Hot Friday, Betsy made a nice cool dinner- green tea noodles, sashimi, bok choy, etcc with the 2017 Les Fouques ?La Londe ? Cotes de Provence. This was a bit flat, round strawberry, not my fave. B-/C+
Friends came over on a thunderstorm Saturday. They brought canapes (smoked mussels/hummus and smoked salmon/capers) and Champagne
NV Jacquart ?Experience? Blanc des Blancs 1er Cru Brut Champagne Baked apples, decent acids, tangy. B-/B
Main was lobster/nduja pomodoro pasta with zucchini on the side.
NV JP Brun FRV100 The light sweetness and bubbles helped with the spiciness. Easily best match, though nothing will be ideal with this dish (well, the seltzer), Fun and frothy wine. B/B+
2017 Collezione di Paolo Chianti Didn?t match, pretty boring and dilute on its own. Red plum, modest acids. B-/C+ 2018 Edmunds St John ?Heart of Gold? Actually ok with the dish, the fleshy ripe fruit handles heat better than other dry/still wines, and there?s enough acid for the tomato. Even better on its own. Great value.B+ 2018 Villa Sparina Gavi di Gavi Spice/heat kills this, but pretty refreshing on its own. BThat dish is hard on wine but too tasty not to do
Sunday we had oysters followed by veal chops with sage and rosemary, carrots with tarragon, snow peas, and collard/kohlrabi greens
2001 Jamek ?Ried Achleiten? Gruner Veltliner Smaragd Does TT still bring in Jamek? HAven?t seen in ages, this makes me wish I did. Full, pit fruits accented with smoke, white pepper, and petrol. Honied but not at all tired, firm acid backbone. A-Grade 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 party where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.