Betsy made a quick bouillabaisse (cod, shrimp, scallops and littlenecks) an d I opened the
2013 Matthiasson Rose. I think my first Matthiasson wine, and I really enjo yed. No clue re cepage. Very light (just a hint of copper) color, fresh, br ight, wild strawberries and citrus peel. Very like a good Provencal rose, a nd a good match. B+I made pork chops in a porcini/cremini sauce, served with lentils, broccoli , and the 2004 Aldo Conterno Barolo. Modern, approachable though there's de finite tannin, red fruit with a little tar, just a little wood (less than I would have expected with A. Conterno), tiny bit of heat (14.5%). While not my preferred style, tasty overall and surprisingly ready to go. B
Over for my local wine group's look at Beaujolais. Alex was just back from helping his parents after their move from Paris to the south of France, and had brought some goodies back- a dry sausage with truffles was my fave. Th ere were also cheeses, hummus and baba ganoush, olives, duck breast, foie g ras mousse.
He had a Beaujolais blanc out, I had also brought one I had used for mushro om sauce
2013 Brun/Terres Dorees Beaujolais Blanc Good acids, medium bottles, white fruits with chalk and flowers. Good vinta ge of this. B+2012 La Jacarde Beaujolais Blanc Served a bit cold, I liked more on revisit. Not a producer I know. Fresh, clean, no apparent oak, yellow flowers over pear fruit, a light nutty note that reminds me more of Italian whites. B
On to the reds. These were blind, but I didn't do much guessing except vint ages (I really don't know the Crus well enough to guess with confidence, an d everyone else knew less than me).
2013 Lapierre Morgon My bottle. I thought fresh, lively, spicy, and delicious. One person guesse d it might be older, but I think that was only because it was my wine and I 'm usually the guy bringing the senior citizen. Even better on revisit. B+/ A-2012 Mas des Tines St Amour New producer to me, Alex had brought back from a Provencal farmers market. Good, fresh, floral. B+
2005 Chateau de la Perriere Brouilly Very ripe, approaching jammy, big, not especially gamayesque. My first gue ss was 2009 and second was 2003. C+2012 Jadot Beaujolais-Villages Pleasant, lighter, red fruited. B
2011 Pignard Regnie Another new producer to me. Medium bodied, soft acids, fuller than my impre ssion of Regnie. B/B-2009 Joel Rochette "Cuvee des Braves Vieilles Vignes" Regnie Riper style (this time I got vintage), big fruit, soft, others liked more t han I did. B-
Good times, and a good thing I was walking home.
Last night skate in a green herb sauce, butternut squash, leftover lentils, and salad. Wine was the 2011 JM Boillot Bourgogne blanc, Fairly large frame d for Bourgogne, but enough acids to balance the ripe fruits (melon, peach, apple). A little hint of oak. Good dinner wine, decent value (I think $21) , I enjoyed without really thinking I need to source more. B
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a p arty where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivi ty, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.