I did a lot of cooking with Betsy busy with rehearsals and concerts. Thursd ay I made pork tenderloin with Indian spices and sauteed greens, wine was the 2013 Iche "Les Heretiques" (VdP l'Herault). Round black fruits, earth, some tannin. Not going to call this one elegant but it's a great QPR altern ative to Cotes du Rhone. Ordered a few more. B
Friday I made clams and arugula over pasta, with the 2013 Cirelli Trebbian o d'Abruzzo. Light, easy, pleasant but not a lot there, but inexpensive. B- /C+
Saturday I made corned beef and cabbage as I won't be home on St Paddys. Wi ne was the
2006 Nikolaihof Vom Stein Federspiel Riesling. Apparently according to CT t here's an original bottling of this, but this is the one that stayed in woo d till last year, Floral, citrus, and mineral, softer than I expect from Ni kolaihof (but I've never tasted one that sat in cask so long), seemingly a lot of extract, quite interesting but I don't actually love this. But like. BSunday Betsy's all-cello trio played a benefit concert, then her compadres joined us for dinner. We started with smoked salmon canapes and mushroom bruschetta
NV Phillipe Prie Brut Champagne Soft, a little yeast, apples, pleasant enough but no need to seek. B-/C+
Betsy made bucatini with a sardine/fennel topping.
2012 Ca Rugate "Monte Fiorentine" Soave Classico. Almonds and pit fruits, a hint of oiliness to texture, good food wine.B1978 Ceretto Zonchetta Barolo Another lesson in how much Nebbiolo loves air. A little stanky and thin on opening. Couple hours in decanter improved it, but still on the thinner sid e and quite leathery, but some floral notes made it interesting. Then the revisit at end of meal- guests were astonished it was the same wine- much f uller fruit, dried flowers, mushrooms. Good length, great showing for the " basic" wine. B++
1989 Ch. Meyney Mature, cassis and black plum fruit, cigarbox, menthol. Tannins are mostly resolved, this is drinking well. B+Cooking wine was the 2012 Monte Bernardi Fuori Strada (Off Road) Grillo, in the 1 liter tetrapak. White peach, citrus, fairly full, this could use mor e zip but good for price and enjoy the packaging. B-
Monday assorted leftovers with the 1989 Kramp "Coopers Wine" . This is a Qb A, part of a stash of 1989s found in a Saar cellar of a defunct producer. Q uite youthful really, just a hint of petrol, very light, lime is predomina nt fruit. Fun to try. 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.