Not really tasting notes, but thoughts.
I'm a wine geek. I spend way too much time thinking/talking/writing about wine. But everyone needs a hobby. Sometimes with truly fiery fare I go for beer, but usually I try to find a wine to go with most meals. That said, sometimes I also try to set aside the more anal parts of my geekery, especially if I'm trying to have a nice meal with my wife.
Yesterday Betsy had a Handel rehearsal after performance, and I unexpectedly had to work most of day. We were tired, and chose an easy and nearby option for dinner. The local Thai place is ok, except for a tendency to make everything just a little too sweet. We try to counter by aiming for dishes with more sour/spicy/acid notes. A pleasant meal with kanon jeeb (steamed dumplings), tom sum (green papaya salad), ped penang (duck), and pad thai.
I did think about a Singha. But Betsy doesn't like beer. For a Thai restaurant this has a surprisingly varied list, and offers 10 whites and 8 reds by the glass. Of course, then one has to strategize- is it best to go for most unusual wines, on theory they'll open a new one, or most common, on theory it'll be freshest (I'm trying to avoid going over to bar area and asking to see/sniff bottles -Betsy is patient, but....).
For the whites I go with most arcane theory (at least within realm of matching). I order a glass of Santa Julia Torrontes, and one of the Salvard Cheverny (or as we ended up explaining to our waitress with limited English, #7 and #10). The Cheverny (which I saw bartender search for and open new bottle) was actually quite the deal for a $6 glass- bright citrus fruit, a little grassy, a clean if lean Sauvignon Blanc.B The Torrontes also seemed fresh, though less attractive- light, ok acidity, peach fruit with a musky/floral touch, but short and not especially tasty. B-/C+
Then I decided for a glass of red with the duck. I ordered the Kermit Lynch Cotes du Rhone ("the last red listed"). Here, I struck out. Light raspberry fruit, but distinct notes of oxidation. Rough guess open 3-4 days. Could have sent it back, but decided not to worry about it. It was only $6.95 (pours were approximately 5 oz , pretty funny they had the CdR for $45 a bottle).
So not outstanding wine night, but nice to be with Betsy, and then go home to watch Renoir's The River.