Friday some nice ribeyes on the grill, the wine the 1998 Domaine Courbis St.-Joseph. Nice juicy syrah, medium-to-full-bodied, with chewy blackberry fruit. Some smoky notes. A bit on the international side, with some sweet vanilla oak notes. Pretty fun wine, though the remainders were completely shot the next day, so I wouldn't put out as a candidate for long aging. Still, for now, B/B+
Saturday Betsy made "Australian Seared Scallops" (scallops with cannelli beans, arugula, and fried sage). The author suggested chardonnay, I opened the 2002 Patrick Javiller "Cuvée de Forgets" Bourgogne Blanc. Pleasant medium-bodied chardonnay with intense sweet pear fruit, light toasty oak, and balanced acidity. Good length, clean finish, and a hint of wet rocks. B+
That evening an old friend arrived, crashing for the night before heading to city for march. Betsy was making sandwiches for a big group of marchers, we all had a glass of the 2002 Clos de la Roilette Fleurie while she sliced, spread, and assembled. Appealing nose of strawberries and flowers, light on its feet, yet with a pretty potent dose of tart raspberry fruit. Nice acidity, great $12 wine for sipping with old friends and talking politics. A-/B+
Sunday we did some housework, helped some friends pack for a move, and attended a Harry Potter birthday party. Came back to make dinner for the exhausted couple who were moving. Betsy made a summer favorite, Jacques Pepin's "Danny Kaye's Chicken Salad" (poached chicken with a fresh tarragon over boston lettuce), along with Cambodian grilled corn. We worked on the remainders of the Fleurie and Bourgogne (both holding up well), as well as the 2002 Fairview Goats Do Roam Rosé (S. Africa). Pleasant enough rosé, interesting contrast between a slightly bitter cherry fruit base and a hint of residual sugar. Not as good a match with the tarragon as the GruVe we tried last time Betsy made this recipe, but ok. A wine to drink but not search out. 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. Dale
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