chicken-miso meatballs, rice and chrysanthemum greens
2009 Hirtzberger Honivogl Gruner Veltliner Smaragd
Big and powerful, honied pineapple and pit fruits, a touch of green bean, but there’s a snappy spine of racy acid. Not for the timid, but good. B+/A-
black sea bass, roast broccoli, couscous
2023 Pepiere la Pepie Muscadet
Bright clean and precise, a real food wine. B
Saturday afternoon I went by some friend’s home to pick up my share of a Flannery’s order, while there he opened the 2007 JJ Prum Graacher Himmelreich Auslese Goldkapsel. Bright tropical fruit, just a little petrol, bracing acids, long finish. A-/B+
Swordfish and razor clams, yu choy, soba
2023 Bastide Blanche Bandol rose
Classic and classy, savory herbs, good finish. B+
2023 Extradimensional Yeah! Mariana’s Vineyard Chardonnay ( Santa Cruz Mountains )
My first white from them, and I quite enjoy. Crisp pear and nectarine, white flowers, balanced acids and good length. 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.