Yesterday was a scorcher, and I was a little hesitant to venture to the riverfront concert. But I was to meet some friends, so I headed out (sans hound) and found a spot in the shade. There were gaps on the lawn as all the sunny spots were deserted, and periodic subtle shifts in the crowd as the lowering sun redefined the shady areas. A pleasant band (a German guy leading a Brazilian playing "summer jazz"), warm but reasonable in the shade. The usual great view. I got out my food - bread, a rather dry aged chevre (I thought fresher would implode in the heat), soppresatta, Roaring 40s, & Vermont Shepherd's Wheel. The two wines I brought were:
2004 Luneau-Papin "Domaine Pierre de La Grange" Vieilles Vignes Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie Now there's a name. Pleasant ,fresh, and crisp, some crushed seashell/ limestone notes. Very nice, but not as compelling to me as the comparably priced Pepiere. B+/B
2004 Domaine Gaujal de Saint Bon Rosé (VdP Côtes de Thau) Nice crisp rose, bright strawberry fruit with a touch of herb leaves and a nice clean finish. Quite nice and the only bottle emptied. B+
Friends were along soon with chicken, salads, and a couple more bottles of wine :
1 +1 =3 Cava Brut The Muscadet has the longest name, this has the strangest. Nice mousse, dry and a little yeasty, pretty forward with a little mango on top of the ripe red apple fruit. Good inexpensive sparkler for a picnic. B
2004 Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio Actually better than I expect. Not a lot of there there, but it's clean. Not a lot of concentration, but there's nothing offensive. Nothing "wrong" with it, but no reason to buy it. B-/C+
After the band finished we watched the sunset over the Palisades and enjoyed the evening. With Betsy gone far better to have done that than sit in my ACed cocoon alone.
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.