After I returned from Ridge Thursday, we set out to meet David and Grace i n Oakland (Betsy driving!). Got to Lungomare at Jack London Square about sa me time as they did. My late lunch meant I wasn't too hungry, but I ordered some cod, while others got octopus, salads, pizza, and pastas (I took bite s of the squid ink pasta and the octopus, both good). I wasn't drinking so I could share drive back to Sacramento, Betsy had a glass of the 2015 Urban Legend Vermentino - I took one sip. This vermentino as (possiblyovercroppe d) Sauvignon Blanc- catpee/goosebery and grapefruit, bright acids. B-
Friday I flew back to NYC via Seattle, considered trying Canoe Ridge wines "blended at 30000 feet" but skipped. Arrived back in early early hours of S aturday, the recovering hound was glad to see me. I spent most of day with her, then went over to friends' for dinner.
2014 Paradis "Essenciel" (Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence ) rose Light, strawberries and basil, not very long. B-/C+There was cauliflower soup, then fettucine with shrimp, salad with apple
1991 Stony Hill Chardonnay I've had mixed results with an auction lot of early 90s SHs and figure stor age, but this bottle shows nicely. Pear, a touch of hazelnut, minerally not es on finish. No real oxidative notes, though mature. B+2013 Francois Carillon Puligny-Montrachet White fruits, stones, citrus zest. A bit of oak, midbodied. B
2005 Gilles Jourdan Bourgogne Not a producer I know, leaner than I would have expected from 2005, good ac ids, tart cherry and cranberry with a hint of sandalwood. BSunday was chicken sausages, edamame, and salad with the 2010 Karthauserho f Alte Reben Trocken Riesling. Full bodied, powerful, lots of extract. Peac h, ginger, wet rocks. Very good, B+/A-
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.