My mom and aunt are always happy when I cook, so my last night in GA I made skate, acorn squash, broccoli rabe, and orange glazed carrots, and opened the 2013 Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc. Grapefruit, gooseberry, a touch dilute, there seems to be a little heat on finish but its actually only 13% abv. I’ve liked this more in (distant) past. C+
Tuesday my flight took off on time , but ended up in a holding pattern before approach to White Plains. We started down then went back up, plane ahead of us reported slipping, and next thing I knew we were at Logan. Few hours of indecision, then we were given vouchers. Mine was for Boston Park Plaza, made my way to Back Bay. Only thing open was McCormick & Schmick's where I had decent calamari (with artichokes and jalapenos!) and 2 glasses of wine. The Loimer Gruner Veltliner had just a hint of spritz, not very beefy, but pleasant flavors of apples and peas, and a white pepper note to let you know what variety you were dealing with. B
The Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc/Viognier is an old fave QPR, but this bottle tasted just old not favorite, with oxidative notes. I was too tired to protest and just went to my room to grab a few hours sleep.
Flight back to Westchester Wednesday, frantic days catching up, then home for dinner. My carryon had a cooler bag loaded with seafood my brother had caught, 22 hours but most was still frozen. A package of wahoo steaks seemed softer, so Betsy made those, with a lentil salad & tabouli. I rewarded myself with the 2012 Pepiere Clisson. Pretty tightly coiled at first, just a bunch of lemony rocks, attractive but restrained. But with some air this is much more expressive- the mineral and citrus notes are just singing over a framework of acids, underlying flavors of pear and smoke. Lovely and young. A-/A
Another snowstorm (hopefully our last) Thursday, Betsy made beef and spinach in a cinnamon broth. Wine was the 2011 Overnoy-Crinquand Ploussard Arbois-Pupillin. Light colored, light-bodied, but with a firmness to the palate- cranberries and raspberries, pretty floral notes, a minerally finish. I like this. 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.