Monday was grilled chicken with the 2013 Mas de Gourgonnier rose. A little softer than I remember from other years, plump strawberry and cherry, a lit tle herb, solid. B/B-
Tuesday I was in city with the Gonon-heads, but Betsy's friend joined her f or dinner. They were having shrimp and pesto on linguine, so I chilled them a bottle of the 2013 Colle Stefano Verdicchio di Matelica. I tried last gl ass while we were cooking Wednesday. Quite nice, good QPR. Floral, citrus f ruit, a light resinous note. Balanced acids, clean and tasty. B+/B
Wednesday was family dinner, Dave plus Betsy's sister and family- a seafood salad (clams, squid, scallops) over garden lettuce, fruit salad, etc. Clam s were steamed in the 2012 Drouhin " Laforet" Bourgogne Blanc. Apples, ripe r than usual, moderate acids, pleasant, straightforward, good value. B-
I served the 2013 Pepiere "Clos des Briords" Muscadet. At first I thought t his might be corked, but whatever light mustiness blew off leaving more of a leesy note. Fills out, rich lemony fruit, saline notes, mineral. Another great Briords, if maybe not quite as compelling as the 2012. B+/A-
Thursday a colleague of Betsy's came to dinner along with her husband and t eenage. We started off with canapes (duck rilletes, boar sausage, smoked sa lmon) and the 2002 Montaudon Brut Champagne. I actually thought I had grabb ed a NV Champagne, and would have been happy with this showing for a NV, ma ybe. This seemed a tad dull and pedestrian for vintage champers, and didn't have much of a finish. Others liked more than I did. B-
Dinner was chicken breast with mint sauce, a pasta salad, and cole slaw. We tried a couple of wines
2006 Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Black cherry, coffee, smoke. Pretty and elegant, with the ripeness of the v intage and at least balanced acidity. Some tannin, full. B+
1971 Sterling Pinot Noir OK, this was a pleasant surprise when we had Memorial Day, so decided to tr y another bottle, since it was Independence Day Eve called for a US wine (I figure ThJ had finished by night of the 3rd). Hmmm, this was a bit funky w hen opened. Some air time, then a quick sip. Funkiness blown off, but seems a bit thin. Yet it comes on strong with more time, fills out with tart but ripe cranbery and raspberry fruit. Some soy, some smoke, interesting wine with plenty to give. B+
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.