So I invited friends over for a Cheap Shit Chardonnay contest--all wines purchased from the Grocery Outlet and under $7 (as detailed in the Focus Chardonnay thread above). The actual purpose of the dinner was to teach those couples how to make risotto (shrimp and saffron based, hence the whites) and have a fun side activity that would soften my 'serious' image. Also served with the risotto was this Italian white for the sake of authenticity:
2017 Terredora di Paolo Falanghina Irpinia Corte di Giso
Not extracted and bright yellow like most Falanghinas I've had. Very pale with subtle, delicate flavors. Quite liked.
I also planned a salad course of bitter greens, gorgonzola cheese and walnuts to follow the risotto. Two reasons: our bodies need salad, and one of my guests would surely bring a red wine and I wanted to be able to serve it harmoniously. They did:
2016 Kirkland Signature Gigondas Red Rhone Blend
I don't even bother with Costco wines anymore (tons of frogs, no princes), but a guest wanted my opinion on this. They were serving French wines at a French dinner a few days hence and aren't experienced drinking European wines. And in fact this one's kind of a prince. Definitely a wine to drink sooner than later, but there's a lot of friendly, authentic Giggy-ness here for just $15. Recognizably grenache-driven with raspberry fruit and spice, just enough acidity and soft tannins. I buddied it up with this really nice wine:
2016 Le Piane Mimmo Vino da Tavola Nebbiolo Blend, Nebbiolo
Medium taupe-y red, spicy and balanced. I don't know if these Le Pianes are new or they've always been around and I'm only just seeing them, but every bottle I've had has been pretty cool and good value. They drink well young without tasting juvenile.
The night before Bob and I had this with bratwurst and sauerkraut:
2005 Weingut Willi Bründlmayer Grüner Veltliner Alte Reben Loiser Berg Kamptal
Very good, but surprisingly laden with coconut and white grapefruit. Had to double check the bottle to make sure it wasn't riesling. Good body and finish.
And these got opened the prior weekend:
2004 Château Vieux Chevrol Lalande de Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend
I opened this expecting to dump it but surprise surprise; this bottle isn't half bad (although four or five over the past year WERE, all of them). It's a wine I bought 7 or 8 bottles of long ago, misplaced, and forgot about. Don't know if they're coming back to life or this was a lucky one-off.
2013 Boudreaux Cellars Pinot Noir Washington
Considering the weightier style of most Boudreaux reds, the relative medium-ness of this rare Washington pinot surprised. Soft fruit, scant tannins. Better a year ago; drink up.