Labor Day was a scorcher, but the crowd that descended on our backyard seem ed not to mind. Betsy and I had prepared plenty of food for the grill- ribs , teriyaki salmon, herbed corn, various sausages, hot dogs, squash with za' tar, lamb chops, and clams in lemon garlic. Betsy has also made potato sala d, broccoli salad, & guacamole. Friends brought cajun shrimp for the grill ,another potato salad, beet salad, couscous, quinoa, watermelon/feta salad and lots of other things I lost track of. The whites
2013 PY Colin-Morey Bourgogne Blanc Full for Bourgogne, but with lifting acids. Yellow pit fruits and apples, f loral, good length. B+/B
2004 Belliviere "l'Effraie" Coteaux de Loir I loved this in its youth,but time and cork seal have not been good to it. Oxidized and nutty. C-
2006 Pepiere Clos des Briords Muscadet Time has been good indeed to this. Stellar showing. seashells and rocks ato p citrus, smooth, long on the finish with the saline/mineral notes dominati ng. Sure this can hold but pretty much all I want in Muscadet right now. A-
1985 Trimbach Cuvee Seigneurs des Ribeaupierre Gewurztraminer Amazingly young, good clear color, lychee and rocks, good acids for Gewurzt raminer, nice length. Holds up till day 2! B+/A-
2010 Trimbach Riesling More rocks than fruit, steely, crisp. Unmoving on day 2. B
2014 Collestefano Verdicchio di Matelica Good acids, lemony, fresh, great match with grilled clams with lemon and ga rlic. B+
2014 Alverdi Pinot Grigio (terre Degli Osci) Thin, a bit grassy (I though overcropped SB till I saw label), at least it' s cold. Even less appealing on day 2 C+
A lone rose
2014 Vissoux (Chermette) "Griottes" Beaujolais rose Fresh, snappy, fun. B+/B
Some reds, mostly chilled, were inside
2014 Clos Roche Blanche "Pif"Touraine Peppery dark fruit, fresh and young. I quite like, and am sorry this is fin al vintage for this winery. B+
2013 Filliatreau Ch. Fouquet Saumur Black cherry, tobacco, a little green pepper. Fun and balanced. B/B+
2012 Eminence Road "Elizabeth's Vineyard" Cabernet Franc Red fruits and herbs, a little muted (too long in an icechest), hard to jud ge at 32 degrees but I like.
1994 Lindemans St George Cabernet Sauvignon Well, I wrote this down, but no notes. I opened, decanted and checked for c orkiness, then went to grill duty. By time I returned it was gone gone gone . All I know plenty of fruit left.
1985 Meyney Nice showing from an old friend, fully mature, maybe beginning downslide, b ut still some firm cassis and black cherry fruit, cigarbox, leather. Tannin s resolved, smooth and plummy. B+
Fun afternoon/evening with good people (as long as I could periodically vis it AC).
So after I had a bunch of reds open several people showed up with reds in t ow, that were never opened. Rather that take to cellar and forget, decided I'd open one a night. Last night (with leftovers from party- couscous, salm on, salad) I mostly tried opened whites from Labor Day, but also opened th e 2010 Alquezar (Somontano). Tempranillo, Monastel, and Cabernet Sauvignon, this is soft and innocuous, red plum and berry fruit with a slightly swert edge. B-/C+
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.