Friday an Asian-esque stew (cinnamon beef and spinach) over udon.
2021 Hureau Tuffe Saumur-Champigny
Ripe cassis and black plum fruit, green pepper (bell accented with chipotle, an intriguing juniper note. Juicy, easy tannins, really fun and food friendly. B++
Saturday lamb shanks couscous (preserved lemon, dried apricots), salad
2000 Ch. La Croix de Gay (Pomerol)
Midweight, ready to go, plummy fruit with a little cigarbox and a Pernod/Ricard edge to the finish. Ripe but not hot, not super long but fun enough. B
Cooking wine was the 2023 La Petite Perriere Sauvignon Blanc (Loire). Light, slightly grassy, citrusy, cheap. B-
Sunday Turbot meuniere, leftover couscous, hakurei turnip greens, salad
2020 Domaine Nudant- Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits Blanc
Ripe, peachy, pleasant Chardonnay flavors but needs a little more acidic backbone. B-
2021 Domaine Nudant- Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits Blanc
This has more zip; Apples and citrus zest, lively, clean, what I need to inexpensive white Burg. B/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.