Betsy had left for California, teenagers were congregating at someone else's house for a change, so I was alone Friday with some leftover chicken. So I popped a 2000 Ch. Canon Moueix (Fronsac) in 375. Gave it an hour before dinner, then had a glass (or two). Nice if somewhat reticent nose of red berries, mild red fruit in the mouth, with a little sweet oak edge. Pleasant but uninspiring. I take a break for an hour or two, walking back to old apartment to pack last few odds and ends. On return I decided to have the final glass - whoa. The reticent nose has become quite extroverted, raspberries with flowers and a little vanilla. Deep kirsch flavors on the palate, hint of leather and rocks. The 375 is about $7 at Zachy's on sale, I'm picking up more. A-
Saturday I invited a few friends to watch me try to master the intricacies of gas grilling. We started with the 2000 Trimbach Alsace Riesling. Wet stones, apple and pear fruit with a hint of lemon, nice crisp wine worth every penny of its modest $13 tag. B+
With a mixed grill of steak and sausages, salad caprese, "Mexican" rice salad, and corn, I had decanted two reds, the 2000 Epicurea de Chateau Martinat (Cotes de Bourg) and the 1998 La Gardine Chateauneuf du Pape. The Bordeaux was full and smooth, on the soft side, with rich dark berry and plum fruit, a hint of toasty oak, good finish. B+ The CdP had deep blackberry fruit, fairly lush, with some animal sweat and meat aromas. Also a B+
We kept with the reds as we moved to the cheeses, a nice pair from Bobolink Dairy that I had picked up at the farmers' market (a semi-soft fairly mild one called Frolic, and a much more aggressive one known as Tarte de Vache). Midway through we switched to the NV RL Buller & Son Fine Tokay. Raisins and toffee, very sweet and very soft. These are really better by themselves than with any food. A good value in dessert wines at $11/375, but not special (I think I slightly prefer their Muscat). B
That afternoon I had attended a tasting at Zachy's of the wines of Tempranillo Importers :
2002 Txacoli (Getaaariako Txakolina) (10.99) Dry,crisp citrusy flavorful wine from Basque country. Different, and a nice deal. B
2001 Martin Códax 2000 Albariño (Rías Baixas) (9.99) Medium acidity, a little flavorless. B-
2002 Nora Albariño (11.99) Crisper, lemon and spice, nice finish. B
2002 Naia (Rueda) (7.99) Herbs and grass, gooseberries and grapefruit. If served blind I might think this a particularly aromatic and slightly funky NZ Sauvignon. Bright acidity. I buy at this price, good picnic wine. B+
2001 Vega Sindoa Chardonnay Barrel Fermented (Navarra) Pleasant reasonably balanced inexpensive Chard, B-
2001 Pago Florentino (La Mancha) (12.99) Soft and ripe, a bit oaky, ok no better. B-
1999 Allende Rioja (14.99) Also somewhat international, but obviously very well-made. Too much vanilla-ey oak, but nice sweet fruit and mouth-filling body. Would be very popular at parties. B/B+
1998 Muga Reserva Rioja (12.99) Again a lot of oak, but with a more classic cigarbox profile. Not one to really age, but a nice Rioja for now. B+
2000 Sierra Cantabria Coleccion Privada Rioja (26.99) Good acidic balance despite very ripe fruit. A little more than I wanted to spend, though. B+
1995 Muga Prado Enea Gran Reserva (Rioja) (34.99) Elegance more than power, deep velvety red fruit with overtones of leather and cedar. A-
2000 Altos de Luzon (Jumilla) (12.99) Tannic, yet with deep fruity flavors. Lots of oak. Not really my cuppa, but would make a nice BBQ wine. B
2000 Emilio Moro (Ribera del Duero) (23.99) Round, big, somewhat tannic and a bit oaky, ok. B
2001 Bcrux (Mendoza, Argentina) (19.99) An interloper, but mostly Tempranillo. Unexciting B-
2001 Mas Igneus F.A. 206 (Priorat) (12.99) Big, tannic, with a lot of spice and herb. Needs a little time, but pretty nice. Good buy. B+
2001 Finca Sandoval (Manchuela) ($24.99) $25 Spanish syrah? I try with scepticism. Hey, not bad actually. Downright good even. Medium tannins, blackberry fruit with some dirt and herbs, integrated oak, needs time. B+/A-
My usual disclaimer: I'm a pretty easy grader, basically A is a very good wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice.
Dale
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