Friday Betsy was planning an early dinner (she was playing and I was hosting my local group), she called to ask for a cup or more of dry white wine. I said anything white on the top shelf of the "anything goes" rack, thinking that I had a Pernot Bourgogne, a Haut-Rian Bdx blanc, and the rest reds. But discovered my lone bottle of the 2005 Ameztoi (Getariako Txakolina) had been plundered. Not a biggie as far as $$$, but I was looking forward to this and wouldn't have planned this wine as a Bolognese ingredient (or accompaniment). But I did enjoy the remaining couple of glasses. This Txakoli (I've seen the wine referred to as Txakoli, Txacoli, and Txakolina, someone can explain Basque to me later) is quite lemony, with a spritzy edge. There's a Muscadet-like salinity/minerality to the wine, I like a lot, and will add to my next order. B+
Betsy was playing Sat night, but not the matinee- she would be home for dinner, but had appointments to keep her from cooking. I made marrow bones with a caper/parsley salad followed by duck breast over greens with a red wine sauce. The wine was the 2003 Joseph Drouhin "Vero" Bourgogne Pinot Noir. Pricewise, this wine is intended to be a step up from the LaForet, I paid $18. The ripeness of the vintage is compensated for by Drouhin's stylistic reserve. Nice ripe cherry and raspberry fruit, decent acidity, nice finish. Some tannins but ripe and fine. With time some floral and cola (which I associate with new oak, but didn't get any other new oak aromas) emerge. I didn't really care for the 2002 of this but the 2003 is better (can't remember another Burgundy I'd say that about!). 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.