Having just returned from an extended vacation that took us to
Philadelhia, New Jersey and Washington, DC, I have a few notes to catch
up on. Starting with tonight's wine, chosen to accompany pan-seared
duck breasts:

2007 Dom. Guion Bourgueil "Cuvée Prestige"
nose: cranberry, tart cherry, herbal/leafy
palate: medium body, firm acidity, chalky tannins

Jean didn't find it a good match for the duck, saying that she preferred
a more fruit-forward wine. For my part, I found it to be fairly good,
though the flavor profile of Cabernet wines isn't probably best suited
for duck, so perhaps we're not too far apart in our judgments.

Two nights ago in Philadelphia, we ended our trip with a night out at
Amada, José Garces's tapas joint. The meal was splendid, starting with
olives, then gambas al ajillo, piquillos rellenos (with crabmeat), a
fanatstic grilled quail sausage, a flatbread topped with cepes, black
truffle, artichokes and manchego and a Galician bean stew (caldo
Gallego) and finishing with three Spanish cheeses (Garrotxa, an aged
goat cheese and a cow's milk cheese from Asturias). After an aperitif
of Sherry, we got a bottle of:

2008 Descendientes de José Palacios Bierzo "Pétalos"
nose: sappy, red berry fruit, herbal finish
palate: medium body, fresh acidity, bright fruit, a slight oaky sheen

This was my second Mencia and the first that wasn't totally obscured by
new oak. The oak treatment seems to have varied over the past years,
but this edition was well within my tolerances. Slightly reminiscent of
a young Syrah, it went quite well with all the food.

And, finally, I am remiss in not earlier posting my impressions of a
truly remarkable wine that we consumed on an earlier trip for Jean's
birthday. With lobsters and sunset, I opened the bottle of 1945 Dom.
Huët Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Moelleux that she had given me for my
birthday. The color was golden, there was no bottle stink after a quick
decant and the wine was incredible, an off-dry barrage of quince, orange
peel, bergamot amid a clean, brisk acidity. The wine was thick but
lively, and in no way revealed its age. Better with the sunset than the
lobster.

Mark Lipton

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