Sunday I made dinner, grilled chicken and squash with the 2009 Guion rose. Lovely light rose, dry yet with sweetness to the fruit, spice, clean finish. B
For meatless Monday Betsy made John Ash's spicy tomato and garlic soup, the suggested wines were off-dry, mostly Alsace varietals. I went with the 2007 Selbach-Oster "Zeltinger Sonnenuhr" Riesling Kabinett. A little muted compared to other bottles, quiet apple and lime fruit, moderate sweetness, clean but not zippy acids. I liked, but thought a bit better on day 2. Betsy thought on second day there was "something funny" about the nose, I didn't get it. I wondered if there might be reduction that I was missing (this is screwcap, but I'm pretty insensitive to some reductive faults), but that would have made more sense on night 1. For me, B.
Tuesday we had some friends over to celebrate Ron's birthday. Plenty of the soup left, I suggested we have it for first course (Betsy of course made fresh crouton/toast and egg). Followed by my skirt steak (kecap manis marinade), broccolini, and sauted mushrooms (cremini and dried morel). We finished with some aged Manchego and a Sprout Lake cheese Betsy had brought back from the Sheep and Wool festival Sunday. The wines:
NV Castellroig Brut
More fruity than yeasty, clean and crisp. Not going to be mistaken for Champagne, but a fine cava for a reasonable price. B
2001 Barnett Cabernet Sauvignon (Spring Lake District)
Ron loved, I didn't so much. Sweet black plums, some oak toast, low-acid lush wine with mostly resolved tannins. A decent Merlot, which is unfortunately a Cab. I've liked other Barnetts better in past. B-/C+
2008 Indian Creek Pinot Noir Reserve (Mendocino)
Bright red fruit, good acidity, lots of smoke. Without any prompting Nancy said "this is strange, this wine has a burnt edge to it." This is the Navarro reserve declassified because of the '08 fires. Pleasant enough, the smoke only mildly distracting, but I don't need more. B/B-
2007 Andre Brunel "Sabrine" Cotes du Rhone-Villages
I liked this much more at a previous tasty, this came across as ponderous and ungainly, I don't expect a lot of acidity in CdR but this is in flabby territory. C+/B-
Fun night with friends and dogs.
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.