Wednesday I shucked a few oysters to start, main was “scallops americaine” with broccoli rabe and green beans Provencal. Wine was the 2007 Ch. de l’Oiseliniere “ les Grands Gats” Muscadet (I thought Oiseliniere was Chereau-Carre but no mention on label). Full for Muscadet, mature, moderate acids, some salinity. Not Pepiere or L-P but drinking well and a decent value at $15. B
Thursday I did herbed/spiced pork tenderloin on grill, with broccoli and potatoes. Wine was the 2013 Edmunds St John “Bone Jolly” Gamay Rose - I thought I had drunk through all of last summer’s roses, this was hiding in a box. This still has plenty of freshness, but seems fuller with time, and with a pleasant bitter cherry note that I quite like and don’t remember from last summer. Fine match with the spicy pork. B+
Friday I made a cantaloupe soup and broiled fennel, which we had with a main of pasta with some Bolognese sauce from the freezer. I opened the NV Cantina di Sorbara “Amabile: Lambrusco dei Sorbara. Friendly little wine, just a touch of sweetness, very light petillance, juicy berry flavors, a little tannin Fun little wine for $9. B/B-
Then I headed to Roger’s for my local wine group. Theme (for those of us who read closely) was “Cabernet Sauvignon from Outside the West Coast” (we agreed on 85%). Roger had a rose opened, the 2013 Viejo Feo Pinot Noir Rose. Short, sweet, easy. C+
Blind Wine #1- shows quite a bit of heat, a bit of vanilla-y oak. With Roger’s rather unusual theme restriction I wonder if this might be from a non-traditional hot part of US (Texas?), but my eventual guess is Languedoc. Not even close, it’s Golan/Galilee. 2011 Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon. C+
Blind Wine #2- no guesses from me as it is mine, easily group’s favorite for night. Guesses center on Bdx. Big sweet cassis fruit, some vanillin oak remaining, some cedar and leather. A little confected, but this wouldn’t be a bad ringer in a flight of say midtier classified 2003 Medocs. 88%CS/12%Merlot. 2000 Parker Estate “First Growth” (Coonawara). B/B+
Blind Wine #3 - well, I nailed this one, but only because I saw Rob’s face (he had accidentally been left off early email string) when we discussed theme earlier- purely social engineering. Jammy dark fruits, new oak vanilla notes, not appealing to me. 2012 Smith and Hook Cabernet Sauvignon. C+
Blind Wine #4 - this has a green herbal streak on top of quite ripe fruit, a little browning on edges, my best wine-based guess of the night, got Chile on first try. Drink up. 2001 Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. B-/C+
Blind Wine #5- hot climate Cab, big ripe to overripe fruit with some herbal notes, I got to Languedoc in a couple guesses just because Fred (French) brought it. 2010 Les Traverses des Fontaines (Pic St Loup). B-/C+
Blind Wine #6 - smoother, herbal without being excessively green, less jammy/bulky than predecessor, we got to Bordeaux, although Alex didn’t read guidelines carefully (60%CS/40%M)
2007 Larose Trintaudon. B/B-
Saturday night I did snapper en papillote with an Asian slaw and leftover fennel, opened the 2010 Ferret "sous Vergisson" Pouilly Fuisse to discover the Portuguese menace! Damn. Luckily the 2010 Pepiere “4” Muscadet was in fridge, so didn’t have to go to cellar. Big, full, loads of citrus. Good acids, appealing, but while I’m the biggest Pepiere fan here, I didn’t find this moving, at least at this stage. A perfectly fine wine, but I prefer the basic at nearly half the price. 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.
