with assorted leftovers, the 2012 Baudry “Les Granges” Chinon - herby, black cherries, easygoing. B
Thursday everything was on the grill- tuna steaks, tomatoes, squash, eggplant. Wine was the 2013 Occhipinti SP68 rosso. Pretty, dark berries and plums, herby, fresh. B+
Friday we headed up to Scarborough for dinner with friends. Guacamole on the deck, then catfish stuffed with crab meat and asparagus. I had carried the 2009 Cotat “Culs de Beaujeau” Sancerre - honied, full, big framed, but with lively acidic and a mineral meets citrus finish. B+
There was also a nice enough crisp little Croatian white, but I neglected to note it- rather like a Rueda with significant SB content. .
Saturday I made risotto with shrimp and smoked scallops, tomato salad, & a broccoli/cauliflower mix, and opened the 2012 Barat “Mont de Milieu” Chablis 1er. High acid, lemony, but with a good minerally finish. B
Sunday I accompanied Betsy as her quartet played at Bargemusic in Brooklyn. Great concert, with spectacular setting. Afterwards we headed over to Colonie on Atlantic Ave- Betsy had some Wellfleet oysters while my starter was a duck egg with faro & mushrooms. I had a pork chop with peach jus, peaches, & jalapeno cornbread, she had skirt steak & fries. Food was quite good, though the pork chop was a bit welldone and the grilled peaches a bit blah. I had carried a couple wines in a cooler in car, we opened the 2002 Drouhin Volnay. I don’t really typically cellar negociant village wines for a dozen years (well, maybe Drouhin Chambolle, but not the Volnay), so when I discovered this moving some other wines decided its time had come. What a good showing - tart but rich black cherry and raspberry fruit, earth, sandalwood, smoke, with a tangy finish. Not super complex. but delicious and works well with food. B++
While she had a lemon/peach pie I finished with the Rare Wine Co. Rainwater Madeira. Wow, citrus peel city- nose is like a bowl of orange zest. On the palate citrus, nuts, raisins. This is really interesting, but I don’t drink enough Maderia to compare it in context to others.
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.