Weird weekend, Thursday Betsy woke up with a cramp and fell leaping out of bed, hurting her back. It’s getting better, but our guests had to d eal with mostly my cooking. Thursday was roast chicken with herbs and root vegetables, and the 2010 Drouhin Fleurie. Cherries and cranberries, a bit o f a green note- but more herbs de Provence than vegetal. Light, bright, an d ready, fine deal at $10. B
Friday we had friends come over with their dogs- it was 3rd birthday for th eir fine mutt Romeo , and our first chance to meet Charlie Brown, a 4 lb to y poodle with 3 legs (owner was charged with animal cruelty, our friends vo lunteer at ASPCA and adopted). Dogs had fun!
While we ate shrimp dumplings, we toasted Romeo’s birthday with the 2014 Raventos i Blanc “Nit” cava. Better than last (muted ) bottle. Pale, raspberry and pit fruits, quite floral, fun. B+/B
Main course was salmon with miso, rice with furikake, and chu shoy. Leftov er Fleurie (holding ok), and the 2016 CVNE “Monopole” Rioj a Blanco. Good acids, lemon and orange, not too long but I think it was und er $10. B-
Sat with oysters to start, 2015 de Villaine Bouzeron Aligote. Lemon and nec tarine, nice cut and length B+
Then on to skirt steak (cumin, coriander, garlic, za’atar) , bok ch oy, and leftover root vegetables. Wine was the 2009 Texier “Domaine de Pergault Brezeme Vielle Sirene” Cotes du Rhone. I was a little worried this might be shut down, but while young it’s beautifully e xpressive. Black cherry and raspberry, smoke, meat. Plenty of tannin, but s upple and balanced/buffered by gorgeous fruit and bright acids, so didn? ??t bother me at all. A-
Sunday was monkfish in a chipotle/ceci/spinach broth. The 2015 Schafer-Froh lich Felseneck Kabinett surprised me by being somewhat shut down, some ligh t sulphur aromas, good acids, but the apple and citrus fruit is somewhat mu ted. Tasty but not the stunner is was at release. NR, needs air/time
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.