Thursday we had hot dogs on the patio, with the 2016 Keller “Von Der Fels” Riesling Trocken.
Dry but with sweet pit fruits, ginger, wet rocks. Good acids, crisp. B+
Some lovely days and before dinner a few nights we sat on front porch. The 2016 Terre Nere Etna Bianco had ripe peach fruit, a little waxy note, but not enough acid to stay lively. Have liked more in past vintages. C+/B-
With yakitori chicken, rice with nori, bok choy in oyster sauce the 1998 Macarini “La Serra” Barolo. I had this standing up as a backup for a tasting couple weeks ago, rather than return to racks just opened and decanted it. Took a while to get its stride. Red fruit, violets, a little funky edge that veered between barnyard and truffle. Got some tar after a while. With a couple hours air this was quite lovely, balanced young Nebbiolo with a long finish. A-/B+
Saturday I hit the butcher for a couple of 30 day dry aged rib steaks, grilled and served over herb salad with horseradish/caper dressing. That recipe was suggested as a Petite Sirah pairing, but I felt like young Burgundy. I was a little worried the 2010 Rollin “Ile des Vergelesses” Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru might be closed, but it was lively and approachable, Rich raspberry and cranberry fruit, earth, smoke. There’s some tannin but not aggressive. Good acids, long finish. I should buy more Rollin. B+/A-
Sunday some scallops from our local farmers market, rapini and Swiss chard from CSA, pasta with pesto and the 2009 Bedrock “Caritas” . This is a Bdx blend (60 Sem/40 SB). Full and rich, but overoaked. This is my last one, I kept hoping for better integration, but not yet. C+/B-
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.