Betsy arranged a dinner with friends we hadn't seen in a while, not realizing it was Super Bowl Sunday. We put football aside and had a good meal (and then I watched 2nd half). In honor of the game she made roasted tomatillo guacamole, and main course was coq au vin blanc, served with egg noodles and kale; dessert was some kind of cookie with Bourbon banana thing (I don't eat dessert).
Cooking wine was the 2007 St. Francis Chardonnay. Pears, toast, butter, very fat. Not my style. C+
a few wines with dinner:
2009 Paul Pernot Bourgogne Blanc
This along with Matrot are my perennial Bourgogne buys, but I found the Matrot '09 slightly disappointing. But not Pernot- this is textbook stuff, a basic Bourgogne that could easily pass for Puligny. Fresh acidic backbone, clean crisp Bosc pear fruit with a little note of butterscotch, delicious. B+
2007 Brunel "Sabrine" Cotes du Rhone Villages
Powerful, ripe red fruit, low acidity, could pass for a ripe vintage CdP, not much in the way of oak notes, popular at table, a little too Grenache-y for me. B-
1999 Monthelie-Douhairet "Les Chanlins" Pommard 1er Cru
I was worried this might be shut down, but while a bit tight at uncorking it opens nicely, and continues to flesh out throughout night. There's a meaty note that seems Pommardic, but overall this seems more delicate/elegant than powerful, more Volnay than Pommard. That said, it's a lovely midweight, with red and black cherry fruit, earth, smoke, a little espresso note. Fresh acidity, just a hint of tannin, good length. A pleasant surprise. B+/A-
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.