As soon as Betsy got back from a concert in Fairfield yesterday, we headed over to some friends' home for dinner. Definitely not a wine- geeky crowd, but there was wine!
2005 Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay The last time I had this bottling (couple years ago) I thought it boring yet still better than I expected. Maybe raising my expectations to "boring" was a mistake. I really hated this. Noticable sweetness, popcorn fake butteriness, short. In a non-geeky setting I hate to dump the hostess's house wine, luckily I had taken small pour. I took it like a man. :) C-
I had brought a couple of bottles, trying to match with "grilled curry spiced chicken" (along with grilled bananas, an excellent cornbread/ mango salad).
2006 Domaine du Clos du Fief (Michel Tete) Julienas Ah, this is better. Sweet raspberry fruit, a bit of cherry, smooth and silky. I loved, and so did others- bottle was drained quickly (before food, actually). B+/A-
N.V. Terres Dorees (JP Brun) FRV 100 Normally this is something I'd serve as a summer apertif, but thought the sweetness and light petillance would be an interesting approach to the chicken's spices (I thought it did pretty well). Nothing complicated here, just a fun frothy quaff. Strawberries and macerated cherries, not any length to speak of, but fun and different. B
Good night with good people.
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.