Saturday was a twist on saag paneer, a curried spinach/tofu dish baked wit h potato slices on top, with the 2012 von Hovel Oberemmeler Hutte Riesling Kabinett (AP 04 13). Quite sweet for Kabinett, but not all all cloying- raz or sharp Saar acidity keeps it alive and linear. Sweet lime, apple, and gin ger. This should age but drinking well now. B+
Sunday we spent the day working in yard and taking dog for walks in woods, then walked over the hill to some friends' home for dinner. We started with the NV Ayala "Majeur" Brut Champagne. Pleasant, apple and dough, good bri ghtness, straightforward. B
We ate on the deck, starting with grilled octopus with white beans and fris ee
2009 Heidler "Maximum" Gruner Veltliner. Big powerful wine, peach fruit ove r rocks, peas, this is almost too much, but with the food it shows well. B/B+Main course was grilled chicken,a Ming Tsai Asian slaw, and sweet potatoes, we continued with the GV, but also tried
2004 BV Tapestry Somewhat kirschy fruit, vanilla, seems to be drying out on finish, not real ly a fan. B-/C+2009 St. Cosme "Les Deux Albions" Cotes du Rhone Slightly jammy note to the fruit, but it does get some interest from some h erby/underbrush notes. B/B-
Maybe not greatest wine night, but fun night with good people, and first ou tdoor dinner of the year.
Monday was shrimp tacos and slaw, with the 2011 Willi Schaefer Graacher Him melreich Riesling Kabinett (AP 02 12). Pretty and full, rich/sweet and wi th a creamy texture but with plenty of acids to keep it fresh and lithe. C itrus and green apple, slatey, long. A-/B+
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a pa rty where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivit y, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.