WTN: wines in hot NY and cooler GA

Heatwave! No wine Wednesday as I was making a trip into the city. Thursday was littlenecks in a garlic sauce (on grill), corn, caprese. Wine was 2012 Pepiere/Ollivier “Briords” Muscadet. Full, crisp, seashells and saline. Good length,. Perfect on a hot night. A-/B+

Friday was an assemblage of leftovers and cleaning out fridge before we headed south for a couple of days- cold chicken, pasta with asparagus, argula, and squash, and the 2010 La Lunotte “Les Printemps.” This rose could pass for a light red, very tart cranberry and raspberry, earthy. I probably would have liked this better with this meal if it had been a bit more delicate- I was thinking light-bodied rose. B-

In Atlanta at my parents, I grilled filet mignon to go with corn, baked potato, and salad, wine was the 2008 Bogle Petite Sirah. Still a bit of tannin, darker fruits with a bit of a pruney edge, a bit clipped. No guarantees this is a sound bottle, who know how long it has been in dad’s kitchen cabinet. C+

Sunday night we went to my brother’s house, and then to their clubhouse for dinner. I had blacked ahi tuna salad- with blackened anything wine is a hard match, so I just went ungeeky and ordered the “white blend” they were offering on special.
Franciscan Equilibrium, vintage unknown. Grassiness/grapefruitiness makes me think SB, but maybe some Viognier in their- lots of floral notes. Moderate acids, plenty of fruit, not too long, but pleasant enough. B-

Betsy had ribs, as she is not a beer drinker I suggested maybe a Zin. The BTG pour was Biker Zinfandel (vintage unknown). Sweet, briary, fairly short. B-/C+


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.

[David M. Bueker]

At least the Briords was good!

I was at a conference in Baltimore for the week, and they had open bar at two receptions. They were pouring the Sterling line up. The Cabernet was actually pretty drinkable in a cocktail fashion. The Chardonnay was a hideous, creamy mess, and the Pinot Noir was an underfruited, alcoholic abomoniation.

I would have just sipped on an Old Fashioned or two, but they had neither sugar, nor bitters.

Agree with you on the Sterling Cabernet. Had it about a year ago at a restaurant with a limited wine list.

The Biker Zinfandel is from Four Vines. I've had the Four Vines Maverick before (liked one glass but more would have been overkill) and the Sophisticate (prefered this to the Maverick.) I haven't had the Biker. The grapes for the Biker are from Paso Robles and for the Sophisticate are from Sonoma County.

I sampled the Sterling Vintners Collection PN last night and found it quite enjoyable. A lovely evening with the staff from the Grill where I help out from time to time, sort of a floor walker .