Tony Velebil
03-17-2011, 07:45 AM
Last night our good friends Ed Kurtzman and Michelle had us (and Tina and Kelly) over for dinner. A good old fashion crab fest right in the middle of Haight/Ashbury...okay, actually in their living room but they do live in the Haight/Ashbury area of San Francisco.
The wine
2005 Ruelle-Pertois, Blanc de Blancs, Grand Cru
We had stopped at K&L Wines in SF prior to dinner to pick up a bottle of bubbly and buy some inexpensive red and white wines for everyday drinking/cooking. Talked to one of the reps and, having had past versions of this wine, we asked what he thought. He raved, we bought and it was delicious. Crisp with citrus and a slight sherry taste - not oxidized though. Full and light at the same time. Well worth the $40.
2002 Vincent Dauvissat, Chablis, Grand Cru "Les Clos"
Drinking perfectly right now. This wine was gorgeous. Nutty with limestone, truffle, lime peel and a little bit of honey...I could have sipped this wine all night long....wow. Stunning wine for me.
2006 Chapoutier, Hermitage, Chante-Alouette
I think this is mostly Marsanne. Very good, a bit richer and less crisp than the Dauvissat - but that's comparing apples and oranges. Some had this as their favorite wine of the night, but I like the Dauvissat a little better. Orange, honey and hazelnuts with some slight herb quality...enough acid to keep it fresh and it did work with the crab.
Now onto a couple of red wines to accompany some cheese:
2009 Delas, Cotes du Rhone, St-Espirit
We opened this just because I had purchased a couple at K&L for $9.99. Parker has this rated 90, which means it is Outstanding Wine...well, the price may be influencing him a bit. Don't get me wrong, it is very tasty and well worth $10 and I'll be buying a few more. It has some chewy tannin, decent fruit - somewhat grapey, which reminds you of an inexpensive wine, pepper. A somewhat clipped finish but surprising complexity for a wine this "Cheap". I would say more like 87/100 and glad I picked up a few!
1998 Guigal Hermitage
Ed cracked this and it is also drinking very well and much different than the young/inexpensive CdR. Much more savory with loads of bacon fat to accompany the pepper and dark plum fruit. Loved the savoryness of the wine. Terrrific.
Traci and then had to skip out b/c she had a flight to catch early this am...another wonderful evening with great friends, terrific wine and awesome food!
The wine
2005 Ruelle-Pertois, Blanc de Blancs, Grand Cru
We had stopped at K&L Wines in SF prior to dinner to pick up a bottle of bubbly and buy some inexpensive red and white wines for everyday drinking/cooking. Talked to one of the reps and, having had past versions of this wine, we asked what he thought. He raved, we bought and it was delicious. Crisp with citrus and a slight sherry taste - not oxidized though. Full and light at the same time. Well worth the $40.
2002 Vincent Dauvissat, Chablis, Grand Cru "Les Clos"
Drinking perfectly right now. This wine was gorgeous. Nutty with limestone, truffle, lime peel and a little bit of honey...I could have sipped this wine all night long....wow. Stunning wine for me.
2006 Chapoutier, Hermitage, Chante-Alouette
I think this is mostly Marsanne. Very good, a bit richer and less crisp than the Dauvissat - but that's comparing apples and oranges. Some had this as their favorite wine of the night, but I like the Dauvissat a little better. Orange, honey and hazelnuts with some slight herb quality...enough acid to keep it fresh and it did work with the crab.
Now onto a couple of red wines to accompany some cheese:
2009 Delas, Cotes du Rhone, St-Espirit
We opened this just because I had purchased a couple at K&L for $9.99. Parker has this rated 90, which means it is Outstanding Wine...well, the price may be influencing him a bit. Don't get me wrong, it is very tasty and well worth $10 and I'll be buying a few more. It has some chewy tannin, decent fruit - somewhat grapey, which reminds you of an inexpensive wine, pepper. A somewhat clipped finish but surprising complexity for a wine this "Cheap". I would say more like 87/100 and glad I picked up a few!
1998 Guigal Hermitage
Ed cracked this and it is also drinking very well and much different than the young/inexpensive CdR. Much more savory with loads of bacon fat to accompany the pepper and dark plum fruit. Loved the savoryness of the wine. Terrrific.
Traci and then had to skip out b/c she had a flight to catch early this am...another wonderful evening with great friends, terrific wine and awesome food!