Betsy's mom got into NYC, in preparation for a "girl's trip" to DC
> with Betsy, Betsy's sister, and niece. We had my mom-in law, sister in
> law, and nephew over for dinner Saturday night. Started with a white
> bean and garlic scape dip, along with the 2007 Loosen "Dr. L" Riesling
> (Mosel). Lighter and lither than a couple recent vintages, this is
> bright and an excellent value at under $10. Peach and golden apple, a
> little hint of lime. Good length for an inexpensive QbA. I've
> generally thought of Dr L as good for the money, but this is just good
> without qualifier. B+/B. .
>
> Dinner was grilled lobster, scallops, and shrimp, served with a
> grilled zucchini and tomato salad� and a green salad. Dinner wine was
> the 2005 Manciat Macon-Charnay Vieilles Vignes. Ripe pear fruit, a
> little hint of canned pears, the vanilla aromas don't seem integrated.
> I can't find my previous note on this but thought I remembered liking
> it, but this comes across like a mediocre CalChard, albeit with more
> acidity. I prefer the cheaper straightforward Franclieu cuvee to the
> old vines bottling. B-/C+
>
> Nice evening, though humidity and heat drove us into the AC.
>
> Last night I was having leftovers of the 2 salads with some lamb/
> rosemary sausage from the farmer's market. Usually I like sausage and
> off-dry Riesling, so I opened the 2007� Leitz �R�desheimer Klosterlay
> Riesling Kabinett. OK, I admit this was a bit of a shock. My
> impression is that 2007 is supposed to be a more "classic" vintage
> than some recent ones, but this comes across as sweeter/richer/more
> extracted than the 2005 I had recently. Once I adjusted, quite a wine.
> Big white stone fruits are deep and rich; there's a solid wall of
> acids that keeps this in balance. Lovely wine, once preconceptions are
> put aside. Will check again tonight. B+/A-
>
> But....after tasting this, and getting a good sniff of the sausages
> (more about meat than spices), I wasn't sure that the wine was the
> best match. So I opened a 375 of the 2005 Marjosse (Entre-Deux-Mers).
> This was a pleasant surprise for $9 half. Black plum and currant
> fruit, a bit of earth and herb, surprising tannins for an Entre Deux
> Mers but I guess that is expected in 2005. We'll see how it shows
> overnight. Solid B, good value for cheap Bdx.
>
> For two very different wines, it was interesting how well both did
> after dinner with the Sprout Creek Farm "Ouray" (closest comparison is
> a Englsh farmhouse cheddar, but a bit milder).
>
> Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent
> wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't
> drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no
> promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency. > �
oops, should note that the Marjosse is "Bordeaux AC", I think the white is labelled Entre Deux Mers.