Friday we went to a wake and then home to grilled scallops & squash, with a rugula salad and a couple of wines
2017 Underground Project” And why am I Mr. Pink” Dry strawberry fruit, modest acids, very light bodied. B-2010 Boulay “Clos de Beaujeu” Sancerre Full but with racy acids. Grapefruit, orange zest, herbs. Long chalky finis h. Delicious. A-
Saturday we went to friends’ home for a dinner (long planned, but w ith addition of some old friends who were in town for the wake). Nice start ers of guacamole and garlic scape bean dip, followed by a Cajun shrimp boil (corn, andouille, etc) plus salad, biscuits, and more
2016 Simi Sauvignon Blanc Grass and straw, a little melon, moderate acids. B-/C+2014 Grands Presbyteres Muscadet (Brought as hostess is a Presbyterian minister). Midbodied, green apple and oyster shell, good length, no Pepiere but satisfying B
2017 Tire La Bobinette rose VdF. Alex tries to explain wolf on label, apparently something like the 3 l ittle pigs story. Strawberry, some citrus peel, nice flavor profile but a l ittle acid deficient for my tastes. B-/BI carried a 2000 d’Aiguilhe as well, but no one felt like red
Sunday we mostly avoided heating kitchen, most of meal on grill, and I even set up sous vide outside as I didn’t want a couple gallons of 183 degree water sitting around for an hour while AC cranking (Betsy did boil p asta water and wilt greens)
Grilled clams with fried garlic
2016 Roche Bleue “ L'Oree de la Berterie” Coteaux du Loir Very tasty sec Chenin. Really electric acids, pear with nuts and wool, good finish. B++Then culotte steak with a basil vinaigrette, spaghetti with radish leaf pes to, swiss chard, and sous vide carrots
2000 Epicurea de Ch. Martinat Lots of sediment. I was worried that I had held this too long, but plenty o f cassis and black plum fruit left. Lots of mocha/cocoa notes, lower acid, tannins resolved. OK in a modern RB style, but I can’t say that 15 or so years in cellar has added any complexity. 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.