SPNS dinner, Thursday 12th March

Sitting up here in AduV Towers, looking out on deserted city streets below, it's hard to believe that it was only ten days ago that we were convening in the bar at the Savile Club, getting ready for another excellent evening of vinous discoveries. On this occasion there were only four of us - me, G, D and ACC.

We began with this Hermann J Wiemer Riesling 2017 from the Finger Lakes, specifically the HJW vineyard. This made a very pleasant aperitif, slightly off-dry in style and with a nice weight. Most of us found it grapey but D detected apricots and peaches. It had a great finish.

Some of us had had a bad day so we didn't linger downstairs but moved up to the dining room where ACC produced this "white", a Bourgogne Aligote 1993 from Les Caves de l'Abbaye. It was clearly heavily oxidised but clean. Viewed as a dry sherry, it wasn't at all bad.

According to the back label, this wine is golden yellow with hints of green 🤣

ACC had wisely brought a back-up, this Bourgone Hautes Cotes de Beaune 1972 from Marinot-Verdun. This was another clearly elderly wine, and slightly cloudy, but had a big burst of berries on the palate and a hint of the sugar bag. G made comments about old socks and old saddle and forest floors, but appears to have enjoyed it and D admired its light fruit and good acid. ACC then revealed, to nobody's surprise, that these two bottles had come from a flea market at an advantageous price. Very much in the spirit of the SPNS!

My own primary contribution was this 1982 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Firestone Vineyard in California, which was part of a mixed lot at auction some time ago. Everything in that lot to date has been impeccable so I was hoping for a good result. It turned out to be still going strong, dark and powerful, almost archetypal cabernet. G got mint and raspberry, while D considered it ready to drink but not in decline. ACC's comments appeared to be favourable too, although we were approaching the scrawly stage of the evening in the Chronicles, which are rapidly running out of space.

D had brought along this McGregor Vineyards 2017 reserve Cabernet Franc from the Finger Lakes. This was a vibrant colour and very classic cab franc with a lot of mint and chewy tannins. Most of us felt it was on the young side and would age well.

For pudding, I'd brought along this Canadian maple wine which I was given a long time ago by a friend who had visited the vineyard. It sat in the cupboard for several years, which was clearly a mistake on my part. As G said, it "created less reaction than anything ever produced at this tasting." There was just nothing going on. Oh well!

Fortunately, G had brought along a half of Gould Campbell 1980 to go with the cheese. I found it a little spirity on the nose but otherwise it was very enjoyable drinking, with figgy fruit. D particularly rated the finish. A good way to round off the evening!

Who knows how long it will be till the next SPNS? However, the blog will be back in the near future as I got some wine out of storage on Friday. Important to have something to look forward to!