With a slow cooker chicken tikka masala, brown rice, and salad, the 2008 Cl emen-Busch Marienburg Riesling Grosses Gewaches. Long, full, nice acids wit hout any austerity or “screech.” Peaches, apples, spice. Very long, I s houlda bought more of this. A-
With (incredibly good) meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and sauteed red mustard g reens, the 2000 Ch. Dassault (St Emilion). With comments about less expensi ve B2K crashing, thought this was a good time to visit this. Nice in a mid- modern style ,ripe plums and mocha, rather lush and low acid texture, prett y mature (I think you’d be fine over next 5 years). Very Merlot-y, nice f or what it is. B+/B
Some old friends (and their pup) came to dinner, dogs got marrow bones whil e the people had canapes of smoked duck breast and salmon. Opener was the N V Castellroig Cava Brut -crisp, nervy/steely, not very fruity, good value. B/B+
Main course was bouillabaisse , with an asparagus side and a sorrel salad. For varying tastes, I put out three wines
2011 Clos Roche Blanche “#2” Sauvignon Blanc Lovely dynamic between the citrusy fruit and the minerally finish. Vibrant, good length, buy more. B++2012 Domaine des Costes Bergerac rose Light, easy, pleasant and a good match with the bouillabaisse. B
1997 Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon This bottle seemed much more advanced than others from same case- the vagar ies of cork. Plummy fruit, leather, ashtray, tired. B-/C+Friday I had leftovers (primarily meatloaf), with the 2011 Baudry Chinon (t his is the domaine bottling). Black cherries, light tannin, a tantalizing w hiff of green herbs/green tobacco leaf. Drinking well, nice. 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 pa rty where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivi ty, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.