Thursday Betsy made dinner (her parents were with us), steamed red snapper filets with ginger, cha soba (noodles with green tea), and Chinese broccoli. Wine was the 2004 Zilliken Saarburger Rausch Riesling Kabinett. This might be my favorite Kabinett of the last few years. Just off-dry, clear and precise acidity, yet with a broad texture. White peaches, a little green apple, and lots of slate. I savor while making stock with the fish head and bones, this gets better and better through the evening. I love this. A-
Friday she made a lamb tagine, Israeli couscous, and a salad. Late start meant we had some time to wait, so we had some nibbles (hummus and the like) with the 2006 Glatzer "Dornenvogel" Gruner Veltliner (Carnuntum). I'm a little sceptical, as I've never even heard of Carnuntum, much less drunk a wine from there. I should try more, based on this. A pleasantly plump and ripe GV, clean pear and apple fruit, a lot of white pepper. Nothing especially deep here, but a fine value at $11. B
Wine for the lamb was the 2005 Ch. Peychaud (Cotes du Bourg). Dark berry and plum fruit, a little earth, modest tannins. Ripe, but not oaky or modern. A tad short. A simple if honest little Bordeaux. Other liked it a bit more than I did. 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 party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency