Tuesday I spent some time at a dinner for some needy friends, then stopped by the Marriot to see my parents (Betsy had picked them up from airport). Got home to some pasta Bolognese she had left for me, opened a 375 of the 2004 Giovanni Rosso "Serralunga" Barolo. Drinking pretty well right off the bat, floral nose, midweight Nebbiolo with red fruit, no oak I can find. Some tannins, but ripe/supple. B+/B
Wednesday we went with Dave, Betsy's parents, and my parents to a Persian restaurant in Elmsford. Nice appetizers of hummus, eggplant and spinach with yogurt; most had kebabs but I went with a delicious meat stew with lentils, eggplant, and pomegranite. I carried along 2 wines:
2007 Selbach Oster "Zeltinger Sonnenuhr" Kabinett
Fresh, lively, lime and apple over a slately mineral base. Very good acids, light on palate but with good concentration. Lovely B+/A-
2000 Muga Rioja Reserva
Seemed tired and light on fruit and acid, some tannins still hanging on. I carried leftovers home and it showed a bit better, fruit rounding out. Good but not special. This was tannic and oaky when released, if there was a better time to drink it passed me by. 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.