Went to dinner at some friends' home last night, fun night with close friends (and new friends). With some crab salad and avocado on red and green endive, the NV Gruet Brut Rose/ Cherry and strawberry, dry, straightforward, good. B-/B
First plated course was green salad with some warm nut/chevre slices, then main course was spaghetti bolognese. Some wines were sampled, too!
2007 Argiano "NC" Toscano Rosso Very ripe, low acid, quite popular. No obvious oak, but still the ripeness puts it solidly modern to my tastes. B-
2006 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Decanted about an hour before returning to bottle for 3 block trip. Solid red fruit, good acidity, fairly tannic. Some tar and licorice. Needs time, but I like. B+
2007 Ch. Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon I've usually found the CSM wines good value if not neccesarily exciting. This however can across as oaky, sweet, and short. C+
Tonight with roast chicken and vegetables, roast herbed potatoes, and kale with pecorno, the 2007 Dom. de la Renardiere "Jurassique" Arbois Pupillin Chardonnay. Fresh, lemon and apple fruit, fairly large framed, tasty wine. No Overnoy chard, but nice nonetheless. 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.