Betsy's mom got into NYC, in preparation for a "girl's trip" to DC with Betsy, Betsy's sister, and niece. We had my mom-in law, sister in law, and nephew over for dinner Saturday night. Started with a white bean and garlic scape dip, along with the 2007 Loosen "Dr. L" Riesling (Mosel). Lighter and lither than a couple recent vintages, this is bright and an excellent value at under $10. Peach and golden apple, a little hint of lime. Good length for an inexpensive QbA. I've generally thought of Dr L as good for the money, but this is just good without qualifier. B+/B. .
Dinner was grilled lobster, scallops, and shrimp, served with a grilled zucchini and tomato salad and a green salad. Dinner wine was the 2005 Manciat Macon-Charnay Vieilles Vignes. Ripe pear fruit, a little hint of canned pears, the vanilla aromas don't seem integrated. I can't find my previous note on this but thought I remembered liking it, but this comes across like a mediocre CalChard, albeit with more acidity. I prefer the cheaper straightforward Franclieu cuvee to the old vines bottling. B-/C+
Nice evening, though humidity and heat drove us into the AC.
Last night I was having leftovers of the 2 salads with some lamb/rosemary sausage from the farmer's market. Usually I like sausage and off-dry Riesling, so I opened the 2007 Leitz Rüdesheimer Klosterlay Riesling Kabinett. OK, I admit this was a bit of a shock. My impression is that 2007 is supposed to be a more "classic" vintage than some recent ones, but this comes across as sweeter/richer/more extracted than the 2005 I had recently. Once I adjusted, quite a wine. Big white stone fruits are deep and rich; there's a solid wall of acids that keeps this in balance. Lovely wine, once preconceptions are put aside. Will check again tonight. B+/A-
But....after tasting this, and getting a good sniff of the sausages (more about meat than spices), I wasn't sure that the wine was the best match. So I opened a 375 of the 2005 Marjosse (Bordeaux AC). This was a pleasant surprise for $9 half. Black plum and currant fruit, a bit of earth and herb, surprising tannins for an Entre Deux Mers area red but I guess that is expected in 2005. We'll see how it shows overnight. Solid B, good value for cheap Bdx.
For two very different wines, it was interesting how well both did after dinner with the Sprout Creek Farm "Ouray" (closest comparison is a Englsh farmhouse cheddar, but a bit milder).
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.
