Thursday was 2012 F.X. Pichler “Loibner Klostersatz” Gruner Veltliner Federspiel with
Danny Kaye chicken salad. Rich for Federspiel, dry peach and nectarine fruit,. a little green pea, nice wine but pricey at $38. B+/B
Ribeye with chimichurri, grilled potato salad, and okra/tomato/avocado salad, wine was the 1988 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon. Good showing for a not well regarded vintage in Napa, plenty of rich black cherry fruit, cedar, some minty herb. Hold up well throughout evening. B+
Saturday we took the hound to visit canine and human friends over the hill, they greeted us with marinated mushrooms, ceviche, and olives, I had carried along the NV Pierre Gerbais “Cuvee de Reserve” Brut Champagne. Fine mousse, interesting nose of citrus zest and sourdough, on palate fairly full with apple and lemon, a little chalk on finish. First try of this producer, I like. B++
Ron cooked a air-cooled chicken on his rotisserie, then we passed it around with Nancy’s moo shu pancakes and moo shu style cabbage, along with our caprese salad and a green salad.
2014 Arnot Roberts Rose
Fresh , light, tangy, good stuff though without the verve of last year’s model. B/B+
2006 Mocali Brunello di Montacino
Rounder merlot-y styled Sangiovese, but not really overtly modern/oaky. Red fruit, round and plummy. B-
2012 Saget Petite Perrieres Sauvignon Blanc
Servicable, grassy, thin. C+
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.