No wine Thursday with chicken, but Friday I had some pot roast from freezer with the 2014 Heitz Grignolino. Musky/floral nose, lively acids, red stone fruits. Lighter styled, not very long, but nice red for a warm night. B+/B
Saturday I was bored and recruited 5 friends to come for dinner. Ron has smoked some sockeye, and brought some as canapes on cuke topped with sour cream and a caper. NV Laherte Ultradition. CT lists both a Brut and a Brut Nature, this has Brut Nature on front label and Brut on back. If this is Brut Nature, it’s the roundest BN I’ve tasted. Apple and baked pear, hint of ginger, nice mousse. B+/B
I had made a couple of starter courses, a scallop ceviche and a variation on caprese (pesto in place of straight basil)
2014 Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) Reserve Speciale Bordeaux Blanc
Grapefruit and grass, modest acids, clipped with a little metallic note. 60% Sem/40% SB, I would have guessed more (overcropped) SB. B-/C+
2010 Boulay “Les Monts Damnes” Sancerre
Full, balanced, citrus and green apple, long minerally finish. Could age, but delicious now. A-
I had parboiled and split some lobsters, now I grilled them
2014 Valanges “Les Cras” Saint Veran
Good acids, nice clean flavors, but a little short. B-
Then grilled tritip marinated in fish sauce and garlic, served with Jonathan’s carrots and Swiss chard.
1990 Ch. Sociando-Mallet
Classic Sociando meets ripe vintage- a touch of herb and green pepper over a solid base of cassis, mocha, and black cherry. About 2 hours in decanter, drinking beautifully. Good length, balance, finish. A-/B+
2001 Edmunds St John “Los Robles Viejos”
Cherries, meat, smoke and leather, young and drinks fine on night 2 as well, very tasty. B+
Good night.
Sunday I was solo, just me and a crab cake, pasta with pesto, and leftover wine. The Sancerre and ESJ were still showing well, the the Heitz good despite a little oxidation , and the St Veran and Bdx blanc were drinkable (just).
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.