uesday I grilled salmon, served with barley,broccoli rabe, and the 2013 Jou sset "Premier Rendez-Vous" Montlouis-sur-Loire. Nice wine- wet stones, pear , chalk. Dry, long. Get more. B+
Wednesday a violinist friend of Betsy's who lives in Norway was in city, an d she and her Swedish conductor husband came up to visit. We greeted with a ntipasti, hummus, etc along with the NV Chalvon "Grand Reserve" Champagne. Very light style of Champagne, granny smith and lemon, others liked a lot. B-
Betsy had made 2 roast chickens, sweet potatoes, & spinach.
1970 Beychevelle Elegant mature claret. Black fruit, cigarbox, a little truffley note. Sweet and easy, not especially long, but quite satisfying. B+/A-no real dessert, but fresh applesauce and a finisher
2007 Maximum Grunhauser (von Schubert) Auslese (375) I'm embarrassed to say that I neglected to note whether this was Abtsberg o r Herrenberg. Stone fruits, lime, good but not extreme acids. On young side , just a hint of petrol, but drinking nicely. B+Thursday no wine as I had dinner at a speech on Long Island. Friday I made clams on linguine, brussels sprouts, and salad, with was the regular 2014 P epiere Muscadet. Tangy, saline, what a bargain. B++
Saturday grilled pork tenderloin, squash, sauteed baby broccoli rabe, whole wheat couscous, and the 2013 Lapierre Morgon. Bright juicy red fruits, spi cy with a little herb note, quite satisfying. B+
Sunday off to a dinner parry. We were in charge of appetizers, did small ti mbales (well, used mini muffin pan) of goat cheese and spinach. NV Pinon Non Dose Touraine Bright acids, striking crispness, vivid citrus and apple fruit B+
NV Pinon Rose Touraine A bit heavy next to the no-dosage, but this is a perennial favorite and a r eally good wine. B+/B
with a grilled baby octopus appetizer, the 2013 Parentiere Muscadet. Light, typical, minerally, good value if without excitement of Pepiere night befo re. B/B-
2005 Argyle Pinot Noir Reserve Ripe fruit, some cola (?), some sandalwood, just a hint of oxidation on end . B2010 Paitin "Serra" Barbaresco Big, some big tannins, but good fruit and a bit of oak. B- for drinking now , B+ potential
2013 Manero This is Tuscan, but tastes like Cal Merlot with oak chips. Soft, gloppy, ar tificial vanilla. CFun night, fun crowd.
No wines Monday with chevre/Spinach timbales (recipe made a bunch), lentils , sweet potatoes, roasted rainbow carrots, and salad. :(
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.