Friday was scallops, wild rice, broccoli, and the 2014 Pinon “D? ?ronnières” Vouvray. New bottling to me. Pretty classic sec- tendre to demi-sec Chenin, bright apple fruit framed with wax and wool. Nic e floral notes to nose, fresh acids, good length. Could age well I think. B
+/A-Saturday Betsy was home and made pan- roasted spiced chicken with a mint/ba sil sauce. Wine was the 2015 Fresche rose. Bright floral and fresh, pretty cherry and watermelon fruit, fun little wine but maybe a little light for t he dish. B
Sunday some friends came over for dinner. One brought appetizers- crackers with a couple of dips, a tapenade and sour-cream/chive
NV Furlan Prosecco A bit sweet, apple cider and a lactic note, short. C/C+
Gerbais “Cuvee de Reserve” Brut Champagne Crisp, bready, with pear and citrus zest, B/B+
First course was lobster, corn, and tomato salad; wine was the 2013 Francoi s Carillon Puligny-Montrachet. Pear and apple, some vanillin oak, balanced acids, nice finish. B/B+
Main was grilled leg of lamb, couscous, and green salad.
1983 Ch. L’Evangile Pretty much what I’m looking for in mature/maturing Pomerol. Still some tannic structure, black plum and cassis, touches of mocha and underbru sh. With air there’s a more noticeable (pleasant) herbal note. Good length, lovely wine. A- .2014 Guímaro (Ribiera Sacra) Crunchy red fruits, flowers, white pepper. Lively acids, bright and juicy. B+/B
Some nice cheese to finish, plus a dessert wine
1967 Schmitt Sohne “Longuicher Herrenberg “ Beerenauslese Mass market producer, poor to middling year. But actually plenty of life le ft, though pretty simple for BA. Apricot and orange marmalade, honied finis h. Rather short. Alive but nothing special. B-Monday got Betsy’s sister and BIL and carpooled to some mutual frie nds’ home in Irvington. Fun night, with vichyssoise, grilled steak (Thom stood out in a thunderstorm), and a beet/blueberry/greens salad. Ther e was a somewhat fat red I never saw, plus 2 bottles at table
2013 Jaeger-Defaix “Les Clous” Rully 1er Really popular, but again I find oak a little distracting. Sweet pear and a little butterscotch, overlay of vanilla. Good finish though. B 2011 Melini “ La Selvanella” Chianti Classico Riserva Black cherry, a little leather and flowers. Some real tannic backbone, mode rate acids, tasty now but a couple years might do this some good. 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.