Saturday I did beef ribs (cumin/3peppers/garlic/br.sugar rub, 90 minutes in low oven, then grilled, sauced) , roasted root veggies (kohlrabi/beet/ celeriac), and cabbage/daikon coleslaw (ok, other than ribs I was just emptying fridge). I originally thought of Zin, but ended up doing a comparison of a couple of halves of Havens. Friday a couple of friends I had split cases with during the Billington bankruptcy both said they liked the Syrahs and Merlot better the Bourriquot, thought I'd compare a couple.
2005 Havens Hudson Vineyard Syrah (Carneros) Blackberries and vanilla oak flavors, ripe, a bit gamey. At first I liked this better, but it kind of stayed static over evening as Bourriquot developed some complexity over time. Still, not bad for a $10 half. B
2006 Havens Bourriquot (Napa) A little tight at first, but more open than a 750 last year. Black and red plums, cocoa, a little herby note. Sometimes I think a hint of brett dancing around in the background, more of the wet horse than the dung variety. Moderate acids and tannins. Last glass is the best (open
4 hours). Good for $10/375. B/B+
Today a combination of work, house work, errands, and wine stuff. Betsy had a concert in White Plains, but I skipped. Rather than make dinner, I ordered pizza (Brooklyn style, with sausage, garlic, and broccoli rabe) and made salad for her return. She had a long week (VOX rehearsals, practicing for this concert, etc) so I open a "this week is over" celebration Champagne, the NV Charles Ellner Rose Brut. Fairly full, medium mousse, decent acids. Strawberries and cherries, a little brioche. A bit creamy in texture. B+
The pizza wine (hey, it doesn't HAVE to be Italian!) was the 2007 Baudry Chinon (estate bottling). Nice middleweight, red fruit, tobacco leaf, a little barnyard earth. Maybe not quite as defined as I remember from a previous bottle. B
By the way, the Chinon was good with pizza, but the Champagne even better.
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.