With grilled tofu in a ginger/citrus marinade, brown rice, and salad, the 2
010 Selbach Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Kabinett. This is Spatlese sweetness, but good acids, apple and lime with a floral finish. B+Some friends and their dog came over for dinner Wednesday, We greeted with the NV Tribaut- Schloesser “Tradition” Champagnet. Bright but simple, a bit h eavy of the dosage, B-
First course was mushroom crostini, with the 2007 Fevre “Bourgos” Chabl is GC. Full, rich, seashell and flint. B+/A-
Main course was flank steak, snow peas, and barley
1999 Havens “Bourriquot” Brambly dark berry fruit, a little hint of vanilla, a touch of barnyard. Fu lly mature and drinking well. B+1999 Carlo Giacosa “Narin” Barbaresco Modest fruit, slightly raspy tannins, a touch clipped. It ain’t Bruno! B-
2007 Ramos Pinto “Collection” (Douro)\ ripe, sweet, a bit simple. B-/C+Thursday was seared scallops, brown rice, green beans with tomato, and sala d. The
2010 Henri Darnat “la Jumalie” Bourgogne Blanc was on lighter side of C hardonnay, but with good acids, bright pear and citrus fruit, decent finish for under $15. BFriday was “Danny Kaye’s Chicken Salad” and grilled king oyster mushr ooms. Wine was the 2010 Neumayer “Zwirch” Gruner Veltliner (Traisental Reserve Este Lage). Very good with spring pea, apple, and flower notes, goo d round mouthfeel, good match with the food, nice stuff. B+/A-
Sunday was Mother’s Day, and with Dave in UK it was up to the Basset Houn d to give Betsy card and present. I helped by doing dinner We started with lobster salad, with the 2010 Vocoret Chablis. Lighter styled, some chalk an d mineral over modest yellow fruits, moderate acids, ok length. This was in expensive and a decent deal. B
Main was grilled porterhouse with potato salad and arugula. Normally I’d have gone with a bigger red, but Betsy had opened the 2011 Umathum Zweigelt Saturday while I was drinking Bordeaux in the city, so went with that. Ve ry purpley color, black raspberry fruit, bright, lighter tannins, nice wine (though not what I’d normally pick for steak). 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 pa rty where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivi ty, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.