I went to the city Monday to meet a friend who was moving back to Santa Barbara. We were to meet at the Fairway Cafe. Though I'm neurotically prompt, I was late (traffic jam from a downed tree, then discovering due to a Chris Izaak concert parking would be $43 for 2 hours- I parked on street 12 blocks away). With a nice New York strip with shallot butter, the 1996 Sebastiani Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon.This had shed almost all of its tannin, but a good hunk of its flavor too. Some cedar and mocha flavors from the oak, with dark red fruit. OK, but less than I anticipated. B- (Aside: Last time I was there for an offline, we chortled over the Beacon marquee-great juxtapositions. This time upcoming shows included Thich Nhat Hanh, the Dalai Lama, David Lee Roth, Ani DeFranco, Shaolin Warriors, and Margaret Cho. Gotta love it).
I had made a modified salade nicoise for a picnic, then rains spoiled my fun. But I had the salad with a rose. After reading a dismissal of the 2002 Muga Rosado (Rioja), I thought I'd give it a try. Slightly bitter cherry fruit, hint of strawberry, plenty of crisp acidity. Nice finish. Good match for the salad, and I liked it more than other poster. B
The next night with some grilled fish I tried the 2001 Dr Heinz Wagner Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Kabinett again. I liked it slightly less than previously. Still distinct lime fruit, mouthfeeling texture, but just a little shy on the acidity front. B
With Betsy gone, the Friday called for a 375 to have with a variety of eftovers. A half-bottle of the 2000 Michel Gros Hauts Cotes de Nuits was just the ticket. Light to medium-bodied,fragrant with good cherry and raspberry fruit. Very good wine for $14 ($8 for the 375). B+
Tonight as I got ready to go on vacation, some friends ended up dropping by for dinner. I had some chicken breasts with a satay-ish marinade, they brought chicken sausages, corn, salad, and potatoes from a farmer's market. We opened with the 2002 Pierre Boniface Apremont Vin de Savoie. Nice acidity, good texture. Citrus fruit with an herbal note. Good,but as price has risen ($9), this isn't the screaming bargain of previous vintages. B
With the main course, the 1999 Chateau Saint-Roch Cotes-du-Rhone. Damp earth, flowers and black cherries on the nose. Kirsch and blackbery in the mouth. Tannins are already well-integrated. Better than at release, a very nice $8-9 wine. B+
Grade disclaimer: I'm a pretty 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.
Dale
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