A nice dinner at outside table at Saint George in Hastings. We loved our starters (beef tartare for me, vegetable soup with pistou for Betsy, then she had excellent mussels in curry, I liked my gnocchi with chanterelles and corn, but could have crisped the gnocchi a bit more.A couple BTG:
2021 Moulin de Gassac rose Strawberries, red plum, light herbs, very serviceable. B
2020 Vattan Sancerre Soft, grassy, could use some zip. B-/C+
Spicy shrimp and greens, a recipe Ottolenghi credited to one of his chefs who grew up in Philippines. ,
2019 Emrich-Schönleber Mineral Riesling trocken Lovely zippy/nervy wine, tangy citrus and wet rocks, though the dish was spicy enough that a bit more RS wouldn’t have hurt. But that is my fault, not the wine’s. B+/A-
Up to Tarrytown where we were first guests in friends’ new apartment (lovely view of the TZ bridge). Smoked salmon, smoked mussels NV Gosset Grand Reserve Champagne Pears, almonds, and rye bread, elegant mousse, fun wine. B+
Ron made veal piccata, roast potatoes, broccoli
2021 Pibarnon Bandol rose Strawberries, orange peel, chalky finish, fine wine. B++
2008 Lopez de Heredia “Cubillo” Rioja This bottle seemed a little tired and short, storage? C+ for this bottle
2019 Collestefano Verdicchio di Matellica A little light for the veal, but a good wine in own right. B/B+
Saturday nice dinner catching up with friends (they spent summer in Nova Scotia) on their deck. Caprese, halibut, roast carrots and fennel, salad, wine was the 2019 Bichot St Veran. Ripe appley Chardonnay, friends enjoyed, but I think this needed more verve and grip. B-
Betsy’s mom joined us for Bolognese sauce over pappardelle, with broccoli rabe and the
2019 Montesecondo Chianti Classico Dried cherry, red plum, some saddle leather and earth, good,. B/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 party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.