Tuesday Betsy was working and I made dinner for David and myself. Chicken thighs in a soy-red wine sauce, broccoli, and leftover brown rice. I hadn't opened an Italian wine in a while, so went for a 1998 Beni di Batasiolo Barolo. Hard and unyielding at first, but just 15 minutes of decanting let out some cherry fruit and violets. Pleasant enough medium-bodied Nebbiolo, but the tannins were still a bit grating. Tasted 2 nights later it was a bit better, yet didn't have anything explicitly Barolo about it. What you get in $20 Barolo. B-
Wednesday Betsy made lemon sole, along with a great potato/herb soup (using the last of her garden herbs). Dinner was served with a 375 of the 1999 Michaud "The Pinnacles" Chardonnay (Chalone appelation, Monterey). Sweet white peach fruit with a little apple and lemon, big and oaky. Not my favorite style, but well-made, and there's a mineral note on the finish to make this more interesting than your typical high-oak high alcohol Cal Chard. Bad choice on my part (I literally ran to cellar to grab a white), the dish called for something much lighter. A lobster would have been better pairing. But good for style, and a deal at the $5/375 I paid. B
Speaking of good in a style that' s not my fave, I had leftover Barolo with pizza last night. Then opened a 2002 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles). Thick blackberry and blackcurrant fruit, just a hint of oak. But the jammy sweetness of the fruit overwhelms a bit. This is really a fruitbomb. I actually didn't mind it on its own, but this wouldn't be a good food wine.Lacks the presence and grace of the Isosceles, but probably a crowd-pleaser for a non-geek crowd. 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.