Tuesday we had some dinner invites, but the hound had to have a little surg ery (no cancer!). So we had a quiet night, Betsy made a family staple of ch icken schnitzel over herb salad, and I opened a bottle of GV. The 2008 Nigl “Senftenberger Piri” Gruner Veltliner was a winner- snow peas meet gre en peas, citrus, just a hint of sugar, long minerally finish, good length. Classic and tasty, good with the schnitzel. B+/A-
Wedneday Betsy’s sis and niece joined us for Franey’s clams in a cream sauce over pasta, with spinach on the side. Cooking wine was 2011 Shaya Ver dejo . Soft, peaches and a little lemon, mellow and round. I’m ok with it as a $10 wine, but could use a bit more zip. B-
Main wine was the 2012 Pepiere “Briords” Muscadet. Full, rich, and sal ine, rich lemon curd over seashells. Pretty much all I could want in a Musc adet. Can age, but tasty now over 2 days. Lovely. A-
Late dinner Thursday with strip steaks, grilled corn, grilled peppers, and salad. I had recently run across a box of small/satellite Bdx that had been tucked away longer than I had planned. The 2001 Ch. Les Cruzelles (Lalande de Pomerol) still had fruit, but it had even more TCA, corked, dammit. The 2000 Ch. Tayac Cuvee Reserve (Cotes du Bourg) was ready and easygoing, a s ofter style with resolved tannins, red plum fruit, some cigarbox and forest floor. Not a lot left in reserve here, don’t think it will age like the
1989 did, but who cares, drinking well now and it was inexpensive. BGrade 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 pa rty where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivi ty, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.