Wednesday we had a simple meal of hot dogs with some homemade relish and onions, served with the 1994 Zilliken Saarburger Rausch Kabinett. Texture more creamy than sharp, but with decent acidity. Apple and peach fruit, slightest hint of petrol, long minerally finish. Nice wine that shows a bit younger than it is. B+
Thursday through Saturday I was responsible for dinner (Betsy was rehearsing and playing in city through afternoon), I did my best. Thursday I was short on time, and just grabbed some precooked BBQ pork ribs from supermarket. Served with a salad with fiddleheads, and the 2004 Feudo Monaci Primitivo(Puglia) (I had gone down for Zinfandel). Bright red berry fruit, modest acidity and tannins, a bit short. Light brambly notes, ok but not exciting. B-
Friday I baked some chicken thighs and sweet potatoes, sauteed some mushrooms, and opened the 1999 Antonin Guyon "Les Vercots"Aloxe-Corton 1er. This wasn't closed at all- quite open. I love the '99 combination of fruit and acidity, but this isn't as deep as I would have hoped. Good black cherry fruit, bright acidity, but ultimately short on the finish. A simple pedestrian Burgundy, I think it was cheap. B-/B
For the mushrooms, I used some white wine, in this case the 2006 Babich Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough). Babich is back on track. Excellent juicy grapefruit flavors, some gooseberry, a whiff of green herbs. Nice acidity, no TCA worries with the screwcap, nice $11 SB. B+/B
Saturday I made a pot roast in the slow cooker, with some (deli) broccoli rabe, (instant) coucous, and garlic bread. Wine was the 1995 BV (Beaulieu Vineyard) Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa). Mature but not tired, soft integrated tannins, unexpectedly more red (plum) than black fruit. A little cedar and mint. Quite a pleasant CalCab, though I struggled (unsuccessfully) to find any Rutherford dust. 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