Sunday Betsy made it back from Colgate just in time to make a big batch of potato salad, meanwhile I made 8 lbs of baby back ribs. Then we traveled to a goodbye party for a couple, good friends semi-retiring to Asheville NC. There was bbq chicken, lots of salads, lots of nibbles, vegetables,and dessert. Lovely night on an expansive porch and backyard with a great view of the Hudson and sunset.
Bubbly
Sciarpa Prosecco
light, good acidity, but rather dilute. B-/C+
NV Moissenet-Bonnard Cremant de Bourgogne (mag)
Fairly full, bread, apple and nut aromas, but short and a bit boring. B-
NV Cristalino cava
Light, simple, straightforward, cheapest is the best deal in this case. B-
Still wines
2010 Lanycre Rose (Pic St Loup)
Fairly full for rose, herbal notes over strawberry fruit, nice. B
NV Marietta "Lot 54"
Only red I tasted. Sweet, simple, straighforward, short. B-/C+
2009 Evening Lands "Etoile" Pouilly Fuisse
Clean easy Chardonnay, but nothing that says Lafon, Pouilly Fuisse, or "worth $20+." B-
2008 Pieropan Soave
Ripe, full, bright, nutty. B
2008 Ermita de Nieve Rueda
Light, lean, this is getting a little tired already, C+/B-
Fun night, but friendship was generally better than the wines
With whole wheat linguine with meat ragu sauce, the 2007 Masciarelli
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. This wine has a perennial place in my "just grab them" winerack- like the Pepiere Muscadet, Iche "Les Heretiques", Guion Bourgueil, etc it's a solid value year after year. Fresh, red berry and cherry fruit, bright, not complex but not striving for it either. 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.