Tuesday I had fish/meat balls from HMart in ramen with some veggies, sort o f a fake pho. The 2015 Ique Malbec was straightforward and easy- plush berry and plum fr uit, no apparent oak, light tannins. This would do well as house red in a t avern/burger place. B-
Wednesday I was supposed to be picking up Betsy at LGA, but mechanical diff iculties delayed first leg enough she knew she’d miss connection, s o she spent another night in Sacramento. The hound and I went over the hill to some friends, where a bass player and his lab from Brooklyn were also v isiting. Dogs had a ball, and so did humans. Started with macadamias, pate, and home-smoked salmon
2015 Cantalupo “Il Mimo” Fuller style of rose, comes across as heavy and maybe a little hot. B- 2013 Raventos “De Nit” Cava Brut Rosado Pale, crisp, fresh Raspberries and strawberries, light floral notes. B+/BThen ribs, slaw, tomato salad, and baked beans
2013 Tensley “Lite: Syrah And lite it was (12.3 abv I believe). I quite liked - bright berries, flora l funk, bright and lively. B+/B2008 Adanti Sagrantino di Montefalco Big, somewhat extracted, but holds it well. Black plums, some cocoa, some t annin. B/B+
2014 Guy France “Bouquet de Syrah” (VdP l’Ardeche) Reductive syrah nose. Just too rubbery for me. Possible it blew off, but ho und and I walked home. For pop n pour C/C+Thursday I DID pick up Betsy, and took her home to an assortment of mostly leftovers. Ribs, steak, caprese, bok choy, and squash. Wine was the 2014 JP Brun/Terre Doree “L’Ancien” Beaujolais VV. Lovely cherry and raspberry fruit, earth, forest floor. Lively, with more tannin t han you normally get in Beaujolais AC, no hurry on these. 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 party where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectiv ity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.