Social overload week continues. Thursday we had a group of neighbors and fr iends for dinner. Hors d'oeuvres were marinated olives and canapes of crack ers or cucumber slices with salmon or white bean spread (with or without ol ives). Greeting wine was the NV Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Brut. Lighter fra med, good acids, green apple and bread dough. Not very long. B
Dinner was bouillabaisse plus Brussels sprouts, caprese salad, and a green salad.
2013 Mas de Gourgonnier rose (Les Baux de Provence) Strawberries and herbs, medium acidity, good finish, nice with the stew. B2010 de Villlaine Aligote (Bouzeron) Lemony, sharp, lean but tasty. B
2013 Pepiere Muscadet Saline and sapid, crisp and minerally. B++1996 Joguet "Les Varennes du Grand Clos" Chinon Black cherries, tobacco, earth, herbs, more tobacco. Fine showing B+/A-
1982 Ch. Roguet (Pomerol) A grand old lady in her last days, still some black plum and cassis fruit, lusher texture. There's some incipient ashtray, needs to be drunk up, but g iving pleasure. B/B+2013 Clos du Roillete (Coudert) Fleurie I think this is going to be a classic Fleurie. Red and black raspberries, m oderate tannins, bright acids, cocoa, pepper, herbs. Drinking well, but I t hink will improve in cellar. B++
Fun night. Friday I was in charge of dinner- grilled herbed pork tenderloin , squash, asparagus, and bouillabaisse-flavored Israeli couscous. Wine was the 2007 Knoll Ried Schütt Riesling Smaragd- Lovely dry broad shouldered Riesling, with citrus, mineral, and smoke notes. Full flavored, balanced, l ong. A-
After dinner I prepared for the arrival of my local non-serious wine group. I had some local charcuterie (beef prosciutto, saucisson sec, chorizo), ch eeses, grape leaves, and the like. Theme was California Red Wines from Bord eaux Varieties. Folks enjoyed the Knoll and Fleurie as we gathered. Then we headed to patio (gorgeous cool evening) for the blind wines
Wine #1 - Decanted in advance. I knew what it was as I supplied for a late invitee. Guesses were much younger. Plenty of dark fruit, midweight, resolv ed tannins, cocoa. Easygoing. Not complex, but tasty. 1997 Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon B
Wine #2= jammy, fruity, sweet. I guess Napa CS. Nope. 2012 Hahn Meritage (Central Coast)
35% Merlot, 34% Malbec, 27%Cabernet Sauvignon, 4 % Petit Verdot. B-/C+ Wine #3- a little better balanced and more structured, but somewhat clipped on finish. 2012 Gordon Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley) B- (Roger said "well it was in California section" )Wine #4 - lots of eucalyptus makes it interesting, lots of oak detracts. Bi g, but not hot or overextracted. Less oak and I think I'd have liked this a lot. 2012 Frias Cabernet Sauvignon (St Helena, Napa) B-
Wine #5- Good showing. Red fruits, resolved tannins, balanced acids, cedar, leather. Guesses were 10-12 years old, probably group favorite. 1982 Burge ss Vintage Selection Cabernet Sauvignon B+/A-
Wine #6 Just a whisper of oak, herby, medium bodied, surprised to see Santa Ynez
2012 Beckman Cabernet Sauvignon (Santa Ynez) BWine #7 Dark fruit, lots of green tobacco and herb, so I say it has a lot o f Cab Franc. Once Marc confirms I can guess the wine, as we split a case wh en they were blownout 5-6 years ago. 2006 Havens Bourriquot B+
Wine #8 - acidic, but with interesting cassis fruit and lots of leather and barnyard. I guessed 70s, but would have never gotten region. Fun,. 1979 Na varro Cabernet Sauvignon B/B+
We also tried the Helderberg Meadworks Heritage. I gotta say I had trouble getting past the nose. I finally realized- stadium urinal- pee and urinal c akes. Actually on palate it was much friendlier, but I'm not switching from wine to mead any time soon.
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.