Monday was no wine night, with pasta with ramp pesto and Plenty-styled poached vegetables. The poaching liquid called for most of a bottle of white wine, I used the 2014 Kumeu “Village” Chardonnay. Tasted the remnants Tuesday. Sweeter pear and pit fruit, but no apparent oak. Enough acid to keep from flabbiness, clean and easy. B/B-
Tuesday I did pork chops, a broccoli salad, quinoa, and salad, wine was the 2014 Calabretta Rosato. Very dark for rose, somewhat dense and structured. Red fruits, some flint, big. This just isn’t what I look for in rose. B-/C+
Wednesday Betsy grilled a spice rubbed chicken, served with Chinese spinach, shisitos, king trumpets, and rice (with umeboshi and nori). Wine was the 2014 Guimaro (Ribiera Sacra). Lovely fresh red, bright raspberry fruit with bacon and peppery spice notes. With time gets quite floral, and some earth and pine needle as well. Fresh bright and tasty, pretty complex for a sub-$15 red. 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.