Yesterday was gorgeous, and I came home to find Betsy putting a dry rub on some ribs. Lightly browned and then slow-cooked on grill, eventually accompanied by baked potatoes, Indian butter-braised carrots, and salad. While she was cooking we had an apertif, the 2008 Fireblock Watervale Riesling (Clare Valley). Dry but with good fruit, sweet lime, floral, nice length for the level. Revisited after dinner there's a little note of petrol, some mineral, yet with that sweet citrus/Sprite note. Very good for the Cinderella price ($11 delivered). B+/B
The main wine was the 2007 Guion "Cuvee Prestige" Bourgueil. Bright berry fruit, seems a little lighter/less concentrated than the 2005. but still a nice light to middle weight Cab Franc. Berries, flowers, a little earth and leather. Nice acids, some grippy tannins. In light of recent posts I look for anything that seems bretty, other than the faint leather note (which can be - or not be- a brett precursor) I'm not getting. I think of myself as reasonably brett-sensitive (if fairly brett tolerant). So I put the question to my non-geeky wife and stepson- do you get any of the following non-fruit aromas- cedar, leather, moss, manure, pine needles, bandaids, leather,pepper, sandalwood, poopy diapers, spice (I just tried to come up with a varied list). Both voted for leather, Dave said maybe pepper. No votes for manure, diapers, or bandaids (Betsy is fairly brett-sensitive). But different strains show to different folks ,,,differently. Laube has found heavy brett in wines that I (and others) found fairly clean. B/B+
Lovely night on the patio.
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.