generously offered me some of his stash, for a couple of players to be named later (their names turned out to be Lafarge). It took a while to get together, but we finally worked it out. On their way back home from a trip David and Laura stopped for lunch Saturday. Betsy made pasta with a pesto (lemon and spinach in addition to the normal basil, pignoli, cheese,etc). and we tried three wines (since it was lunch, and they were driving, I choose wines that could last till following night, as I was going to the dinner with J. Lardiere that night):

1989 Trimbach "Cuvee Frederic Emile" Riesling Vendange Tardive.
From a half bottle. Just a touch riper and less austere than the '90 sampled the night before, a big wine with ripe apples, lemon, and grapefruit. Pretty tight, blossoms on day 2, with a complex array of herbs, minerals, citrus fruits, and almost tropical white fruits. A-

2005 Pieropan "Calvarino" Soave
Pear, yellow plums, nice stony mineral notes. Clean and straightforward, with good acidity, finish. On day 2 it shows more of that nutty note I associate with so many Italian whites. B+/A-

2005 Biondi "Outis" Etna Rosso
Good acidity (from up on the mountain), red and black cherries, a little cigarbox note. Refreshing, nice red, though I'd put it a half-step behind the graceful 2004. Holds up well overnight from the little sip I got, our Sunday night guests slurped it up quickly. B/B+

Sunday we had a lazy day, but guests for dinner. I had picked up lobsters and porterhouses, Betsy made a lobster salad, I grilled the steaks along with zucchini, corn, and sweet potatoes. We drank the rest of Saturday's lunch wines, plus some of 2 others:

2007 Domaine de la Patience Merlot (Vin de Pays des Coteaux de Pont du Gard)
Soft, red plums, juicy and friendly, not a lot of structure here, but ok.B

2007 MandraRossa Fiano (Sicily)
Decent acidity for Sicily, mangos and apples, a bit short and simple.
B-/C+

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency. 

[David M. Bueker]

Thanks again for a great lunch Dale. It's always a pleasure to spend time with you and Betsy (and Lucy too!).

I liked the Trimbach very much. Thanks so much for opening it. I thought it was opening up a good bit towards the end of lunch, but I don't doubt more air could have been a benefit. In any event, it was lovely when I got to drink it, all mineral, burnished apple and surprising richness (for a Trimbach, though not so surprising considering the vintage).

The Soave is the wine I would have drank a lot more of if Laura and I were not still driving home (not a lot of the Trimbach left so moot point there). the direct fruitiness was rather engaging/refreshing, and I thought it a great accompaniment to the food and the beautiful spring day.

The Biondi was enjoyable as well, though the thought "richly rustic" kept floating through my mind every time I took a sip. I think I would have enjoyed it much more with a meat course!

Anyway, thanks for being willing to part the with the bottles of Lafarge. As with any really interesting trade, I hope to open at least one bottle with you in the future (always more fun that way).