Tuesday's cooking wine was the 2008 Ametza Txakolina. I liked a little better than previous bottle, it has shown better after a day or two. Citrus, good acidity, kind of short, but quite drinkable. B-/C=
Wednesday Betsy made a Batali recipe, "winter greens and meatball" soup ( greens were escarole, soup was excellent). Wine was the 2006 Masciarelli Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. I don't know I could come up with a candidate for more dependable year-in year-out under $10 wine (Iche Heretiques? ). Light, fresh acidity, cherry and citrus rind, earthy notes. Just nice straightforward food-friendly red. B/ B-
I'm not usually a wine with lunch guy (actually, I seldom even go out for lunch), but today my friend Mark invited me to lunch at the excellent little Juniper in the next town. When he showed up he was holding a half bottle, and I spotted the Mayacamas label from 15 feet. Whoa, the 1984 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon. A little tight/austere at first, nice nose of cassis and iron but on the palate not very giving. But it opens nicely, dark fruits, that ferric streak, some leather and cedar. Nice balance, fresh fruit, good acidity, mostly resolved tannins (in 375 at least). Thanks Mark! B+/A-
Tonight I did coho on grill in a ponzu/soy marinade, with red beans (all day in slow cooker, with duck fat and bacon rind) and rice. I went downstairs for a Burgundy, but came up with a different wine- the NV Terres Dorees L'Ancien de Jean Paul Brun. This is actually what should have been the 2007 Brun "L'Ancien" Beaujolais, but they were denied the AOC by the local board as atypical. True- it's not typical, it's a lot better than all that industrial Beaujolais. Cranberries, cherries, smoke. With some time it puts on some weight and loses some tartness. Lovely mid-bodied Gamay that exhibits fullness and complexity. Fake cork, so I say drink now, but drink now with pleasure. 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.