Monday I accompanied Betsy to Point Elizabeth where a board member of festival was providing s nice buffet for musicians. Good stuff- chicken accented with curry, salads (I especially liked a grain salad with snap peas), and more. I sampled a couple of wines. The
Ruffini Pinot Grigio was light anf quite short, but there were no off flavors and it was innocuous if not interesting. C+ The 2012 Pasqua Ripasso del Valpolicella had pleasant plum and berry fruit, though to me it was unrecognizable as ripasso- quite light. If I ignore typicity it was a pleasant light red. B-/C+
Back at our temporary nest I opened the 2011 Faury St, Joseph. Medium acids, light tannins, dark berry with a little earth and smoke. A bit tight at first but tasty. On second day it was beginning to loosen up, but showing some oxidative notes. I think I’ll opt for drinking these over next couple years, but enjoyable. B+
Last night we went to the Back Bay Grill. Nice space, nice service. Amuse was
duck rilletes on a potato chip with fine herbs, mustard, and a port reduction- yum! Betsy started with yellowfoot chanterelles on toast, while I had a Maine crab cake with arugula and aioli. We s some mixed greens with Stilton snd csndied walnuts, then she had pappardelle with lamb confit, pancetta, and leeks, while I enjoyed the
sausage stuffed chicken leg with eggplant.ricotta agnolleti and squash. There were also a couple of spoons of I think boysenberries with ice cream at finish (Betsy had both).
We split a half bottle of white Burg and then a glass of Sants Barbara Pinot Noir. The
2012 Matrot Meursault (375 ml, screwcapped) was quite good- moderate acids, ripe pit and tropical fruits, a hint of hazelnut, Good length, drinking well, and a good wine list value st $42/half. B+
Betsy liked the glass of 2012 10 Span Pinot Noir a bit more than I did, a tad sweet on the fruit front, but for $10 a generous glass I wasn’t complaining. Darker fruits, smoke, good acidic cut for SBarbara. B/B-
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. 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.