Saturday Betsy made a big batch of Bolognese for lunch (and to freeze for my mom). Needed 2 cups of wine, had about a cup left, so I stopped at grocery and bought cheapest screwcap I saw- the 2014 Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc. Kiwi and banana, noticable sweetness, dilute and short. C
Then a 5 guys burger on the plane, then after drive home from Newark I opened a bottle of 2014 Keller Limestone Riesling. Off dry, good acids, lime and a little chalk. Nothing wrong here, but I like the cheaper trocken QbA more. B-
Sunday I needed white wine for a Portuguese pork and clam dish I was doing to welcome Dave home - the 2014 Pepiere Muscadet filled the bill, and we enjoyed a glass while pressure cooker was doing its thing. Just classic Muscadet- seashells, seasalt, citrus. B++
Dinner wine was the 2009 Algueira “Carravel” (Ribeira Sacra). Denser style of Mencia, black raspberries and herb, smoke, good length. B+
No wine Monday (delicious red lentil soup with beet greens), but Tuesday opened a satellite Bordeaux with lamb and wine beans over orzo, along with an arugula salad. The 2000 Ch. de Carles (Fronsac) had plenty of black plum fruit but not showy fruit, tannins resolved, a little forest floor. Not complex but very pleasant - pretty happy with showing for a $10 wine (but it was in passive storage, if I had paid for 12 years of offsite not sure I’d have been as happy). B
Last night some friends from Boston and Garrison came by, along with some local friends, to have dinner and toast David and his fiancee Grace. Nancy brought caviar (with toast points, egg, sour cream, etc) and a great mushroom pate.
NV Laherte “Ultradition” Brut Champagne (magnum)
Medium to full, brioche, pear with lemon zest. B+
Dinner was chicken “bouillabaisse “ with potatoes and a kale salad
2014 Gros Nore Bandol rose
Full, a bit austere on its own, but nice match for the dish. Crunchy red fruits, a saline minerality. B+/B
1988 Ch. Canon
A bit stern when double-decanted about hour before dinner, still a bit tannin and tough when served, last glass seems to have opened more. Black fruits, cigarbox, autumn leaves. B+/B
1996 Ch. Lagrange (St J) (mag)
From magnum this is young but approachable, cassis and tobacco (both cured and green), some tannins but rather smooth ones, full and long. With time some more coffee/mocha notes, this is a winner. A-
Dave’s blueberry galette and a sorta sachertorte finished the evening, good times.
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.