We flew back Sat AM, stopped at Fairway on way home. Dinner was artic char, broccolini, and French lentils in red wine.
Opening wine was 2009 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg 'Schmitt' Riesling. No pradikat given, but I'd put this well on the richer side of Spatlese, edging Auslese, but with fine balancing acidity. There's some real power here, but also a sensation of lightness. Mineral, white fruits, more slately mineral, fresh flowers, apple, mineral. Intense and interesting wine, really delicious, but I feel guilty drinking it now. A-/A
Cooking wine was the 2005 Christian Moueix "Encore Merlot” (Bordeaux AC). Soft, light tannins, black currants and plums, cocoa, mushroom, not especially long but identifiable as Bordeaux and a good value at $5.50. B-
Dinner wine was the 2009 Vissoux /Chermette "Cuvee Traditionnelle" Beaujolais. Pretty cherry fruit with a hint of smoke and earth, juicy with clean bright acidity, quite tasty but with upside potential. Another 09 winner. B+
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.