Betsy's been cooking out of the Sonoma Diet book, actually food is very good (though occasionally too busy). A recipe for stirfried turkey with soba called for "semisweet sparkling" , at least covered the sparkling part with the NV Astoria Prosecco. About as good as you're going to get (for my tastes) in under $10 bubbly. Lemon and sweet pear,.bright, easy, somewhere on the border of extra dry and brut. B/B-
With grilled pork chops with fajita spices, a mango-white bean salsa, and green beans, the 2006 Salvatore Molettieri "Cinque Querce" Irpinia. Big Aglianico, plenty of ripe dark fruit, anise, herb, roadtar. A bit much for the dish, but good wine. B
With pasta and bay scalllops, the 2009 Pepiere "Les Gras Moutons" Muscadet. Moderate acidity, nice almost creamy mouthfeel, sweet fruit, I enjoy. B+/B
Despite having a lot to do before heading to NJ for Sat jeebus, I attended my local group's Friday gathering. Theme was Pinot Noir or Gamay, wines were blind:
Wine # 1 - fairly bretty, lean, I'm thinking PN but a rustic Burgundy producer in a really lean year. 2006 Puzelat Pinot Noir. B/B-
Wine # 2 -again I'm certain it's PN, but doesnt seem Burgundian or CA, maybe Oregon? Moderate cherry fruit, slightly rough texture, it's a NYS wine, the 2008 Millbrook Pinot Noir. B-/C+
Wine #3 =mine, so no guessing. Rich, good ripeness, balanced, good texture. Nice length, I'm happy. 2001 Mongeard-Mugneret Echezeaux. A-
Wine # 4 -quite ripe, maybe a bit overripe, I guess a 2003 Fixin. Not close. 2007 Bearboat Pinot. B-
Wine #5 - ripe, decent balance, a little tannin, doesn't seem Burgundy so I go with Cali PN. 2007 Ramsay Pinot Noir. B-
Wine #6 - knew we'd have one Gamay, this is easy. A little tight, but solid fruit underneath. 2009 Thivin Cote de Brouilly B/B+
Betsy came by on way back from opera and gave Rob and I rides home.
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.