For dinner on Monday (leftover chickpeas, red pepper lavash pizza, salad) I tried the 2009 Bibi Graetz Casamatta. Vermentino from Tuscany. Floral, apple fruit with a little almond, medium to low acidity, decent finish. Nothing to pursue, but acceptable. B-
Wednesday as snow started I made roast chicken with parsnips and carrots, and enjoyed the 2009 Fanny Sabre Bourgogne. I understand this uses semi-carbonic maceration, but I’m not knowledgable or talented enough to see what that might cause- this doesn’t resemble BN or Beaujolais in general to me. Fairly light framed, both red and black fruit notes, some meat/animal nuances. A bit tight at first, opens nicely, and holds well for 2 days. B
Thursday was shoveling/working, seeing Betsy briefly, then heading to city for dinner noted elsewhere. So when Friday rolled around, was glad to have Betsy back in the kitchen, and Dave and Mary Kate joining us for dinner. While she cooked , I opened the 2007 Huet Le Mont Vouvray Sec. A little tight, I splash decanted. What a lovely lovely example of young Chenin. Pear and lemon fruit, orange zest, and a trip to visit the rock quarry. Powerful, vibrant, young, with an stunningly long finish. I know I need to let these age, but with air quite beautiful now. A-
Dinner was an old favorite recipe of lamb chops in a Calabrese tomato/olive sauce, along with pasta and "roman style" spinach (with pine nuts and raisins). I opened the 2006 Stefano Farina Barbaresco. Medium bodied, no apparent oak, black cherry and berry fruits. Fairly open, pleasant, not exciting but pretty solid for a good cheap Barbaresco. B
Saturday we headed down to Atlanta. I ran some errands for my parents, and stopped to pick up wine. No time to head to an actual wine stop, and besides my parents don’t care about wine. We were having pizza from a newish place that had gotten acclaim - it wasn’t bad, but I can tell you the “New York style” part is wrong! I had grabbed the 2009 Santa Christina (Toscana IGT) from Antinori. Soft, red fruit, not especially Sangiovese-ish but it had alcohol and washed down pizza ok. B-/C+