We've spent last 3 nights with a houseguest, a Dachshund named Burger. His owner was coming back from a business trip in Boston, we timed dinner to coincide with her arrival. Appetizer of duck prosciutto, then veal chops "beau sejour" (tomorrow's Times mag), broccoli, and pasta with pesto.
2009 Domaine Bart Marsannay rose
Did well with the veal. Strawberries, cherries, earth, herb. A hint of sweetness, though probably just fruit ripeness not RS. Straightforward, tasty, not really long but good food wine. B
2005 Peju Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa)
A generous donation from Burger's mom, but stylistically not up my alley. The oak is not actually over the top, but the wine is thick, sweet, and very low acid. Some tannic backbone. Maybe better with a steak, but not my kinda Cab- sweetness dominates, comes across as heavy. C+
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.