Sunday I joined a group of friends for a nice al fresco dinner. Magnificent setting (they rent a wing of an old mansion, the rest of the house is shuttered) with great grounds, we watched the fireflies - unfortunately the family of skunks who troop by (at a safe distance) were apparently otherwise occupied last night.
Jim had said he was grilling pork loins with a chimichurri sauce from yesterday's NYT magazine, I was bringing appetizers (proscuitto and emlon) decided to bring a light red to go with the pork. So I brought the 2002 Clos de Roilette Fleurie. Unfortunately this slurpable treat didn't make it to the main course, but I at least managed to fill my glass a couple times as it was finished quickly. Nose of wild strawberries and flowers, nicely concentrated red (raspberry/cherry) fruit with a nice clean minerally finish. Beautiful wine, I'm sad I'm down to last few. A-
Things slid a bit from that point on (winewise, the pork was delcious, as were the rice, beans, and grilled pineapple). The hostess's stock wine was out, the 2003 Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay. There' s a bit of sweetness there, if a bit less than I remember from vintages from the 1990s. Bosc pear fruit, a little oak/buttersotch note. Better than I expected - I tend to use KJ Chard as a codeword for "boring bad industrial swill", but not an exciting wine. B-/C+
The 2002 Raymond Estates Merlot (Napa, I think)seemed to have a sweet edge to it, also. Rather thin red plum and blackberry fruit, somewhat short with that edge of sweetness on the finish. C/C+
Actually had a lot of fun, with great people, but mostly drank sparkling water after the Fleurie had fled.
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