Sunday Betsy was having fun with a new Indian cookbook and spent the afternoon grinding spices; then she served a delicious chicken in a tomato masala sauce along with mixed greens/potatoes, rice with cauliflower, and papadum. OK, looks like seltzer with dinner. But before and after a glass of the 2000 Fournier "La Charnivolle" Menetou-Salon (this was replacement bottle for a corked one). Light and sprightly, lemon and grapefruit fruit. Some chalk on the finish. Nice $9 wine. B
Monday we were eating with neighbors, and knew they've almost certainly be serving pasta with a red sauce. Carried over a Salice Salentino, but they already had a bottle of NV Marietta Lot 32 Red open. This I think is a field blend, with assorted grapes, but mainly seems Zinfandel-ish. Kind of brambly blackberry/raspberry fruit, nice mouthfilling texture, quite good in a somewhat rustic sense. Not especially acidic, but enough to stand up to a load of sausages in red sauce with pasta. B/B+
Sick kids led to a last-minute cancellation by some dinner guests Tuesday, but some quick phones gathered alternates to save us from eating 2 lbs of pasta (with mushrooms and spinach) by ourselves. The wine was the 2001 Olivier Leflaive “Les Sétilles” Bourgogne Blanc. Bright crisp apple fruit, very light oak aromas with a nice minerally aftertaste. Good food wine and a deal at $11. B+
Wednesday was leftovers from assorted previous days, accompanied by the 2001 Trimbach Riesling. Tense, steely wine with lemon and apple fruit topped with a stoney finish. Nice wine, but even this basic bottling could use a little time. B+
Thursday Betsy was rehearsing a Rossini duet in the city with our bassist friend Joe. I took the train down to join them, and after looking at a card he got recently from Bartolo Mascarello, we all walked to 106th & Columbus to Cafe A. Teeny-tiny restaurant, the food is cooked elsewhere and then warmed with microwaves and toaster ovens. Sounds terrible, huh? Actually , it was pretty good. I had appetizer of smoked mussels, Betsy a pheasant pate, and Joe a Fuji-apple cheese fondue (cheese inside the apple). For main courses we had venison sausage, duck confit, and mushroom ragout. Everything was tasty (and cheap). No wine license, so we had brought our own. A 375 of the 2000 Jean Noel Gagnard Chassagne-Montrachet "Les Masures" was unfortunately slightly corked. You could get glimpses of minerals, oak, and rich fruit underneath, but the mustiness took all the enjoyment out of it. The 1999 Ch. Siran (Margaux) was a good example of its vintage (a pleasant early-drinker) and its appelation (pretty rather than burly). A nice medium-bodied claret with good blackcurrant and red plum fruit, a slightly floral nose with some distinct toasty oak, apparent but ripe tannins and a moderate acidity. B+ We opened a bottle of 1990 Monsanto "Il Poggio" Chianti Classico Riserva with a little hesitation - Joe had picked up at auction, and was concerned re fill and provenance (fill was down a little, but not enough to be really concerned-bottom neck). Hey, Wine of the Week! Classic Chianti, medium bodied with a nice acidic backbone. Nose of black cherries and mushrooms, palate featuring dried cherry fruit with a bit of plum. As it opens up some tobacco and leather aromas emerge. Perfectly balanced, fully mature, what Tuscan wines should be. A-
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.
Dale
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