Ah, Friday was Day 11 (after 10 days with no wine, we both needed to drop a few pounds).. Betsy made almond crusted salmon,rice, and arugula; I opened the 2006 Chanrion (Voute des Crozes) Cote de Brouilly. Sappy with pomegr anate and black cherry fruit, smoke, a little earth. Mature but holding nic ely (drank well on day 2 as well). B+
Then over to Fred’s for local non-serious wine group. Nice night on deck, great spread -pate, tapenade, hummus, tomato with basil and anchovy, cheeses, etc (I had to use self-restraint not to add back anything I? ?d lost in previous 10 days). Theme was “Island wines- Sicily, Sa rdinia, and Corsica” - I carried a Corsican red and an Etna white, thinking everyone would bring Sicilian reds. Oops.
Some whites
2015 Argiolas Vermentino Canteloupe, limes, a little grass. Nice and bright. B
2012 Terre Nere Etna Bianco Lemon, melon, a little saline note. Full, good acids. B/B+
2015 Terre Nere Etna Bianco This seems a bit oaky , but with good acids and a long finish. B/B+
On to the blind reds #1- very light color, floral nose with pine accents, raspberries, high aci ds, Nice with the food. I correctly guessed Corsica.
2010 Domaine U Stiliccionu “Antica” (Ajaccio). B+/A-
#2 -also very light. Strawberries and raspberries, herbal. Another nice wi ne. 2012 Abbatucci Rouge Frais Imperial B+
#3 - bigger, riper, darker. Reminded me of a somewhat modern CdP or CdR, gu essed Cannonau. Right island, wrong grape (Carignan with little bit inter national grapes)
2012 Punica Barrua B-
#4 - ripe, kirsch with herbs and cedar, but midbodied, I got NdA. 2014 Cal la Nero d’Avola B/B-
#5. Red fruit, fragrant, herby, elegant.
2012 Abbatucci Cuvee Collection "Ministre Imperial" B+/A-
#6 ripe, red fruits (raspberry), a little leather and oak.
2012 Sella & Mosca Cannonau di Sardenga B-
#7 - overripe, clunky, I guess similar to #3, but I wasn’t guessing at this point and had no clue it was same wine.
2010 Punica Barrua B-/C+
Nice night, nice walk home.
Saturday we had skirt steak, quinoa, bok choy, salad. Wine was the 2006 C have “Offerus” St. Joseph. Seems more like Southern Rhone b lend than Syrah to me, ripe, seems a little hot (though 13.5), some nice sm oky/meaty notes with air that seem more Northern. Not bad, but I think I? ??ll no longer buy “cheap” (negoce) Chave. B
Sunday took Betsy to an early flight, chores all day, rewarded myself with a (on sale) chicken lobster. Served wth corn with garam masala, tomato, mor e quinoa, salad, and the 2014 Bessin Chablis Vieille Vignes. Intensely lemo ny on palate, with floral and wax notes on nose. Full, snappy acids, good s tuff. B++
Monday was wineless and meatless (tofu, pak choy, okra).
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 p arty where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivi ty, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.