With swordfish, the 2014 Pinon “Deronnieres” Vouvray. A little sweeter than expected, more demi-sec than sec-tendre, but nice lemony acidity balances the sweetness. Wax, flowers, and pit fruits. Fresh with nice length. B+
A friend recenty gave me 2 bottles of NY Cab Franc. The Bedell Cellars Cabernet Franc (North Fork) is corked. With assorted leftovers, the 2013 Inspire Moore “Wisdom” Cabernet Franc. Softer & sweeter style of CF, but with a bit of a weedy note on backend. B-/C+
With salmon, the 2011 Rapet "Ile de Vergelesses" Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru. This was pretty tight at first and I worried it would stay shut down, but it perked up and filled out nicely. Once it opened some floral notes on top of the red and black cherry fruit, and some earthier notes. Tannin is a bit obvious, I’ll hold off on rest of these. B/B+ for drinking now with potential for improvement.
Saturday we walked to some friends for a dinner party, they started us on patio watching sunset with charcuterie, olives, pesto, and the 2013 Eminence Road Farms Gewurztraminer. Rich, full, peach, lychee, ginger. I was a little sceptical of Gewurztraminer as an apertif, but it did well. B+/B
Inside for prosciutto wrapped asparagus, followed by brisket in a tomato braise, lentils with eggplant, potatoes.
2013 Eminence Road Farms Cabernet Franc
Dark berries, herbs, just a hint of green pepper. Spicy and long. B+
2006 Fontodi Chianti Classico
Tannic but without hardness, big black cherry fruit with leather and a little mocha. B+
There was dessert and a couple of Bobolink cheeses, with:
2000 Domaine des Sablonnettes Coteaux du Layon Vieilles Vignes
Soft (for Loire CB approaching flabby),, cheesey, some wax and wool, moderate sweetness, alive but a rather uninteresting take on Chenin Blanc. C+
Sunday some friends and their pooch visited. The dogs had marrow bones, while we started with Ron’s smoked seatrout and my tomatillo guacamole. Starter was the NV Chollet “Oeil de Perdrix” Cremant de Bourgogne. Dry, crisp, but with a little metallic edge, and a somewhat clipped finish. C+
Main was feta-brined chicken over arugula, with basil chickpeas & spicy broccoli rabe.
2014 Keller “von der Fels” Riesling
Dry, minerally, citrus zest and wet rocks. Plenty of acid but balanced by pit and citrus fruit. Full and long. I often think Keller is a little overhyped but this is very very good. B+/A-
2007 Donkey & Goat “Recluse” Syrah
Fuller than I remembered, sweet black fruit and bacon, earth, some tannin, good length. B+
1995 Falesco Montiano
Soft, tobacco and plum, good but a little less fresh than another recent bottle. B
No wine Monday with a Thai vegetable curry
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.