No wine Monday, with a Keller recipe for curried chicken breast in a tarragon sauce. Tuesday was black cod in miso, with bok choy and rice (first real dinner on patio of 2025!). Wine was the 2010 Knoll Durnsteiner Ried Kellerberg Riesling Smaragd. Pretty classic Wachau, dry peach and citrus fruit, touch of petrol, balanced and vibrant. Mineral and ginger notes on finish. B+/A-
Wednesday Betsy’s nephew came over for meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and salad. Wine was the 2015 Goodfellow Deux Vert Syrah. I really didn’t know what to expect from Oregon (Yahill-Carlton) Syrah. Peppery, with red fruit accented with herbs. Good acids, light tannins. Not sure I would have gone Syrah blind but I quite enjoyed. B+
Thursday was grilled shrimp with mint/ginger gremolata, grilled vegetables (radicchio, zucchini, red pepper, asparagus) in a red wine marinade, and spaghetti aglio e olio. Wine was the 2022 ColleStefano Verdicchio di Matelica. Good acids, lemony fruit with a big fresh cut hay note. With some air the hay is more grassy, and for me it detracts a bit from what I usually find a great value. 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.