Tuesday I visited neighbors for dinner- ham and vegetable soup, salad, garlic bread, and a couple of reds
2007 Grangier St. Joseph A forgotten cellar orphan, this has held on well if not especially complex. Red and black berry fruit, smoke, rather high acids, no tannin. B-2010 Drouhin Fleurie Bright, cranberry and raspberry, sweet but a little short. But I liked. B/B-
Thursday a local pork chop, quinoa, broccoli, & squash
2004 Pavelot ?La Dominode? Savigny-les-Beaune 1er Only a hint of the greenie meanies,but it seems a bit flat - is it shut down or tiring? Really not that fun now. B-/C+.A last minute gathering at my place Friday. We started with oysters on halfshell , salmon pastrami canapes, and pimento-cheese bacon bites NV Castellroig Cava Crisp, tangy, solid value B
I did miso salmon, Brussels sprouts, rice with furikake and salad, Rosalie brought so ribs
2007 Furst ?pur Mineral? Weissburgunder (Franken) OK this was a pleasant surprise. I think this would have done well as a ringer in a 1er Chablis flight. Stony minerality, snappy citrus fruit, good length. B+/A-2016 Hirtzberger Steinterrasen Federspiel Riesling Full, a bit plodding, I usually love Hirtzberger but this could use more verve. B-
2014 Edmunds St John Rocks and Gravel This was a little odd at first, hint of spritz, cranberry fruit, super tangy. Seemed to calm down with time. Fresh fruit, good length,. B/B+ at endSome other friends came over Saturday. We did a primi of spaghetti bolognese, with the
1985 San Giusto a Rentennano Chianti Classico Riserva. A bit acrid, gains ground with air, dried cherry, black cherry, leather. Holding quite well for 30+ year Chianti. B?B+Sous vide lamb chops, sweet potato, broccoli rabe
1959 CVNE Vina Real Reserva Especial (375) Hint of VA, but manageable, cherry fruit with spice and incense. Good not great, but birthyear wine for both guests.BSunday I went to a Hanukkah party Sunday. Nice spread- Latkes, chicken, cheesesteak NV Pierre Peters Cuvee de Reserve Didn?t do code for disgorgement/base, but not a recent release. But lovely and crisp, Granny Smith and lemon, floral, some yeasty notes. B+
NV Brun FRV100 Nothing complex here, just slurpable off-dry fun. B
NV Moet & Chandon Ice Imperial Popular with those who like a bit of sweetness, it?s like canned fruit cocktail with bubbles.C+
NV Underwood Rose sparkling (OR) Don?t know producer. Lightly sweet, macerated strawberries,coarse mousse. C+/B-
SR Brut Anderson Valley Don?t know producer. Good crispness, reasonably elegant mousse, good finish, Fred says $12 -good value. B
2017 La Petite Perrieres Sauvignon Blanc (Touraine I think) Grassy, a bit shrill, but clean finish and good with food. B-2017 Jadot Beaujolais-Villages Very good for level/price point- black cherry, smoke, a little herb. Good length, clean.B
2001 Paul Chapelle ?Gravieres? Santenay Surprisingly still a bit structured, both tannin and acid. Cherry and black cherry, tart but not harsh, some soil on finish. B/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 party where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.