Weird weekend, Thursday Betsy woke up with a cramp and fell leaping out of bed, hurting her back. It’s getting better, but our guests had to deal with mostly my cooking. Thursday was roast chicken with herbs and root vegetables, and the 2010 Drouhin Fleurie. Cherries and cranberries, a bit of a green note- but more herbs de Provence than vegetal. Light, bright, and ready, fine deal at $10. B
Friday we had friends come over with their dogs- it was 3rd birthday for their fine mutt Romeo , and our first chance to meet Charlie Brown, a 4 lb toy poodle with 3 legs (owner was charged with animal cruelty, our friends volunteer at ASPCA and adopted). Dogs had fun!
While we ate shrimp dumplings, we toasted Romeo’s birthday with the 2014 Raventos i Blanc “Nit” cava (kinda). Better than last (muted) bottle. Pale, raspberry and pit fruits, quite floral, fun. B+/B
Main course was salmon with miso, rice with furikake, and chu shoy. Leftover Fleurie (holding ok), and the 2016 CVNE “Monopole” Rioja Blanco. Good acids, lemon and orange, not too long but I think it was under $10. B-
Sat with oysters to start, 2015 de Villaine Bouzeron Aligote. Lemon and nectarine, nice cut and length B+
Then on to skirt steak (cumin, coriander, garlic, za’atar) , bok choy, and leftover root vegetables. Wine was the 2009 Texier “Domaine de Pergault Brezeme Vielle Sirene” Cotes du Rhone. I was a little worried this might be shut down, but while young it’s beautifully expressive. Black cherry and raspberry, smoke, meat. Plenty of tannin, but supple and balanced/buffered by gorgeous fruit and bright acids, so didn’t bother me at all. A-
Sunday was monkfish in a chipotle/ceci/spinach broth. The 2015 Schafer-Frohlich Felseneck Kabinett surprised me by being somewhat shut down, some light sulphur aromas, good acids, but the apple and citrus fruit is somewhat muted. Tasty but not the stunner is was at release. NR, needs air/time
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.