On Dec 3, 3:56�pm, DaleW > wrote:
> Betsy was away for a Sufi retreat, I took the opportunity to indulge
> myself in a food she doesn't care for - liver and onions, aka fegato
> alla Veneziana. Side of sauteed spinach, wine was the 2006 Domaine
> Bart Marsannay rose, �which went well. Strawberry fruit edged with a
> little cranberry, good acidity, ok length. A bit better than I
> remembered, not a great rose, but a good backdrop to the food. B
>
> I also opened a 375 of the 2005 Ch. Ferrand Lartigue (St Emilion). I'd
> bought a couple based on price and the fact it was reported that they
> had dialed back the oakiness. Well, hard to tell from this bottle. Big
> in your face vanilla and toast, big sweet fruit, big but ripe tannins.
> Bordeaux in the guise of warm climate Shiraz. �Fairly low acid, but I
> wouldn't call flabby. Fruit is black plum and blackberry, but somewhat
> dominated by the oak. I'll put other away in hopes it integrates with
> age, but for me now, B-/C+ (I think other more fond of oak would like
> much more).
>
> Sunday I cooked up some venison round steak, along with some blackeyed
> peas I'd made that AM and a salad. Wine was the 2002 Ogier "La Rosine
> " (VdP des Collines Rhodaniennes ). This seems to have put on some
> weight in the bottle, not as light as I remembered. Nice balance of
> fruit, tannin, and acidity. Rhonish notes of smoked bacon and herbs.
> Good sturdy blackberry fruit. Quite tasty, and really amazing for
> vintage. 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

I should mention I didn't like the St Emilion any better on day 2.