Dinner last night was duck ragu over pasta, with spinach and the 2009 Clos de la Roillete (Coudert) Fleurie. Regular version (I've already tried CT), served way too cold initially (passive cellar). As it warms a lovely midbodied Gamay,floral, black cherry fruit, full, good length. Even better on night 2. A sure buy again- a tad less structured than the CT, but still deep and "serious." B+/A-
Also tried the 2009 St Urbans Hof Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Kabinett. White and citrus fruits, as previously noted by Joe M. more Spatlese weight and sweetness, but good length, and a distinct slatey mineral note on finish. Nice length, I'll get a few more at $15. B+
Tonight wings in a soy/honey/pepper glaze, julienned snowpeas with onion and sesame oil (thanks Robin!), and brown rice with furikake. The wings were from a recent Food and Wine, which suggested "supple blackberry-rich Merlot," specifically a CA one. Seemed a stretch to me, but I decided sometimes it's good to try outside one's comfort zone. I didn't have a CA Merlot handy, but chose a supple Bordeaux Merlot, the 2000 La Fleur du Bouard (Lalande de Pomerol). Decanted (very little sediment), sweet black plum and raspberry, smoke, coffee. Soft mostly resolved tannins. A pretty good modern styled Bordeaux, but I can't say that cellaring brought any real improvement- change, yes (in form of resolving tannins), but nothing that justifies cellaring 7 or 8 years. My strategy for modernista Bordeaux continues to evolve towards drink young. B/B+
As to the match, I think supple Merlot is a terrible choice. I liked the wings enough to say Betsy should do again, but next time my choices would be (in order) rose sparkling, just off dry Riesling, or dry rose.
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.