Thursday I spoke at a banquet in White Plains, but made my escape to eat at home with Dave and avoid hotel chicken parmesan. We made pizza, and I opened the 2008 Bart Marsannay rose. Good acids, clean strawberry fruit, herbal, but a bit less vibrant and lively than it was previously. Actually holds ok couple days, but drink up. B
Saturday Betsy was back and made a broccoli salad, and we prepped ribeyes and sweet potatoes for the grill. A little delay while I ran to a church lot to see if a van was missing (I still can't understand how a volunteer could miss a 20 foot long Sprinter, since it was only vehicle in lot), but we eventually settled down to steak and the 2002 Yannick Amirault "Les Graviers" Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil. I never really meant to age this, and it is showing as tired. Red plum fruit, tobacco, a little greenness, light barnyard. Finish is falling off a bit. Gets some ashtray with time B-/C+
Sunday we asked some friends over, Ron brought some squid which he grilled and put on a bed of spinach and white beans, I grilled tuna steaks (with lemon zest, garlic, and rosemary) and Betsy made a grain salad and a green salad. Several wines on a lovely evening on the patio:
NV Pinon Vouvray Brut (neglected to note lot #)
Apples, dinner roll, a bit of wooly Chenin character. Nice, refreshing, with smooth creamy texture. B+
2008 Willi Schaefer Riesling QbA
Fresh, zippy, lively, green apples and mineral. B+
2007 Bruna " Le Russeghine" Pigato (Liguria)
Green plums, lemons, mineral. Nice length. This is good, but not as good as the 2006 version, and at $20+ an iffy value.B
1999 Ch, Roc de Cambes (Cotes du Bourg)
Still some oaky coffee/cocoa notes. Fat black fruit, lower acid. Very popular with others, but I prefer more freshness. I think I liked this more couple of years ago. I thought some of the modern '99 RBers drank well at beginning - the ripe but not bulky style flattered- but as they age the lack of acidity is catching up. B/B- from me (though others really liked)
2008 Pico Maccario "Berro" Barbera d'Asti
Lighter, moderate acidity, no real tannins, red berry fruit with a little spiky edge. Ron said it was $8, well worth that. 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.