Dinner with friends

[Florida Jim]

After my long week on the road, Bob and Letta volunteered to come over, bring dinner and prepare it. Gratified is an understatement.

With dinner prep.:

2003 Dumol, Chardonnay Chloe Vineyard:

I strongly recommend another year or two in the cellar as this is coming along and developing (fairly rapidly) another personality – different today than its previous full throttle, oak driven style; more about its fruit and acid today. There is hope here.

With grilled wild salmon, guinea hen, risotto, roasted beets, salad and “greasy” beans:

1982 Jaboulet, Hermitage La Chapelle:

Past its prime but unmistakably Hermitage with its powerful meatiness that seems to influence both the nose and palate; iron and a little VA on the nose and, on the palate, its starting (but just) to come apart at the seams – drink now. A fine example of the AOC and full of nuance.

1996 Roumier, Chambolle-Musigny Les Cras:

Too young, even at a decade from bottling; powerful, primary, very Roumier and deserving of another decade. Hold.

Best, Jim