With lamb shanks, white beans, and an Indian cauliflower dish, the
2004
Sandro Fay Rosso di Valtellina. Less structured and acidic than Fay's
Sassella, a pleasant floral red with just a hint of herbs. Raspberry
fruit, a nice value wine (though doubt I would have guessed Nebbiolo
blind). B

With pasta with a shrimp/leek sauce, the 2006 Brocard "Kimmeridgean"
Bourgogne blanc. Ripe and balanced Chardonnay fruit, some chalk, good
acidity, this could have fit seamlessly into a lineup of Chablis AC
wines (and finished in top 50 percentile). If there's a shortcoming
it's on the finish, where it seems a tad dilute (didn't get that on
approach or mid-palate). Still a very good value at $11, though it
seems to be gone from the stores I buy from. B/B+

Tonight herb-crusted salmon, with assorted veggie leftovers. A half-
bottle of the 2005 Jean-Philipe Marchand "Cuvee Prestige" Bourgogne
Hautes Cotes de Nuits was a decent but unexciting bottle of Pinot
Noir. A little subdued at first, but quickly opened up. Black cherry
fruit, sweet, forward. OK acidity, not a lot of depth or complexity,
but clean and easy. B-/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.