Wed whole red snapper baked with lemon and herbs, cauliflower with tomatoes and pimenton, and the 2004 Brocard “Montmains” Chablis 1er Cru.Flinty, chalky, nice Chablis but with some PremOx notes beginning to come in. Moving last couple into drink soon bin. B-
No wine Thursday, but Friday with swordfish steak and a wheatberry/feta salad, I opened the 2001 Ch. La Nerthe Chateauneuf-du-Pape blanc. A bit of heat, low acids, there’s some oxidation and this doesn’t feel fresh. No enjoyment, and I decide to open a replacement. I should note that 2 days later I used some for cooking wine, and while still hot it actually had held up ok- I liked better than on day one! On night 1 C, on night 3 C+/B-
The replacement was the 2011 EOS Blanc (Protegee Cotes du Roussillon) , also Rhone varieties ( Grenache blanc/Marsanne), Slightly waxy/oily, peach and apricot fruit with nice body and decent acids. Good for money (and I’m not usually a fan of the white Rhone grapes). B
Saturday we invited 3 couples for dinner. We started with caprese skewers and grilled littlenecks with garlic, then had a warm corn and black bean salad with fried egg. Main course was fried chicken, with an avocado/tomato/corn salad (corn two ways!) and a sorrel/arugula salad. Dessert was raspberries & figs, with a honey mousse and praline cookies. There was wine:
NV Dumont “Tradition” Champagne Brut
Solid, crisp, surprised this is mostly PN as it seems more Chardy to me, but I like. B
2008 Reja “Quartet” (Brda)
Soft, easy, pleasant and clean if not compelling. B-
NV (store says 2010) Brulees “Alterite”
Nothing complex about this crowncapped bubbly, but boy is it fun. Maybe passes Cerdon Bugey in the simple pleasures category. B+
2002 Trimbach “Cuvee Frederic Emile” Riesling
Forward for Freddie, full and rich with spicy edge. Good mineral notes, fresh citrus. A-
2005 Ch. de Beaumont (Premiere Cotes du Blaye)
Blackcurrants and plums, medium bodied, a tad short but quite decent for satellite Bdx. B/B-
2006 Pasini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
This is like Amarone Light, the dried/roasted fruit flavors with a slight nutty note, but in a package that isn’t so dense by Amarone standards. Fig, raisins, and spice. Good for the cheap ($20) price. B
Sunday we had over sister-in-law and nephew (in a brand new wrist cast!) for dinner- Kath brought a Tunisian eggplant appetizer, Betsy made baked potato skins, penne rigate with a garlicky shrimp sauce, & salad. Wine was the 2011 Franck Peillot Chardonnay (Bugey).This has been a consistent QPR winner- a Chablisesque mineral side, crisp, with lemony notes. B+/B
I was cooking for Monday- pizza (half margherita, half feta/olive) and tofu/arugula/miso napoleans, wine was the 2011 Brun (Terres Dorees) Rose d’Folie Beaujolais. Does surprisingly well with the diverse flavors, clean strawberry and cherry, light and lively. 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.