wtn: wine in tough week- DE, FR, rueda

2009 les rosiers bordeaux
slightly goopy merlot plum fruit, edge of sweetness. was using to start a new batch of vinegar, so happy to have a $5 bottle to throw in. C+

2009 cantarranas rueda
another $5 wine, Betsy was using to cook clams while i went to sober, grassy and light b-/c+

2008 Furst "Pur Mineral" Muller-Thurgau
with lentil soup and halibut with a zucchini relish
light, flinty, a bit short, good for m-t but not a buy again. b

2008 jj Prum bernkasteler Badstrube
lighter and less interesting than the 08 graacher himm, still a nice wine, granny smith, slate and sulphur, b/b+

2005 Joquet Les Petites Roches Chinon
with grilled teriyaki salmon, red cabbage
surprisingly, a little closed on night one, but still nice balanced bottle of black cherries, herb, and green tobacco. retasted on friday with pizza it has opened substantially and i liked even more but that might be because i really needed a glass of wine. b+

why did i need a glass of wine on good friday? about 2:30 friday a religious lunatic (not a "client') with a grudge came into my office and decided to stab me repeatedly, Luckily i was wearing a thick fake suede jacket and thick shirt, and vast majority of chest stabs did not go thru (utility knife). i was able to grab knife (worst damage is to my hand, deep muscle but no nerve), but he also had another blade (drywall key saw)in other hand, going mostly for my head. my helper actually saved me by hitting him with a bat, i got saw and threw away and was able to hold guy in bear hug till cops came. so i have a lot of stitches and staples,but ok. 4 hours at hospital, 1.5 hours giving statemet, then catching up office- yea, wine seemed like a good idea

besides that fun, betsy's beloved grandmother got sick first night of passover and died th, so bets went to la sat am. what a fun easter!

a bit overwhelmed by people bringing food, but betsy hasd chicken drying in fridge so i roasted a la bouchon recipe. wine was 2009 f. cotat culs de beaujeau sancerre - note to self, when one handed avoid wax! this is an open and friendly version, fairly ripe- reminds me of '06 cotats. lots of grapefruit and a little pineapple, but plenty of wet rock minerality on backend. very good, will see how remainder is tonight

sorry re typing. i'm a bit limited, trying not to use left hand, but i'm ok.

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.

[David M. Bueker]

Ugh. How horrid. Glad you are safe, and able to enjoy a glass of wine. There's really not much else to say, except that I hope things heal quickly.

So sorry to hear your news Dale. Debbie and I are thinking of you and send you and Betsy all our best.

Yikes - what terrible news. My condolences regarding Betsy's grandmother and I hope you heal quickly.

That's awful news Dale. Good to hear that you're up and about as a one-handed wine drinker for now. Feel better ... and Happy Easter.

Ugh - sorry to hear this horrible news Dale. My condolences, and I hope you have a quick recovery.

Dale...wow. Some weeks are surely better than others, last week not (for me too). Hopefully next weekend will prove a little more 'therapuetic'.

Holy cow. Glad to hear you're well, Dale.

Wow. Kudos to you for posting!

That sounds like a very traumatic experience. Glad you survived!

Praying for a quick recovery Dale.

Unbelievable. Really at a loss for words. Hopefully things will be better soon.

What a scary story! Best wishes for a quick recovery.

[James Roscoe]

Dale, take care of yourself! Good luck!!

Nice notes as always.

thanks all, getting better every day

My goodness, Dale. That's a crazy thing to happen. Glad you are ok and can still enjoy a (well-deserved) glass or two.

Speedy recovery,
Patrick

[Jenise]

Holy moly. Thank god you were wearing that jacket and that there was someone else there to help! How awful for you, and how awful for Betsy to have to leave your side to go take care of that sad, sad duty for someone she was so close to. Drink plenty of wine, and take it easy.

What an absolutely horrifying experience, Dale. At least you are well enough to cook, drink, and type.

My condolences to Betsy.

Glad to hear that you'll be ok and how well you've handled the situation. I feel guilty about some of my personal gripes over the weekend.

WTF?

Glad you're ok though.

Unbelievable! Well, not really in this strange world in which we live. So glad you survived. Sounds like you did an amazing job of keeping your cool and not panicking.

Fayetteville was hit by the tornados on April 16 but no damage in my neighborhood. One friend from church had a tree limb go through a window of her parked truck, another couple from church live only a few houses from some of the homes that were demolished but lost only some trees in their yard. A man who works in my building on Fort Bragg had a tree land on his house while the dog was home alone. The dog is still recuperating from the mental trauma. I had been in the Triangle area the night before and returned to Fayetteville earlier than planned because of weather warnings (I missed out on a German wine tasting at 3Cups in Chapel Hill.) I got home about two and lost my power and tv about 3:30. I was supposed to go to a wedding at 5:00 (my hair dresser who was getting married in a Korean Presbyterian church not far from where I live.) I didn't have a weather radio or any radio except in my car so once I lost power I didn't know what was happening. It seemed to be calmer by 4:30 so I called the police non-emergency number to ask if we were still under a tornado warning. The police desk said that the tornado watch was until 9:00 PM but the storm seemed to be over and that my part of town didn't have much damage. I got to the church (no traffic lights but only one major road to cross) and the church had power. The wedding went on as scheduled. Then I went to the reception at a restaurant and the restaurant had power also. By the time I got home, power was back on in the condo and the street lights were operating. Some homes were without power for two or three days and a couple neighborhoods just outside the south gates of Fort Bragg were devastated. Clearing of debris and meetings with insurance agents continue. I feel blessed. (If I had been stupid enough to stay for the German wine tasting and then drive home I might have encountered the tornados near Dunn, NC or in Raleigh.) I expected my sister to call and see if I was okay but she didn't call until last night (they were out-of-town.) She asked if I had been in Raleigh during the storm but hadn't even heard that Fayetteville was hit by a tornado. I guess all the national publicity went to the tragic deaths of four children in a mobile home park in Raleigh and the roof being torn off a Lowe's home improvement store in Sanford but about 100 customers and employees surviving. Groups of soldiers from Fort Bragg have been helping neighbors and strangers with chain saws to the downed trees and a store on Skibo Road held a collection drive for canned goods, clothes and money to help those who lost their homes near Fort Bragg. One death in my county in a town north (?) of Fort Bragg.

The tv stations and radio did a good job reporting on the imminent tornados but we don't have tornado sirens (because they are expensive to install and maintain and North Carolina doesn't have many tornados.) I think I will buy a weather radio after this experience.

So sorry to hear your news, Dale. My sympathies to you and your respective families on the sad passing and what must have been a most shocking experience. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

thanks again everyone

JC, glad you made it through. Tornadoes, in their randomness and power, are horrible.

Wow! Glad you survived, Dale. Was the guy saying anything, or just stabbing away?

Dale,
I was shocked to read your "tasting notes"...but I am glad to hear that you are recovering.