Monday Betsy made a chicken with prunes recipe, it had run in NYT a while ago as an accompaniment for Priorat. I didn't have a Priorat handy (my one bottle of Embruix would have required heavy lifting), so brought up a Cotes du Rhone.
She needed a little white wine for the recipe, I opened a liter bottle of the 2005 Berger Gruner Veltliner (Kremstal). We had a glass as an apertif - light and easy, a little saline note over some peach and pea fruit. Nothing complex, but certainly good QPR at $9/liter. B
With the chicken, brown rice, and green beans in a walnut/miso pesto, the 2001 Domaine des Relanges Cotes du Rhone. I had put this aside after a bottle a couple years ago to see if the rather green tannins would integrate. Well, yes, but what is left is an acidic harsh mess. Sweet Tarts™ doused in pureed underripe strawberry, a green herbal backdrop. Everything a Rhone shouldn't be. C
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.