With sockeye, squash, and salad, the 2011 Terres Dorees (JP Brun) Fleurie. Lovely, juicy, ripe, and ready; red fruits with a hint of chocolate, some f loral notes, long finish. B+/A-
With grilled shrimp, red lentil dal, and slaw, I opened the 2012 Huet "Clos du Bourg" Vouvray sec. The 2012s are controversial, but I liked the Bourg when I tried previously (much better than the LHL), but no controversy here
- corked! So I opened the 2001 Selbach-Oster Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett. Light, well-balanced, Granny Smith and citrus over a stony base. B+
Saturday I made an Asian slaw and headed over to a pool party. Grilled shri mp, steaks, & asparagus; there was potato salad and lots of nibbles. Many w ines were sampled:
Whites
2012 Drouhin St Veran This is an old fave, but haven't bought in last couple vintages- hey, I'm a n idiot. This was an excellent wine for the price- crisp, clean, pure Chard onnay fruit. B+2011 Mollet "Roc d'Abbaye" Sancerre A bit grassy, soft for Sancerre, pleasant but not very long. B/B-
2012 Weimer Dry Riesling There is a little sugar, but good crispness, clean apple flavors. B 2010 Vouvray 'La Forcine' Bonhomme Demi-Sec Soft acids, slightly off (rot?) flavors, clipped, not a fan. C+/CReds (all served chilled)
2011 Bois de la Salle Julienas (think I got name right, script and lack of reading glasses left me unsure) Grapey, simple, but clean and straighforward. B-2010 Vissoux/Chermette "Poncie" Fleurie Wow, this showed well. Black raspberry, pepper/spice, earth, lovely balance , nice length. Damn, I think this was my only bottle. B+/A-
2009 Rolet " Tradition" Arbois Crispy/crunchy red fruits, earth, a little funk. Higher acids, interesting. B2012 Konstantin Franck Lemberger Juicy, fruity, easy, nice fun wine from a grape you don't see in US (same a s Blaufrankisch. right?) B/B-
Some friends came over Sunday night after the championship game, but we did n't have any German wines. We started with the 2010 Raventos i Blanc de Nit . OK, when I think pink Cava I can't say graceful and elegant are first th ings to come to mind, but they come to my mind. Light, fresh, cherries with roses and citrus, very tasty. B+
First course was a caprese salad, accompanied by lemon cucumbers tossed in garlic scape pesto, in honor of Bruce Palling I opened the 2012 Texier "Ana hi- L'Indigene Sulfureux" Don't quite get name, but it does say sans souf re and biodynamic. Not sure why I got this- not a real white Rhone guy nor a natural wines seeker though I do like Texier- but I'm glad I did. Sweet w hite pit fruits and orange pippin apple, balanced acids, stony finish. Not supercomplex, but quite tasty. B/B+
Main was a mixed grill- marinated skirt steak and D'Artagnan chicken sausag e with black truffle, plus zucchini and more Asian slaw.
2001 Ch. Barde Haut (St Emilion) Pretty black plum accented with mocha, clearly modern styled though not ext reme. Nice smooth texture, this is a steakhouse style wine. Huge hit with m y friends, I could have used just a bit more character and less flash. B2012 A. Occhipinti SP68 Fresh, bright, black cherries and spice, sappy edge, lively, fun. B+
Last night cauliflower with pimenton and tomato and leftover dal, and lefto ver Cava and SP68. No wait, it's Bastille Day. Must have a French wine, wha t better than the 2013 Pepiere "Clos des Briords" Muscadet? Zesty, fresh, s aline, mineral, citrusy. Doesn't have quite the breadth & fullness of the
2012, but a tasty wine that might help me save some of my 2012s. 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.