After being impressed with a Cazin Cour Cheverny at a dinner, I picked up a bottle of the 2004 Cazin "Le Petit Chambord" Cheverny. Very different - quite grassy with some light (just this side of dilute) gooseberry/lime fruit. OK on a hot Monday, but my mistake in matching with a shrimp/chinese sausage/baby bok choy stirfry. I went to a voice recital and premiere of a friend's new piece, returned and enjoyed a glass by itself more than with dinner. Still, there are other light wines I like better so this will not be a buy again for me. B-
Some friends invited me over to dinner last night. Knowing they're strictly red drinkers, I carried along the 2001 La Fleur du Jaugue (St. Emilion). Medium-bodied Merlot, rather soft with some light cedar/oak notes and a hint of herbs and spice. B
They opened a 2000 Louis Bernard Côtes du Rhône Villages. At first this seemed light and perhaps fading, but some air did it some good and it turned into a credible if unexciting CdR. Modest red fruit, some Provencal herbs, not a lot on finish. A better match with the dinner (a pasta with herbs and peppers) than the Bordeaux. B/B-
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.