Wednesday was outdoor concert, I made mejillones escabechados (marinated mu ssels) and cold pheasant salad. Wines included
2012 Rimbert “Petit Cochon Bronze” rose Darker than I remember previous vintages, a simple strawberry meets marasch ino cherry pink. B-2004 Blain-Gagnard “ La Boudriotte” Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Warm picnic probably not best place to show a big whte Burg to best advanta ge. Pear, a bit of lemon, some background oak, seems slightly fatter/flatte r than recent bottles, maybe just the heat. No oxidation. B
2009 Domaine des Coutures Saumur Champigny New producer to me (though I have bought couple bottles in same sale as Fre d). Medium body, lovely black cherry and raspberry fruit, light tannin, nic e bottle to drink with a little chill. B+/B2011 Frank Nappa “Anomaly” (North Fork, Long Island) White from Pinot Noir, surprised that I find I like it, white cherries and apple, moderate acids. B
2010 Domaine du Petit Clos Bourgueil Green, acidic, short. CThursday Betsy and I went to the Tarry Tavern, I had marrow bone and branzi no, she had chicken mousse and scallops. We had a couple of quartinos (vint age not specifiec)
Bousquet Rose (Mendoza) Simple, sweet, sucky. C
Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough) Grapefruit and grass, thin, but at least typical (of overcropped SB). B-
Friday I was alone with some pork roast and the 2009 Joguet “Cuvee de la Cure” Chinon. No apparent oak, black raspberry and green tobacco leaf, da mp earth. Showing quite well. B+
Saturday night I went to a pre-Bastille Day party by a couple of French fri ends. Canapes of chicken liver and duck proscuitto, then a shot of cold can teloupe soup with Muscat. Firsr sitdown course was tuna carpaccio, then we had cold leg of lamb and a summer vegetable assortment, followed by 7 Frenc h cheeses and dessert. All French wines of course:
Delacroix Blanc de Blancs Very light, appley, good thirst quencher on a warm night. B-/C+
2012 Chidaine Touraine Rose Crisp, dry with sweet strawberry fruit, some minerally notes. B+/B2010 Chateau d'Oupia Minervois Very good QPR. Juicy, fruity, with soil and ferric notes. Modest tannins, g ood length. B+/B
2002 Chateau Gillet Bordeaux Big for Bdx AC, a bit clunky, still a bit of tannin. B-2000 Juge ‘Cuvee C” Cornas This was another bottle “oh I still have this” unearthed when I had to move boxes for flood cleanup. I think C is Juge’s drink young bottling, b ut this has done very well. Dark rich berry fruit, earth, herbs. Totally vi brant, tannins resolved, drinking very well. A-
1978 Ch. Beychevelle (St Julien) This didn’t actually make it to dinner, as I went to double-decant cork s lipped into bottle, while color was good I thought the wine seemed thin and advanced. Decided to go backup bottle (Meyney). Retasted when I got home i t was (just drinkable), but I think this saw warm storage, into vinegar cro ck. This compromised bottle, C/C+1988 Ch. Meyney About what one would expect- old school Bdx with still some slightly tough tannin. Modest black fruits, pencil lead, leather. B/B+
2005 Baumard "Carte d’Or” Coteaux du Layon Apples, apricots, spice, a bit short and needs more zip. B-/C+Sunday was pasta with clams and garlic chives, and the 2010 Pepiere/Ollivie r “Clisson” Muscadet. Full, ripe, vibrant, long. This can age I’d gue ss, but awfully tasty now. A-
Monday with grilled tofu and squash, plus caprese salad, the 2012 Sobreira Albarino (Rías Baixas). Light to medium bodied, floral, medium acids, eas ygoing. 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 pa rty where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivi ty, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.