Monday Betsy started a broth for a dinner Thursday, it's supposed to be bee f in Barolo, but we cheated a bit using the 2010 Pasquale Pelissero "Bricc o San Giuliano' Barbaresco. She used 4 cups, I sampled what was left of sec ond bottle. Tannic, good black cherry fruit, rose petals, just a hint of ta rry notes. B
Dinner was a pasta with edamame, asparagus, and tomatoes, with leftover Chi daine Touraine SB (showing well on day 2)
Tuesday I did sauteed scallops, shanghai cabbage with oyster sauce, and lef tover quinoa, wine was the 2010 Tissot "En Barberon" Chardonnay (Cotes du J ura). I'm a big Tissot fan, but don't think this is a buy-again. There's a caramelly/oxidative edge, fruit is apple accented with orange peel, this is big and sturdy but not so pleasing, I prefer the less expensive Empriente. B-
Wednesday I used Betsy Barbaresco broth to simmer 10 lbs of oxtails for Thu rsday, while I ate leftovers. Wine was the 2000 Edmunds St John "Los Robles Viejos" . Sweet redder fruits, licorice, green herbs. With air a bit of a smoky note. Drinking quite nicely now, for my low to middlebrow tastes. B++
Thursday was SOBER reported elsewhere.
Friday we had another dinner party (small house, when we go over 8 people I move dining table into living room, so might as well invite another group before moving back). Appetizers were boquerone crostini, smoked salmon cana pes, and grilled vegetables with a ricotta/pine nut filling. Welcoming wine was the NV Louis de Sacy Grand Cru Brut Champagne. Light, easy drinking, a pple with a little bread dough, pleasant but simple. B-
Main course was a variation of Daniel Boulud's chicken tagine with cauliflo wer recipe. Several wines were poured
1986 Gruaud Larose Really nice showing of a longtime favorite, deep rich cassis fruit with pe ncil lead, cigarbox, earth, and barnyard. Gets more floral and complex with more air, big but balanced. A-/A1996 Pierre Bouree Chambolle-Musigny This showed well, spice notes above the cherry and raspberry fruit. A hint of tannin, fine acids, nice length, B+
2004 Aldo Conterno Barolo This was some people's favorite, I thought it a moderate to large framed re d wine that didn't scream Barolo. Approachable fruit but tannic finish. B/B -1972 Sterling Merlot Lacks the acidity that livened up the early 70s Sterling cabs night before, but there's still red plum fruit, with some ashtray and teriyaki notes. It 's alive! B-/B
Fun night with old friends.
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.