A tough week and a half for me- a cold, on antibiotics because of infected sutures, shorthanded at work, and 11 days without gas (no heat, hot water, or stove) at work. Despite that,managed to eat and drink ok.
With chicken gumbo, the 2010 Roche de Bellene Bourgogne vieilles Vignes. Re d fruited, sappy, good acids, bright. B/B+
With takeout sushi, the 2011 Tripoz Cremant de Bourgogne Nature. Not sure w here this came from, but glad it made it to cellar. Very crisp, dry, with l ong minerally finish. B+
couple days break for head cold, came back to wine with the 2008 von Hovel Kabinett and assorted leftovers. Less expressive than I remembered though still enjo yable, I chalk this one up to lingering stuffiness. NR
With lemon sole, the 2010 Brezo Godello. Round texture but with good acids, apple and peach fruit, a saline edge. B+/B
Halloween was a hoot- my little village shuts down the business district, I gave out about $200 worth of candy to (mostly) adorable trickor treaters. Betsy and Lucy joined me (and Lucy made the local online news site, picture #4
Afterwards we went home where we got more T&Ters and enjoyed roast chicken and root vegetables with the 2010 Pascal Marchand Bourgogne rouge. Nice, mi dbodied, a bit riper in feel than the Potel/Roche de Bellene, decent balanc e. B
Friday we had oysters to start (note to self- never shuck with finger in sp lint), and then baked red snapper with potatoes, miso glazed kumbocha (sp?) , & baby bok choy. Cooking wine was the 2012 Pepiere Muscadet, year in year out my QPR favorite wine. Saline, seashell, lemon, lovely. B++
We also had the 2008 Pinson “Les Clos” Chablis Grand Cru. This is all a bout potential, but what about premox? Coiled, tight, there's chalk and cit rus underneath, but for current drinking B-. I'll hold on for a few years, see if I get a beautiful GC or a premoxed mess.
Saturday we made bibimbop (went with bop as our guests are jazz players) fo r the first time - crispy rice, bulgogi, easy recipes for mixins like mushr ooms, squash, wakame, scallions, spinach, etc. Nancy showed up with some st uffed mushrooms as appetizers, which we had with the 2002 Foreau Vouvray Br ut Reserve. Beautiful showing -lively, fine mousse, citrus fruit with bread y notes, long finish. A-
Bibimbop isn’t easiest, but with it (and assorted banchan) we tried
2011 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Kabinett (I didn’t note AP #, but think it’s 16, as other is a full case). Not bad as a match. Very lively, lots of lime and citrus flower, good acids. B+/A-2011 Rota "27" Lambrusco di Castellazzo Best match. Fun, grapey, mild fizz, some tannin, good length. B/B+
1996 Jadot Ch.St Jacques Moulin a Vent It’s dead , Jim! Bring out your dead! It’s pining for the fjords! D2011 Texier Cotes du Rhone Good acids (especially for a I think mostly Grenache wine), raspberries, a pleasant pine needle note. Good value. B
Sunday Betsy was playing the Brahms Clarinet Quintet in PA, so I was alone. I I combined some of the leftover vegetarian bibimbap mixins (scallion sla w, sprouts, etc) with some basil, fish sauce, and rice noodles in an hommag e to a Thai stirfry. Wine was the 2011 Dr. Frank Gruner Veltliner. Dr. Fran k is generally one of my favorite FL wineries, but I couldn’t warm to thi s. It seemed diluted, with any GV pepper or peas. Could have been any innoc uous BTG white in an Applebees. C+/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 pa rty where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivi ty, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.