Betsy had a late rehearsal Saturday, so I was in charge of dinner. I did a few minor tweaks to a pot roast recipe (bok choy stems for celery, red wine for broth, etc), when she got home we sat down to a first course of lobster salad, then pot roast, salad, and a mature (very mature) Cru Bourgeois.
But first off, the cooking wine, the 2006 L'Esprit de Chevalier (Pessac-Leognan), purchased for $5 in a Zachys case sale. Actually surprisingly solid, dark fruit with a little vanilla and some tannins. Decent length, ok Graves, but fine value at the ludicrous price, and I wish I had bought more. B
With the lobster, the 2008 Gunderloch Dry Riesling QbA. Yellow fruit, strong ginger element, good acidity, hint of sweetness. Good for level. B
With the dinner, the 1970 Cantemerle (Haut Medoc) from half bottle. OK, this should be long dead, but it was $10 on winebid with good fill,etc. OK, let's see. Red plums, soy, cedar. The red fruit has a bit of a caramel/prune edge to it, this has probably seen better days, but the fruit is still fruit, there's nice palate presence, and the finish ain't bad. Probably "objectively" this is a B-, but I'll give it a B, for lasting so well in it's pint-sized (well, almost) package.
Today I had a meeting, between prep, transport, and actual meeting, it was probably an 8 hour Sunday. Came home to find Betsy had made an old favorite, chicken bouillabaisse (a fricasee with Pernod, fennel, etc). I like rose with this, and apparently I especially like the 2008 Bart Marsannay rose. Strawberries and cherries, just a hint of bitter herbs, nice length, bright acids, Wine of the Weekend! 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.