With a chicken and soba noodle stirfry, the NV Renardat-Fache Cerdon du Bug ey. Lightly sweet, lightly bubbly, light minerality, light (very light) alc ohol.. Kind of defines "not serious" in a very fun way. Why don't I do this more often? B+/B
With spicy flank steak,, the 2011 Clos Roche Blanche "Pif". Juicy, good aci ds, cranberry fruits, none of the piney-ness that sometimes compromises my enjoyment of wines with a big Pineau d'Aunis component. B/B+
With steamed mussels, a lentil/rice medley, & asparagus, the 2012 Pepiere " Les Gras Moutons" Muscadet. Fuller and fatter than say the Briords, good ac ids, some floral notes over white fruits, quite nice. B+/B
With chicken, tomato soup, and pasta, the 2007 Felsina "Rancia" Chianti Cla ssico Riserva. Big, fruity, some tannin, this was a very good wine but some how didn't move me- at moment I think I'd rather drink the regular Felsina . Needs time. For now B
Some friends of Betsy's were in town from Boston working on a piece, so we gathered a nice group for dinner Saturday. While we were waiting for the co mposer and arranger to finish, we munched on olives and had a couple bubbli es:
NV Moutard "Rose de Cuvaison" Brut Champagne: deep color, spice and blood orange flavors, large scaled, nice acids, fine mousse. New to me - will buy again. A-/B+
NV T. Germain "Bulles de Roche" Saumur Brut. Dry almost austere, zippy aci ds, I liked this but hard to show really well following the more giving Cha mpagne. B
Cooking wine was the 2012 Defino Catarratto. Moderate acids, a bit dilute, ok for inexpensive Sicilian but (unlike Defino Frappato) not a re-buy. B-/C
+I had made a first course of shrimp and mushroom timbales, served with the lovely
2012 Pepiere "Briords" Muscadet. Full, briney, sprightly, just yum. A-Main course was white beans and lamb, with salad with tahini dressing. The piece they were working on is based on St. Francis of Assisi, so went with an Umbrian wine , the
2009 Fongoli Montefalco Rosso. Red plums, a hint of vanilla, innocuous. B-I had also decanted the 2001 Marcarini "La Serra" Barolo. With a couple hou rs air this showed nicely (and rebottled at end of night showed well Sunday ). Black cherries, a little tar, some floral notes. Some tannin, good acids . B+ A guest had brought the 2008 Muga Riserva Rioja. This was probably table's favorite, but not at my seat. Red fruit bordering on confected, strong vani lla note, this is a wine I've liked in previous vintages but this seems too ripe for me. B-/C+
Sunday we had Dave and Betsy's sister with her family for dinner. Tuna stea ks in a Sicilian (tomato, caper, olive) sauce with quinoa, salad. We tried several open bottles from the night before, as well as the 2012 Terre Nere Etna Rosso. Medium bodied, some slightly astringent tannin, red and black c herries, herby. B
Last night I made wine braised venison steaks, spinach, and sugar snap peas ; wine was a
375 ml bottle of 2004 Ch. Lagrange (St. Julien). Cassis and cocoa, just a h int of the oak, medium to full bodied, fairly smooth tannin. Good and drink ing well from small format, though a bit primary. 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 pa rty where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivit y, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.