A friend came by Friday to pick up some wine, I opened the 2004 Kesseler Rudesheimer Bischofsberg Riesling Spatlese (Rheingau). Does anyone know if Kesseler uses gold capsules as a quality indicator- this is listed on CT only as a Goldkapsel , which it certainly has, but I'm not sure if it's meaningful. Certainly rich enough, for my Mosel-centric palate this could pass for Auslese +, rich, tropical, peachy, with a honied note. There is pretty good acidity, so it doesn't come across as heavy. More a sit and contemplate wine (or a cheese wine) than a dinner companion. B
Saturday I went back to office in afternoon to hand out tons of candy to kids at village H'ween parade, then home to dinner. A trip to farmer's market had led to grass fed porterhouses, mizuma salad, and leeks, Betsy made barley. Wine was the 2005 de Villaine "La Digoine" Bourgogne -Cote Chalonnaise. Quite impressive for the level, crisp cherry and raspberry fruit, baking spices, good acidity, light tannins. Interesting, delightful wine for what it is. B+
A lot of trick or treaters tonight, plus some lemon sole, baby bok choy with oyster sauce, and kohlrabi. Wine is the 2007 Sauzet Chassagne-Montrachet. Good body, balanced acidity, pear, citrus zest, just a hint of hazelnut. Sauzet is really known as a Puligny producer, but this is quite nice and lively. 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.