Tuesday Betsy made a Asian cinnamon/pepper beef soup with spinach over soba, a dish that calls for a lighter red with some spice. I chose the 2004 Catherine et Pierre Breton "Les Galichets" Bourgueil. I usually love the Breton wines (and had liked this one previously) but couldn't really warm to this one. Clean raspberry fruit, a hint of tobacco leaf herbalness, but seemed short on the finish. A decent dinner wine, but less than I had hoped for. Awkward period? B-
Wednesday was a lot of a little - assorted leftovers from previous few days. We sampled the leftover Bourgueil as well as the 2005 Gysler Weinheimer Riesling Kabinett (Rheinhessen). Another minor disappointment - I had thought the 2004 a very good value. This seems a bit too fat for kabinett for me, a ponderous texture. Nice flavors of peach and red berries, but without the zing I look for in kabinett. B-
Thursday was salmon fillets with a ginger/soy glaze over greens. I opened the 2005 Paul Pernot Bourgogne blanc just because it was sitting there (I was busy introducing 1,000 red worms to their new home- the glories of composting). Sweet pear and apple fruit, a fleeting hint of hazelnut, nice balance between ripe fruit and acidity. What more could you ask for in $14 Bourgogne? B+
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. 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.