TN: assorted wines- for book party, Nikolausfest, etc

Friday was Betsy's birthday, but she was working and we scheduled her
real party for tonight. She had an all day rehearsal, and requested a
quiet quick meal out for dinner. We gave a try to a new Asian fusion
restaurant in town- it wasn't exciting, but competent with fresh
ingredients (we started with a duck roll and calamari, then she had
eggplant and tofu in garlic sauce, I had seafood (shrimp, lobster,
scallop) in XO sauce. Wine was the 1998 Charles Ellner "Cuvee
Prestige" Brut Champagne (waitress called manager to open, then I had
to show him). Medium to full bodied, some biscuit meets oxidative
notes (like a baby Bollys), apple and citrus. Good, not great. B

Saturday I was spending a lot of time with snow logistics, but not
much actually happened so it all worked out. I went over to friends
for their annual Man Booker party, this year the prize winner was
"Wolf Hall" which tells the Henry VIII/More/Boleyn tale through Thomas
Crowell's eye. I carried a thematic bottle as well as some open wines
and a cauliflower-pimenton side. Liz had made a platter of sausages,
others brought a variety including chicken, samosas, tablouli.

My themed bottle was the 2005 Nipozzano (Frescobaldi) Chianti Rùfina
Riserva. Not in the book, but I knew Cromwell worked for the
Frescobaldis before he came back to England. Bigger riper styled
Chianti, plummy red fruit, just a hint of oak, modest acidity, maybe
just a touch of heat. Not great, but for a theme botlte ok! B/B-

The awkward moment for me was of course the woman who really wanted me
to agree with her that the 2007 Trapiche Oak Cask Malbec was a great
wine. Dark fruits, cola, oaky, short. "It's certainly an example of
the style, really a great value if that's what you like" B-/C+

The 2008 Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc Viognier is an old QPR fave, now it's
$10 instead of $4, but in today's market not a bad value. Citrus fruit
and flowers, moderate acidity, nice mouthfeel. B-

Sunday we went to a Nikolaustag celebration in Roger's chilly
backyard. He had made mulled wine, a bit stronger than I'm used to. I
had carried some Guion Bourgueil as a host gift, but Fred greeted me
with a couple of his samples. The one I hadn't tried before was a
Bordeaux AC, the 2007 Tire de Diem, an honest straightforward claret.
Light to medium bodied, black plum and raspberry, light tannins, nice
(and I'm sure "natural"). B

We went home to a pot of chili (of the no tomato style, though she
added beans). Not a wine friendly dish, but I opened the 2007 Iche
"Les Heritques" (nothing will match well, so something with a little
spice that's cheap). Fun, sassy, dark fruits and a little earth, good
length for a $9 wine. B

Last night pork chops with mushrooms, along with spinach, brown rice,
and a half bottle of the 2006 JN Gagnard "Morgeot" Chassagne-
Montrachet rouge. Reticent at first, comes alive with some time. Black
cherrries, woodsmoke, a bit of earth. Nice little wine, but at $22/375
not a screaming deal. B/B+

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.**

On Tue, 8 Dec 2009 12:44:14 -0800 (PST), DaleW <Dwmidnt@aol.com>
wrote:

>We went home to a pot of chili (of the no tomato style, though she
>added beans). Not a wine friendly dish, but I opened the 2007 Iche
>"Les Heritques" (nothing will match well, so something with a little
>spice that's cheap). Fun, sassy, dark fruits and a little earth, good
>length for a $9 wine. B

I think you've offered a candidate for ultimate oxymoron or at least
remarkable contradiction in terms from a Southwest USA perspective:
"chili of the no tomato style with added beans." The only thing you
might have done to perfect it was added, "made with filet of sole and
north coast mussels."

Could that be why the old salsa commercials had the guys scornfully
saying, "why this comes from New Yawk City..." as they ride the
offender out of town on a rail.

I'll confess that I've not adopted the Texas "no beans" edict, but
don't know how you could have a chili without 'maters.

"Not wine friendly" is an understatement. Beer friendly is what you're
looking for.

Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
www.thundertales.blogspot.com
www.thunderchief.org

In article <k2g7i5pbdk8j57vusq2e5di16be70klsi0@4ax.com>,
Ed Rasimus <rasimusSPAMLESS@verizon.net> wrote:

> On Tue, 8 Dec 2009 12:44:14 -0800 (PST), DaleW <Dwmidnt@aol.com>
> wrote:
>
> >We went home to a pot of chili (of the no tomato style, though she
> >added beans). Not a wine friendly dish, but I opened the 2007 Iche
> >"Les Heritques" (nothing will match well, so something with a little
> >spice that's cheap). Fun, sassy, dark fruits and a little earth, good
> >length for a $9 wine. B
>
> I think you've offered a candidate for ultimate oxymoron or at least
> remarkable contradiction in terms from a Southwest USA perspective:
> "chili of the no tomato style with added beans." The only thing you
> might have done to perfect it was added, "made with filet of sole and
> north coast mussels."
>
> Could that be why the old salsa commercials had the guys scornfully
> saying, "why this comes from New Yawk City..." as they ride the
> offender out of town on a rail.
>
> I'll confess that I've not adopted the Texas "no beans" edict, but
> don't know how you could have a chili without 'maters.
>
> "Not wine friendly" is an understatement. Beer friendly is what you're
> looking for.
>
> Ed Rasimus
> Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
> www.thundertales.blogspot.com
> www.thunderchief.org

As a native Texan and soon to be full-time New Mexican, I have always
preferred beans in my Chili and no tomatoes, why bother?