Friday lamb rib chops, squash, and the 2000 Ch. Grand Corbin Despagne (St E milion).Black plums, mocha, some leather. Midbodied, ripe, still some grip. Attractive enough mid-modern St Em, though nothing compelling. B
Saturday some friends and an extra dog. We started off with some gravlax an d some octopus Ron had grilled, with the NV Camille Saves “Cuvee Pr estige” Brut Champagne. I’ve had this cellaring several yea rs, showing really well. Fine bead, apple and pear with flinty minerals and citrus zest. Elegant mousse, some smoky notes emerge with time. A-/B+
We adjourned to patio, first sitdown course was my littleneck clams and pas ta. Wine was the
2005 Larrivet Haut Brion blanc. Others liked, I didn’t. Oaky, nutty , soft to the point of flabby, could have been a CA “fume blanc? ??. C+Our local butcher is closed for a while due to an electrical fire in their building, but the local supermarket has started carrying a small selection of prime meat. I grilled a perfectly marbled ribeye, served with escarole /arugula salad, gazpacho, and a couple reds
1983 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon (Santa Cruz Mtns) OK, this isn’t Monte Bello, but this is showing just lovely for 34. Red fruits, spice and bright acids, resolved tannins, fragrant nose with c edar and forest floor. I’ve had this for years and “almost ” opened several times, glad I finally did, overachiever. A-2003 Arcadian “Starlane Cuvee Robert O. Fleming” Syrah Others’ favorite. Round, mint, meaty, good but lacks a little preci sion. B
Today our CSA had corn for first time. Betsy made a corn soup with Indian s pices and some quick Asian pickles, I made hake and some beet greens. Dinne r on patio (absolutely lovely day), wine was the 2016 Meinklang Gruner Velt liner (Burgenland). Hint of spritz, hint of sweetness. Peas and peaches, mo derate acids, pleasant and easy. B/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.