Betsy was working Friday night, I opened the 2003 Lagrange (St Julien) from 375. My second try of this, and results were slightly better than first time, but still disappointing. Very ripe red berry fruit, chocolately oak, very low acidity, slightly spiky tannins. I guess if this was a $12 Languedoc or Oz Shiraz I would have been ok with it, but for my tastes the cheaper 2002 Lagrange is heads and shoulders above this. I revisited this from time to time over the evening, but more than half went into the vinegar crock. B-
(C for value).
So with my grilled franks, I had the 2005 Yves Martin Chavignol Sancerre Rosé. I don't usually comment much on color, but this disappointed me a bit when poured- a rather dull salmon pink. But the fruit seemed bright enough, with a little herby note. Not profound, but a pleasant rosé. Still, at $15 there are better QPR rosés out there. B
Saturday we went to friends for a lobster dinner. They served the 2005 Gumdale Chardonnay (South Australia). Pretty low expectations for an inexpensive Oz Chardonnay, but this was ok. Lighter body though with a slightly creamy texture, light vanillin oak. Funny thing to me was a little grassiness and the tropical fruit, this comes across almost like a (lightly oaked) SB. A bit lacking in depth. B-
I brought the 2002 Gilbert Picq "Vosgros" Chablis 1er. At first I actually feared this was corked- some must/mold from top of bottle, but not from glass. I think a little funk under the capsule, wine showed fine. Lemon fruit over a bed of flint and chalk, pleasantly acidity, clean without oaky notes. B+/A-
Sunday I went the the Lincoln Center Festival's dress rehearsal of "Grendel " (I'd heartily recommend it as spectacle, recommend it as drama, and recommend it with reservations as opera). On way home we stopped by a friend's 70th birthday party. A nice spread of food (especially a curried chicken salad), and I assayed a couple of wines:
2004 Ch. d'Oupia Minervois
I was pleased to see this old friend. A good red to serve slightly chilled at a summer lawn party (I confess I'd never done so, but it handled the ice bucket well). Bright fruit, light smooth tannins, clean finish with a light wisp of herbs laying over it. Serious QPR winner. B+
2004 Domaine de Sarret Sauvignon Blanc (Vin de Pays de something)
Pleasant if slightly empty Sauvignon Blanc, a nice quaffer for a summer day but not something to search for, 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.