No wine Monday (stewed tofu, mushrooms) but Tuesday friends invited the hou nd and I to dinner. The dogs had rawhide while we started with lonza wrappe d around fig and parmesan, and the 2016 Ch. de l’Eperonniere Rose d e Loire. Unsure of cepage, but nice spicy red fruit with a touch of herbine ss. Light and easy. B
First course was Rhode Island style clam chowder (no cream, no tomato), wit h the
2014 Guillerault-Fargette “Les Panseillots” Sancerre. Lemon , grass, and gooseberry, moderate acids, modest length. B-
Main was grilled (line caught) swordfish with a fruit salsa, asparagus, and salad. Wine was the
2015 de Villaine Bouzeron Aligote. Richer version this vintage, full but ba lanced, citrus with saline mineral notes. B++
Wednesday was a scorcher, but it was actually fairly pleasant in the shade with a breeze at the river concert (good crowd).. Lobsters were on sale at Stew Leonard’s so I made a citrusy lobster salad to share, and carr ied pate, lonza w/figs again, stewed tofu, melon, and charred leeks. Others shared grilled beef, wheatberry/feta salad, salami, and more.
2011 de Courcel Bourgogne blanc Softer rounder style, hazelnut and honey, ok. B-
2016 Ameztoi “Rubentis” Txakolina rose Just a hint of petillance, strawberry and raspberry, intense lime zest note s, seaspray. In past I haven’t been so impressed with the rose but this is a buy again. B+
2016 Cazin Cheverny rose Bright, lively acids, cherry with a nice hint of bitters, fun. B+
2014 Domaine Grand Trousseau (Cotes du Jura) Light, nicely tart, very floral with raspberry fruit. I enjoy. B+/B
I missed vintage on Ostatu Rioja rosado but it didn’t seem very fre sh, maybe it’s last year’s 2015. Spiky, a little heat, tire d strawberries lying on the ground. C+/C
Lots of fun with friends despite heat.
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.