Saturday I was doing house chores, and decided time to do vinegar/ bottling harvesting. Usually I put in a bottle+ of leftover wines to get next batch started, but only had about a third of a bottle of Volnay around. When I went to find something inexpensive to sacrifice, spotted a mag of 2006 Sutter Home Cabernet Sauvignon that had been brought to a party a year (or two?) ago. Time to get that out of basement. Figured 15-20 oz in crock, 2 to taste, 10-12 to marinade steak for dinner, and I can send remainder with Dave when he goes to a party in Brooklyn (20-somethings are not so picky as a rule).. Actually, this was very very sweet, but not as awful as I anticipated. Light to medium bodied, sweet black cherry fruit with a hint of green, sweetness dominates, quite short. But not nasty or flawed, just boring and sweet. C+
So I had marinaded skirt steak in the Cabernet, with minced chipotle in adobo & garlic. Grilled those with some squash, plus got some peas from freezer and the 2008 St. Cosme "Les Deux Albions" Cotes du Rhone from cellar. I actually tend to prefer the base St Cosme CdR, but this was on sale for $10 so I grabbed a few. Ripe, rich Southern Rhone fruit, seems more Grenache-y than Mourvedre or Syrah- more red fruited, in a kirsch meets chambord style. Some peppery spice. Good structure with firm tannins, good length, but a touch of heat. Maybe needs a little time, hope the heat doesn't win out. B/B-
Scorcher Sunday, I tried to get yardwork done early. In afternoon I put together a watermelon/papaya/mint/feta salad, and went to a 4th of July party. As it was 95 degrees, I mostly drank seltzer, but sampled a few wines (though I skipped the Smoking Loon):
NV Castellroig Cava OK, usually for 4th I bring US wines, or French in honor of Lafayette et al as a backup. But with heat I wanted something that could be plunged into ice bath and served very very cold. Cava fits the bill. This was great as a hot weather wine- light bodied, green apples with a bit of orange zest and a yeasty/bready edge. Crisp, though there is a little edge of sweetness. Not complex, but gulpable on a hot day. B
2007 Marietta Cabernet Sauvignon I really hated this, but it's truly unfair to write a serious note on this- it was sitting on table for at least an hour. I can't believe people were taking real (as opposed to tasting) pours of this, the wine had to be at least 85 degrees. I found sweet, alcoholic, and gross,but wine could actually be fine. But this and the Smoking Loon were emptied, I guess some people really do prefer red!2009 Crios Malbec Rose Bigger styled rose, cherries and strawberries, a bit of heat. Good finish. I prefer a sprightlier pink, but this isn't bad. B/B-
2008 Henri Boillot Bourgogne Blanc. Bigger heavier style of Bourgogne, apples and pears with hazelnut and butterscotch. Rich wine more suited for a rich fish or chicken dish than summer sipping, but good (plastic cork, so no aging) BNice party, with lots of good food, good people, and our traditional reading of the Declaration of Independence. I headed home to let the dog out before heading back to river for fireworks, but the Basset looked so sad I was leaving again I decided just to stay home!
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.