Friday grilled some Copper River salmon (but sockeye not king), eggplant, and squash, opened the 2013 Clos de la Roilette (Coudert) “Cuvee Tardive” Fleurie. I had hoped to catch in the “youthful I’m not shutdown” mode, but failed. You can sense the good wine underneath, but this is really tight and unyielding. At end of night and on following night the fruit emerges a bit along with some earth and floral notes, but really not the time to be drinking this.
My local non-serious wine group came over for Rose and White night on the patio. I had smoked duck, cheeses, white anchovies, other snacks, then grilled some andouille and chicken/truffle sausages.
2014 Lucien Crochet Sancerre rose
Pale, minerally, strawberry and cranberry, but more about the river rocks. Just delicious, versatile with the food, a winner. B+/A-
2012 Pajot “4 Cepages” (Gascogne)
Others liked this a lot, I felt a little sweet and soft, with herbal flavors that verged towards grassy. C+
2012 Borgo del Tiglio “Milleuve Bianco” (Venezia)
Interesting, pear and almond notes, medium acids, good finish. B
2010 Merkelbach Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Spatlese
I like Merklebach but have never even heard of this vineyard. Bracing acids, light sweetness (enough to make it a fine match with the spicy andouille), green apple and slate. Good showing! B+/A-
2007 Bavard "Les Champs Perrier" Bourgogne
I wouldn’t have expected this to age this well. Good acids, apple accented with lemon, some light hazelnut aromas. B/B+
2004 Huet “Clos du Bourg” Vouvray Sec
Some burnt sugar, wool, apple flavors. Good acidity and surprising length. B/B+
Saturday with pork souvlaki a half bottle of 2012 Mocali Rosso di Montalcino. Surprising tannin, red plums and cherries, a bit short. Betsy liked more than I did. B-
Last night we had some friends over. They brought seafood stuffed mushrooms as a start, which we had with the NV Ayala “Majeur” Brut Champagne . Forward, sweet apple and brioche , good acids, maybe a bit sweeter than my ideal. B
Betsy made fried squid, trumpet mushrooms, and lemon over arugula, served with the 2013 Pacherhof Kerner. Dry pit fruits, herby, moderate acids. B/B+
My contribution was eggplant foldatini (when you can’t roll it, fold it) with the 2010 Ciro Biondi “Cisterna Fuori.” Big, sturdy, this could have used some meat. Red fruits, earth, some leather and animal notes. Nice wine, but for me not worth the large premium over their “Outis” Etna. B+/B
We also opened a gift from a neighbor who is moving near Albany, from a winery near her new place. The 2013 Altamont Winery “Elefante Dolce” was probably primarily purchased for the cute cat on label. The nose is complex and ever-changing- frozen convenience store buritto, concord jelly with rancid peanut butter, dog that needs bath. Complexity is not always a good thing. Palate is a bit more straightforward- lightly sweet with foxy notes. D+
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.