WTN: Pomerol, Loires, Campania, Nahe, Beaujolais

Monday was wineless and meatless (though not vegetarian, I used lamb stock in my couscous with grilled vegetables, beans, and pesto)

Tuesday was neither wineless or meatless. Friends brought over appetizers (eggplant caponata, artichoke pesto) which we had with the 2011 Breton “La Ritournelle” Anjou Rose. This is a PetNat. A little cloudy, sediment on side of bottle. Just a light petillance, light sweetness. Cranberry fruit with an interestingly sour/funky/yeasty note. Fun, but maybe at end of its life. B/B-

Next up is a staple, grilled clams with fried garlic
2009 Luneau-Papin “Excelsior” Muscadet. Full, leesy, saline and mineral over lemony fruit. Big, tasty, but maybe needs a little bump in acid to be really top rate Melon. B+/B

Grilled lamb with za’atar, potato salad, purple cabbage slaw
1998 Ch. Gazin (Pomerol)
Pretty tight when decanted but after a while (90 minutes) was showing pretty well. Black plums, coffee, cedar. Nice balance of fruits and acids, though the tannins are a bit grittier than ideal. Still, with the lamb it worked well, and a good example of the strength of ‘98 RB. B+/A-

2015 JPBrun “Le Rose d’Folie” Beaujolais
Strawberry, hint of sweetness, floral, pleasant and light. B

Skeeters were biting, so we moved indoors. Betsy made a raspberry tart, which dessert eaters enjoyed. Good Tuesday.

Wednesday was grilled squid salad and oyster mushrooms. Wine was the
2008 Feudi di San Gregorio Fiano di Avellino. This was a closeout bin wine, but showing reasonably fresh. Pit fruits, citrus. almonds, flowers. Moderate acids. Not very long. I think I prefer their Falanghina. B-

We also had the 2009 Schäfer-Fröhlich Medium-Dry Riesling (AP #14). Just a whispering hint of RS, very good acids, apple and melon with a gingery twist. 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.

Dale, have you had the Feudi di San Gregorio Greco di Tufo? It's my second favorite white of theirs after the Falanghina (which was our default house white over several vintages). I didn't love the Fiano either -- can't remember what vintages I've tried -- I remember it being more floral than I prefer.

And thanks for the note on the Brun rosé, I just got some of this and am glad to know in advance that it's not bone-dry.

I think I've had in the past, though we see the Mastrobernardino GdT more around here.

I would think the Brun is technically dry, just fruitier and not the bone dryness of some Provencal roses I've had recently

[David M. Bueker]

That Schafer-Frohlich bottling can go a long time. I am still working through some 2004, and it's delicious.