Friday was Betsy's birthday, but she was working and we scheduled her real party for tonight. She had an all day rehearsal, and requested a quiet quick meal out for dinner. We gave a try to a new Asian fusion restaurant in town- it wasn't exciting, but competent with fresh ingredients (we started with a duck roll and calamari, then she had eggplant and tofu in garlic sauce, I had seafood (shrimp, lobster, scallop) in XO sauce. Wine was the 1998 Charles Ellner "Cuvee Prestige" Brut Champagne (waitress called manager to open, then I had to show him). Medium to full bodied, some biscuit meets oxidative notes (like a baby Bollys), apple and citrus. Good, not great. B
Saturday I was spending a lot of time with snow logistics, but not much actually happened so it all worked out. I went over to friends for their annual Man Booker party, this year the prize winner was "Wolf Hall" which tells the Henry VIII/More/Boleyn tale through Thomas Crowell's eye. I carried a thematic bottle as well as some open wines and a cauliflower-pimenton side. Liz had made a platter of sausages, others brought a variety including chicken, samosas, tablouli.
My themed bottle was the 2005 Nipozzano (Frescobaldi) Chianti Rùfina Riserva. Not in the book, but I knew Cromwell worked for the Frescobaldis before he came back to England. Bigger riper styled Chianti, plummy red fruit, just a hint of oak, modest acidity, maybe just a touch of heat. Not great, but for a theme botlte ok! B/B-
The awkward moment for me was of course the woman who really wanted me to agree with her that the 2007 Trapiche Oak Cask Malbec was a great wine. Dark fruits, cola, oaky, short. "It's certainly an example of the style, really a great value if that's what you like" B-/C+
The 2008 Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc Viognier is an old QPR fave, now it's $10 instead of $4, but in today's market not a bad value. Citrus fruit and flowers, moderate acidity, nice mouthfeel. B-
Sunday we went to a Nikolaustag celebration in Roger's chilly backyard. He had made mulled wine, a bit stronger than I'm used to. I had carried some Guion Bourgueil as a host gift, but Fred greeted me with a couple of his samples. The one I hadn't tried before was a Bordeaux AC, the 2007 Tire de Diem, an honest straightforward claret. Light to medium bodied, black plum and raspberry, light tannins, nice (and I'm sure "natural"). B
We went home to a pot of chili (of the no tomato style, though she added beans). Not a wine friendly dish, but I opened the 2007 Iche "Les Heritques" (nothing will match well, so something with a little spice that's cheap). Fun, sassy, dark fruits and a little earth, good length for a $9 wine. B
Last night pork chops with mushrooms, along with spinach, brown rice, and a half bottle of the 2006 JN Gagnard "Morgeot" Chassagne-Montrachet rouge. Reticent at first, comes alive with some time. Black cherrries, woodsmoke, a bit of earth. Nice little wine, but at $22/375 not a screaming deal. 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.