Tuesday was wineless, so happy to have a small dinner for Betsy's niece (ho me for spring break) Wednesday. Smoked salmon appetizers, salad, shrimp ris otto
2013 JP Brun/Terres Dorees Beaujolais Blanc Fresh, crisp and clean, with a floral topnote over pit and apple fruit. Lov ely and a fine value. B+2013 Cazin "Le Petit Chambord" Cheverny Light, citrus, clean. I think based on past vintages this is SB/Chrd. Nice, easy to like. B
Thursday I dug a path through melting snow to my Weber, first time I'd gril led in a while. Grilled skirt steak and squash, with brown rice and kimchee . Wine was the 2002 Ch. Gloria, Soft acids, a little tannin, black & red pl ums backed with a little mocha. Pleasant enough, but not really drawing int erest. Maybe an awkward period, but I think there's just not a lot of there there. B-/C+
Friday was black snapper roasted with tomato and olives, a barley/quinoa di sh made with corned beef/cabbage broth, and spinach. Wine was the 2012 Chri stian Moreau "Vaillons- Cuvee Guy Moreau" Chablis 1er. Good acids, full, fl inty mineral note over white fruits. With air some citrus and maybe a hint of vanilla, but no real overt oak aromas. Bigger style of Chablis. B+/A-
Saturday Betsy made Bolognese sauce over pasta, and I opened the 2013 Knau ss Trollinger (Wurttemberg). OK, so it's not Italian, but it's same grape a s Schiava. Light, good acids, juicy and easy. Could have used a bit more bo dy for this dish, but I could see this as a summer picnic red. 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 p arty where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivi ty, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.