Saturday we went to dinner at some friends' home in Scarborough. Dinner was sole stuffed with crab with an almond crust, pureed butternut, and salad. I carried a couple of wines, both were served
1998 Vieux Chateau Chauvin Black fruits, a little ferric note, a bit short for a RB from '98. B-2014 Pepiere "Briords" Muscadet I think this is neck to neck with the 2012 as my favorite Briords since 200
4 (though I can't think of a vintage I didn't like). Lemony fruit, saline a nd fennel notes, bracing crispness, long satisfying finish. A-Sunday we had friends and their dog over for dinner. First up canapes with assorted toppings- peas, pesto, olives, and anchovies, and a bubbly
NV Pinon Vouvray Petillant Non-Dose Brut At first I thought this was a bit weird, with a rubberytreductive note, but that blew off and left some nice bubbly. Granny smith, lemon, chalk. B+
Betsy had made a Moroccan influenced chicken and chickpea stew as well as a salad
2011 Maison Bleue "Jaja" I liked this before (and couple people liked this a lot) but didn't appeal so much last night. Modest kirschy fruit, a little pepper note, not very lo ng. Off bottle or just me? B-/C+2014 Billards St Amour Pretty and deep, sappy cherry fruit with some herbal accents. Good stuff. B
+2014 Lapierre Raisins Gaulois Light and easy, cranberry and cherries with bright acids. Good QPR., B
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a p arty where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivi ty, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.