Thursday Betsy made duck legs with turnips, we opened a half bottle of 2005 Jadot Gevrey-Chambertin. Nice midweight, pretty much what one would expect from a Jadot village bottling in a good year- correct and typical, not flashy. Some Gevrey meatiness, dark berry fruit, enough tannin and acid this could age a bit. Good length on finish for level. B/B+
Friday I was joining the guys for local tasting group, we had dinner before hand, she had made skirt steak in a Worchestshire/mustard/garlic marinade, with baked potatoes and salad. Used the cooking wine from the duck, the 2007 Delas "Saint-Esprit" Cotes du Rhone. Ripe, both red and black fruit, pretty big for CdR, could pass as a CdP (though I'm told its mostly Syrah). B/B-
On to Roger's for the evening's entertainment. Blind as usual, with the only stipulation was "bring something you own, no going to the store." As the group's cellars range from 0 to 1500 bottles, lots of latitude.
First up, a non-blind starter that Fred brought (open bottle):
2007 Isa Blanc (VdP Cotes de Thongue)- Organic, blend of Roussane and Viognier. Fred says Thongue is in south, considering the blend and the location it has decent acidity. Very floral, almost cloying to me. Others like more than I, but still a B-
On to the reds:
First wine up- big, extracted, quite a bit of oak. I'm thinking Australian Shiraz but Marc makes that guess and is told no. Further consideration, there's some leather and dried cherry underneath, I hazard a guess of Tuscany, yep, SuperTuscan , no, ok modern Brunello. 1999 La Magia Brunello di Montalcino Riserva. B
Wine #2- first sip I really hated this, but then I realized it was the cheeses (goat and a soft cow) that I had just tried. OK, recalibrating, ripe juicy red, some balsam and tobacco. Good acidity. Marc goes Loire, yep, the mint makes me try again to make sure Fred's not throwing another Loire Gamay or PdA at us, no, typical Cab Franc aromas, I guess Chinon. Nope, the 2005 Thierry Germain Saumur-Champigny. B/B+
Wine #3- I'm quickly in modern styled Bordeaux- big cassis fruit, lots of wood, some pencil notes. Pretty structured, I'm guessing 2000 or 2002 Medoc. 2004 Lascombes (Margaux). Oak needs to integrate, for now,. B-
Wine # 4 is mine. Both French guys guess Bordeaux right off, but Marc gets New World and Dave gets California. Black cherry liqueur, cassis, a bit of espresso, modern but with some leather and earth. 2001 Havens Bourriquot (Napa). B+
Wine #5 - lighter bodied than last few bottles, cherry fruit, I think Pinot Noir but then decide maybe Languedoc carignan blend. Nope. Italian PN. 2007 Monte Degli Angeli Pinot Noir C+
Wine #6- mature, brighter cherry fruit, leather, dried leaves, a little dill. Someone says 80s Bordeaux but I think no way. I guess 90s Spanish, ding ding. Rioja? Yes. At end of life but surprisingly good. 1995 Marques de Murrieta "Ygay" Rioja Reserva. B+
A St Chinian was being opened as I left, but it was already midnight and I was walking home in rain, luckily one I had tried so my resolve held and I headed home.
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.