Tuesday Betsy made a favorite salad, fried calamari, mushroom, and lemon over greens; wine was the 2008 Savary "Fourchaume" Chablis 1er. Lemon fruit, a chalky minerality, pleasant midweight Chablis, B.
Wednesday was the final park concert of the summer. We were delighted a friend from the city was joining us, she had (unnecessarily) insisted on furnishng dinner as she felt we had entertained her. Unnecessary, but damn good! She started with a course of pitas topped with perfect summer tomatoes and mint, then roast duck over a bed of rice, watercress, and lentil, followed by poached pears with bacon, blue cheese, walnuts, and pear syrup. Yum.
2010 Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc
Sharp, gooseberry and a bit of pepper, very NZSB, a bit thin. C+
2008 Hamilton-Stevens Russian River Pinot Noir
Lighter style for RRV, good acids, strawberries and cherries, a little cola edge. Pleasant and not at all overbearing. B-
2010 Guion Bourgueil rose
Fresh berry fruit, a little green tobacco/herb, lively, fun. B/B+
2009 Schloss Lieser Riesling
Just offdry, white peaches and apple, pleasant spicy note. B/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