Betsy is away at Monadnock Music, so I'm fending for Dave and I. Thursday was eel (unagi kabayaki- from freezer section at Asian grocery, this was so good for so cheap I'm never ordering unadon at a restaurant again), leftover pasta salad, and a green salad. Seemed to call for red, so I opened the 2007 Ilarria Irouleguy. I've seen Iroulegy compared to Bordeaux, and as it's mostly Tannat like Madiran that seems reasonable (as Madiran is my fave Bdx ringer). But I can't see that with this one. Cru Beaujolais, Bourgueil, or even Lagrein would seem closer to me. Red fruit, bright acidity, present but light tannins. Strawberries, cherries, and herbs. Not Bordeaux, but very enjoyable midbodied wine. Good deal at $18, I'll go for more. B+/B
Friday as work day ended I was eying the $4/lb lobsters at Stew's and thinking with the beautiful corn and tomatoes I had gotten in co-op halfshare, I could do the James Boyce lobster/corn/tomato salad and open a good white Burg. When David said he'd be with his girlfriend and not be home for dinner, I started to change plans- why do a mutli- step recipe and open a 1er cru just for me? But then I reconsidered- I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and dog gone it, people like me. Why not? So I went to Stews, parboiled lobsters, cooked corn (using thyme and pepper from garden rather than thyme), assembled salad. And opened a 2005 Matrot 1er. But the pox was (barely) lifting it's ugly head. Should I just bear with it, or splurge for something more? I am a worthy human being. OK, I'll compromise, a half bottle.
2005 Matrot Meursault-Charmes. Medium to full bodied, apple cider, honey, nuts. Obvious signs of oxidation, I put aside for a while. Revisited later, the oxidation seems more integrated, this seems like a just over the hill 15 year old Meursault. For a 2005 Meursault 1er, C+, for a random possibly old white Burg, B/B-. And that's okay.
2004 Ch. Lagrange (from half bottle) Cassis and black cherry, toast and a little vanilla, medium bodied claret, good length, nice wine. 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.