Monday I made Asian-accented baked tofu and fried rice, but skipped wine as I was taking a group from Hunter College around city. Tuesday I did a pork tenderloin (paprika, garlic, cumin, coriander) with broccoli, egg noodles, and the 2014 Chermette “Les Griottes” Beaujolais Rose (bottle doesn’t mention, but this is sold as "Primeur" aka Nouveau). You know, combining the Beaujolais Nouveau idea with rose makes a lot of sense, wish more did it. Nothing complex here but clean and tasty, dry red fruits and moderate acids. B-/B
Wednesday I had a board meeting - more tofu, no wine- but tried a little leftover 2013 Pinon (lively and lovely) and Chermette (a bit flat though no oxidation) when I got home. Thursday Betsy made spaghetti bolognese plus Brussels sprouts and a salad. She needed a cup of cooking wine and I brought up what I thought was an inexpensive Soave but was actually the
2011 Schiopetto Friulano (Collio). Rich, full, some balancing acids, that Italian nutty note and pit fruits. B
Dinner wine was the 2012 Bebame Red (El Dorado). Hint of spritz, fresh acids, lively, herby, raspberry, anise. Fun little wine. B/B+
Friday Bets did a rift on a Paula Wolfert recipe, chicken thighs with olives, preserved lemon, and spices (especially saffron). Wine was the 2009 Bedrock Caritas (Sonoma). This is a white Bordeaux style blend, seems heavier on the Semillon. Honeydew, apple, and pit fruits, some overlying oak, big with big acids. I like this but hope the oak integrates more with time. Not best match for dish but what I felt like opening. B with potential.
Saturday we went to a dinner party for a friend’s birthday. I carried along a couple bottles and sampled others. Dinner was a couple of lasagnas (sausage and meatless, both quite good), roasted vegetables, and salad. Afterwards we played Dixit as that was birthday girl’s wish, I’m not a real game guy but an interesting game (with gorgeous cards).
1996 Pierre Bouree Chambolle-Musigny
Nothing flashy here, pretty redder fruit framed by some tannin and acid. Holding well, not a lot of complexity but fruit retains freshness and it does better with the tomato sauce and cheese of the lasagnas than I would have predicted. B/B+
2012 Max. Ferdinand Richter “Zeppelin” Riesling QbA
Low expectations, exceeded.Limey fruit, moderate sweetness, plenty of acids. Helluva deal for $7. B
2012 Cabrini Malbec
Tried, maybe I’d like better than last time. Nope, blackberry jam on a bed of coarse tannin with a surfeit of sweetness and an acid deficit. C
Last night I did teriyaki salmon on the grill, baby broccoli, and a quinoa/mushroom pilaf (I also grilled a bunch of vegetables - I have to say the difference in grilling when it is in 30sF is a pain). Cooking wine was the 2013 Chidaine Sauvignon (Touraine). Just a hint of grass, fresh, bright, light. B
Dinner wine was the 2008 Breton “Nuits d'Ivresse” Bourgueil. Juicy, sappy, ready to go with black fruit and an intense herbal note. Up my alley, a pointe to my tastes. 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.
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