Tuesday I didn't have wine with dinner (chicken meatballs with rice and raita), but after going to city to distribute some supplies I had a glass of the 2010 Aplatagua Chardonnay Reserva (Casablanca Valley). Ripe apple, no apparent oak chip, a touch of grass and gooseberry, this reminds me more of SB than Chard, but at $5/half who's complaining. B-
Last night a couple of friends came up from city and Yonkers to celebrate the birthday of one; Betsy did a nice job with spahgetti with "green puttanesca" sauce, squash, watermelon/feta salad, and a freeform peach tarte.
NV Philipponnat "Royale Reserve" Brut Champagne Good acidity, midbodied, not much yeast but plenty of chalk. B
2008 Drouhin Vaudon (Joseph Drouhin) Chablis 1er Cru. I've really liked this before, but this seemed a bit flat and muted- with a bit of a nutty note. Doesn't seem shutdown, I wonder if there is a little cork failure (or TCA, though I don't detect). Drinkable, but nowhere near as enjoyable as normal. B-/C+
2001 Ch. Gloria (St Julien) Charles is mostly a red guy, so we also had this. Nice showing - sweet cassis, tobacco, earth, enough acidity that the mouthfeel isn't heavy, resolved tannins, in a good place. I wouldn't hold these for a long time,but nice now. 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