With chicken with mint sauce, the 2012 Walter Scott “La Combe Verte” Pinot Noir. Bright acids,. fresh, cherry and cranberry framed with a little spice, pleasant. B/B+
Wednesday we went to to Wolfert’s Roost in Irvington: house pickles, wild mushroom bruschetta with sunny side up egg & tallegio seared tuna over a salad (mango, green papaya, carrots, and peanuts), bacon and kale salad with nuts and a maple syrup dressing,short ribs pho, and fried chicken with preserved lemons and honey. All quite good, though the bacon salad and chicken could have used less sweetness for me. BYO, wine glasses are tumblers, wine was the 2002 Jadot “Boucherottes” Beaune 1er. Red fruit and citrus peel, some tannin, more masculine side of Beaune, good if not exciting (in tumbler at least). B
Sea trout with an herb pesto, brown rice, asparagus, and salad, wine was the 2008 Didier Dagueneau Fume de Pouilly. Big, flinty, any oak in background, powerful, but more impressive than delicious, and a bit much for the fish. B/B-
My turn to cook- rack of lamb persillade , roasted root vegetables (potato, carrot, radish), and the 1989 Ch. Gazin (Pomerol). Tight and angular to start, takes a while to open, rich deep black plum fruit, cigarbox, some spice. Full and long, can age some more. A-
With ahi steak, ground cauliflower with black beans and sofrito, the 2013 Michel Guignier “Bio Vitis” Morgon. Fresh, crunchy, raspberry and pomegranite, smoky. Pretty good, though no Lapierre. B+/B
With oxtails, salad, leftover cauliflower/beans, and Superbowl, the 2011 Maison Bleue “Jaja” . WA state GSM blend, wild berries, herbs, pepper. Good acids for Grenache and friends, full. B/B+
The 2003 Ch. Villars (Fronsac) is a hot jammy mess. C
The 2013 Pacherhof Silvaner is savory, just a hint of sweetness, a floral/herbal nose, with ginger and white fruits. Good length. B+
With puttanesca the 2011 Rocca di Castagnoli Chianti Classico was a nice plummy softer style of Chianti, but enough acids to keep interesting, and a good value at under $12. B-
With skate, white beans, and garam masala green beans, the 2012 Parentiere Muscadet. Light, saline, fresh, good stuff and good value. 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.