Monday I made a mushroom (enoki and shiitake)/coy sum stirfry over sprouts and soba, then filled the bowl with miso broth, that was dinner accompanied by hiyakko (with shiso, ginger, and bonito) and the 2010 Ch. Chantegrive blanc. Pessac meets NZ, very grassy and gooseberry, not bad with meal. B-
Tuesday I did littlenecks over spaghetti with the 2008 Mt. Eden “Saratoga” Chardonnay. A bit of oak, pretty good acidity, sturdy Chardonnay. B/B-
Next night she made roast chicken, roast root vegetables, and an arugula/choy sum salad. Wine was the 2010 Lapierre Morgon- I was wondering if it might be starting to shut down, but it was lively and giving. Beautiful fresh red fruits, spice and earth, crisp and refreshing, while Morgon can age this is quite lovely now. S bottling. A-
Betsy made pasta with mussels and zucchini Thursday, cooking/drinking wine was the 2010 Pepiere “Clos des Briords” Muscadet. Saline, citrusy, and full, excellent length, delicious. A-/B+
Thursday Betsy also cooked Friday’s dinner, and used about half a bottle of the 2009 Viticcio Chianti Classico for braising liquid. Riper/fleshier style of Chianti, but enough acids to keep it typical, good buy at $10. B
Friday dinner was Italian/Asian fusion, with veal shanks in a prune braise, rice, and Chinese not so long beans, with the 2002 Montevetrano (Colli di Salerno). Good Bordeaux ringer (60%CS, 30%Merlot, 10% Aglianico), with black currant and plum fruit, cedary, fullbodied, moderate acidity. B+/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.