Easter weekend, what are we going to open?

Yes, it looks like it's shaping up to be Italians.

I am trying to arrange my life to get there, and so is Julia. The three of us would have a BLAST!

Hold it! Letting Jeannette meet both Julia and Cyn on the same weekend is bad enough, but to throw Jenise in the mix?!?!?!?!? And then Paulo too? That's too many girls in one weekend... she might find out how much fun I have here.

James, if I can possibly make it, I'll be there doing my best to bail you out of any trouble that may arise. The Three Stooges should really put in a special appearance at this one.

Our two families are coming here for a Sunday dinner of ham. There aren't too many wine drinkers in the crowd so I plan to open a Peninsula Ridge Sauvignon Blanc for the appetizers and a Domaine Des Salices Viognier 2006 (from J&F Lurton) for the ham dinner. Not sure yet, but I will also probably pull out a half bottle of some kind of desert wine for later.

Last night we had shrimp and crab gumbo and tonight, on Easter, we will have leftover pork roast from earlier in the week. Last night we enjoyed a 2001 Beaumont, still another $12 to $15 bottle of Bordeaux, the genre of which is making up our staple and permitting us to let our classed growths keep ageing unmolested. Wines that I paid $150 for two or three years ago are selling today for $500. I can't afford $500 for a bottle of wine.

On Thursday, we very much enjoyed a 2003 Gloria. There are some truly remarkable aspects of better 2003 Bordeaux. Familiar flavors from all other years, such as cassis, are completely transformed into something else. But the wine is delicious.

My wife, Lynn, is a very interesting person. She is completely down to earth, more than any other human being I have ever met. She has nothing whatsoever against religion, but if the grocery store had not been so crowded yesterday, she wouldn't know it was Easter. And if I don't mention it, she will go the entire day without a single reference to the fact, hence leftovers for dinner. Sunday is a no alcohol night, so we will eat our pork while checking out Tiger Woods on TV and then watch No Country for Old Men on a video. Also, a tiny local Catholic college called Siena has somehow inexplicably made it to the second round of the NCAA basketball playoffs!? If these kids, who look to be about the same height as anybody else, don't win today against Villanova, it could shake some faith. If they do, I will have to re-examine mine.

2005 Grenache Blanc from Tablas Creek to go with Ham and Turkey.

We are having lamb, so I am bringing a Renard Sta Rita Hills Syrah (very savory and meaty in style) and a 2002 Howell Mountain Cab from a tiny winery called Falcor.

We too had lamb, so we cracked open a bottle of Solis Seducente 2005.

The Renard showed more fruit forward than the previous bottle-still some very nice savory aromas and cracked black pepper. Very enjoyable and moderately priced ($25)

The Falcor was Howell Mountain fruit. Decanted for a copuple of hours. Tannins were surprisingly fully resolved, this was quite smooth on the palate. and the oak, while definitely there (OWHT) was well integrated into the lovely blackberry/cassis fruit. No nasty vanilla or caramel bomb here! Still pretty primary, but the resolved tannins suggest this was a good time to drink this. All about the fruit, but not particularly sicky sweet or monstrous (although the initial nose was pretty big). Nice licorice and a hinto of tobacco/leather character as well. Did I commit infanticide? Not sure-there were some good acids, so maybe it had more aging potential.

We were guests at a wonderful Easter wine dinner--honeybaked ham, home-smoked chicken, potatoes au gratin, fresh corn tamales, green beans and peppers--the theme was Riesling from around the world and while I didn't take detailed notes, the clear winner was a 1994 Schloss Schönborn Hochheimer Hölle Riesling Kabinett. A number of Australian and Washington state Rieslings did not impress as much as that wine. Also not bad at all was a magnum of a 1992 Flynn Oregon Pinot Noir that I brought as a test of time for Oregon pinots. It was surprisingly tasty, with spicy fruit and good acidity, and a fine aromatic profile.

Easter is (almost) over, so I can report on what we had. To a salmon with sauce hollandaise we had a good 2006 Dom. Gobelsburger Grüner Veltliner. Classical and fine, with loads of white pepper and a nice minerality. Good mouthfeel.
Also a 2001 Boranico, by Alberto Serenelli, a wine from the Marches in Italy, apparently made from equal amounts of Montepulciano and Merlot grapes, thus not a Rosso Conero. A rather touch and spicy wine. Full bodied and a bit coarse and earthy and with a prominent acidity. Hints of rubber boots and dark chocolate. Would probably have improved after a few more years in bottle, but I'm not sure, it might also dry out. Not too bad though. Lots of personality.
Then today the Barbaresco of which I have reported in a separate thread.
Cheers, Anders