No wine Friday as we flew to ATL (after walking from the shuttle-deficient valet parking, I offered Betsy a glass in terminal, but she declined, and I decided not to pay markups to drink a glass alone). Saturday I decided to skip as well, supermarket wines didn’t appeal and not there long en ough to warrant trip to wine store. Next night was dinner with mom, bro, an d SIL. BBQ shrimp and pimento cheese eggs to start, I had (dry, wilted) Cae sar but with good fried oysters, Betsy had spicy shrimp tacos. Not much of list, but we tried
2013 Conundrum Is this still Caymus or did they sell brand? First time I’ve tried in many years. Soft, very aromatic (assume healthy doses of Viognier , Gewu rztraminer, or Muscat), canned pear, musky. Not my cuppa. C+/B-2013 Dr. Loosen Saint M Riesling Drier than I expected, though also a bit softer. Apple, ginger, a little fl oral note. B-.
Up in the middle of the night for a 6 AM flight home, worked and then home to help Betsy make dinner for friends. I made assorted bruschetta (oil cure d tomatoes, prosciutto, mozzarella, soppresatta, etc) plus smoked salmon ca napes and a grilled mango (long story).
2002 Delamotte Blanc de Blancs Champagne Pear and green apple, light biscuit notes, fresh, good length. B+/BI grilled some squid and king trumpets, Betsy made them into a salad, plus we had rice with nori and omeboshi.
2010 Louis Carillon “Champs Canet” Puligny-Montrachet 1er C ru This is a lovely bottle of Puligny. Crisp and graceful yet full-bodied, pea r and chalk with a light kiss of vanilla/oak. Young but delicious. A bit pr imary, but do I want to risk aging these? A-2012 Pepiere “Clisson” Muscadet Rich and fresh, saline/oystershell notes over a rich pit fruit base., Good acids, long. A-/B+
Last night Betsy made “green puttanesca” (green olives, gar lic, anchovy, spinach, basil) over pasta and a beet salad. Wine was the 201
3 Donnachiara Fiano di Avellino. Wine was good - broadframed, herby, nutty. I enjoyed but maybe was comparing it with whites night before. BGrade 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.