First cellar accident in decades. Well, not really cellar, basement outside the cellar= overflow area. Moving some stuff that I was cleaning out, a containers of office supplies slipped, bounced, and knocked over 2 bottles in the ondeck circle. One survived, the other broke. Cleaned up glass, filtered about 4 ounces remaining of the 2006 La Tour Mons (Margaux). Pretty tannic, hard, but this was a quick taste not really an examination. Rest to vinegar jar.
Tuesday was our anniversary, just time for a quick dinner before Betsy had to go to meditation circle. I made pasta with radishleaf pesto and mushrooms and a salad. Wine was the 2001 Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny. Ready to go, delicious red and black cherry fruit, a little smoked meat, some spice. Tannins resolved, acids bright and balanced, nice length. Delicate but not fragile. Just what I want in a village Chambolle. A-/B+
Drinking well but I wouldn't hold for extended period, begins to show some ashtray after 2 hours, and sample following day is maderized.
When Betsy got back we had a glass of the white used for cooking the mushrooms. Hmm, this isn’t how I remember the Couly-Dutheil Chinon blanc- no wool, very light bodied, a little grassy. Oh, wait. I changed my mind while in cellar grabbing bottles, this doesn’t taste like Chenin Blanc because it isn’t. I put that back and tasted the 2014 Gonnet Chignin blanc. Light and a little grassy makes sense now. B-
Wednesday Betsy was headed to Texas for concerts, I grilled skirt steak and eggplant. Wine was the 2013 Lapierre Raisins Gaulois. Bright, crackling raspberry fruit, a little funk. Fun and easy. B/B+
Thursday I poached some cod, carrots, and parsnips in a clam/garlic broth. Wine was the 2014 Pepiere Muscadet (dS&M Sur lie). Citrus, saline/seashells, crisp, lovely. 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.