Friday was shrimp and leeks on couscous. A 2012 Darnat Bourgogne was corked. Replacement was the 2011 L’Ecu ‘Granite” Muscadet. Wet rocks, lemons, but without the vibrant acids I want in Muscadet. B/B-
Saturday I made roast chicken, with a clean-out-the-fridge assortment of roasted vegetables (celeriac, parsnips, carrots, leeks, radicchio, shallots) with za’atar. Wine was the 1986 Ch. Meyney. An old fave, sweet cassis, some leather and funk, good length. Tannins are mostly resolved, this bottle is more mature than last I tried, but drinking well over 4 hours. B+
Sunday I made dinner as Betsy returned from a rehearsal- roasted sea scallops in a tomato/onion sauce, quinoa, and green beans. Wine was the 2014 Pepiere “Briords” Muscadet, just a classic vintage of this, know this can age but so delicious young. Meyer lemons and seashells, snappy and long with saline minerality. A-
Monday was grilled skirt steak, squash, sweet potatoes, and broccoli, with the 2000 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Cotes du Rhone. Red fruits, quite peppery. With time a bit of garrigue/underbrush. Mature, ready, good CdP ringer. B+/B
Tonight I made a spicy herb soup (basil, cilantro, mint with serranos, almond, and more) with a poached egg and roasted mushrooms and vegetables, but no wine. Would have been an interesting matching challenge- Kabinett?
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.