Saturday we went to some friends' home for dinner. I had been asked to bring a wine to go with smoked turkey, and had selected a red and a white.
2005 Gunderloch Trocken QbA
Just a hint of sweet, big lime and grapefruit body, a little nectarine. Not a lot of length, but nice for the level, and does well with the smoked turkey. B/B+
2004 Gonon St. Joseph
I brought this because (a) host prefers reds, and (b) I thought maybe some smoky notes might do well with turkey. However, Jim wasn't feeling well, and actually excused himself halfway through dinner. We ended up opening the St Joseph with cheese (we were hanging to time taking the other guest to train). Black raspberry fruit, some smoke/game meat aromas, good acidity, light tannins. Lively wine that drinks well now but will surely age for a bit. Quite likeable. B+
Sunday Betsy spent afternoon in city reading some quartets, I made dinner: cod baked in oloroso sherry, braised napa cabbage with bacon, roasted carrots, and beets with a butter/vinegar dressing. The wine was the 2007 Mollydooker "The Violinist" Verdelho (Betsy's bowmaker gave bottle to me). I have been a decided non-fan of the Marquis Phillips/Mollydooker wines, but this white appealed to me more than the reds had. Floral nose with lemon wax and almond, on the palate quite citrus driven. Weighty in mouth, maybe the alcohol sticks out a bit (15%), but not as much as abv might lead one to expect. I don't think I'd buy, but unlike the MD reds I found quite drinkable. B/B-
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