Saturday I was doing house chores, and decided time to do vinegar/bottling harvesting. Usually I put in a bottle+ of leftover wines to get next batch started, but only had about a third of a bottle of Volnay around. When I went to find something inexpensive to sacrifice, spotted a mag of 2006 Sutter Home Cabernet Sauvignon that had been brought to a party a year (or two?) ago. Time to get that out of basement. Figured 15-20 oz in crock, 2 to taste, 10-12 to marinade steak for dinner, and I can send remainder with Dave when he goes to a party in Brooklyn (20-somethings are not so picky as a rule).. Actually, this was very very sweet, but not as awful as I anticipated. Light to medium bodied, sweet black cherry fruit with a hint of green, sweetness dominates, quite short. But not nasty or flawed, just boring and sweet. C+
So I had marinaded skirt steak in the Cabernet, with minced chipotle in adobo & garlic. Grilled those with some squash, plus got some peas from freezer and the 2008 St. Cosme "Les Deux Albions" Cotes du Rhone from cellar. I actually tend to prefer the base St Cosme CdR, but this was on sale for $10 so I grabbed a few. Ripe, rich Southern Rhone fruit, seems more Grenache-y than Mourvedre or Syrah- more red fruited, in a kirsch meets chambord style. Some peppery spice. Good structure with firm tannins, good length, but a touch of heat. Maybe needs a little time, hope the heat doesn't win out. B/B-
Scorcher Sunday, I tried to get yardwork done early. In afternoon I put together a watermelon/papaya/mint/feta salad, and went to a 4th of July party. As it was 95 degrees, I mostly drank seltzer, but sampled a few wines (though I skipped the Smoking Loon):
NV Castellroig Cava
OK, usually for 4th I bring US wines, or French in honor of Lafayette et al as a backup. But with heat I wanted something that could be plunged into ice bath and served very very cold. Cava fits the bill. This was great as a hot weather wine- light bodied, green apples with a bit of orange zest and a yeasty/bready edge. Crisp, though there is a little edge of sweetness. Not complex, but gulpable on a hot day. B
2007 Marietta Cabernet Sauvignon
I really hated this, but it's truly unfair to write a serious note on this- it was sitting on table for at least an hour. I can't believe people were taking real (as opposed to tasting) pours of this, the wine had to be at least 85 degrees. I found sweet, alcoholic, and gross,but wine could actually be fine. But this and the Smoking Loon were emptied, I guess some people really do prefer red!
2009 Crios Malbec Rose
Bigger styled rose, cherries and strawberries, a bit of heat. Good finish. I prefer a sprightlier pink, but this isn't bad. B/B-
2008 Henri Boillot Bourgogne Blanc.
Bigger heavier style of Bourgogne, apples and pears with hazelnut and butterscotch. Rich wine more suited for a rich fish or chicken dish than summer sipping, but good (plastic cork, so no aging) B
Nice party, with lots of good food, good people, and our traditional reading of the Declaration of Independence. I headed home to let the dog out before heading back to river for fireworks, but the Basset looked so sad I was leaving again I decided just to stay home!
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.