Friday was a hellish workday, but Betsy made a nice dinner for the patio- a "Chinese Chicken Salad" from a book called Cooking New American (nice recipe of marinated chicken and red cabbage). Wine was the 2001 Kerpen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett (Mosel-Saar- Ruwer). Good acidity, long slatey finish, with apple and mango fruit. Not closed at all, a nice midweight Kab that's comfortably drinkable now. B
I reluctantly left Jacques' house before the steaks were served (other thread), but I hadn't seen my wife all Saturday and needed a Betsy fix. She beat me home and made a mango beef dish and a spiced barley salad. Both were pretty acidic, and potential wine killers, but we drank lots of seltzer and tried on the 2001 J. Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru (this is the "generic" 1er, made from multiple 1er vineyards). Plenty of acidity of its own, some midweight tannins too. But a nice black cherry core with some forest floor and a long clean finish. Could use some time (the '88 is nice now), but a good buy in low $30s. A-/B+
Sunday was a totally exhausting day for me (annual picnic/softball game), but I made it through (with Betsy's help- she grilled 100+ hot dogs, as well as making a huge batch of those NY hot dog onions, 'cause one homeless guy mentioned he liked them). At the end of the day we made it home, she made a simple but tasty supper- tomato soup with herbs, poached egg, and olive-paste crostini as well as a salad. Wine was the 2004 Domaine de la Pepiere Cuvee Granit (Vin de Pays du Jardin de France). Nice lighter wine, perfect for serving chilled, with bright strawberry and cherry fruit edged by earth and herb aromas. Just the ticket for the situation. 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.