In article
>,
DaleW > wrote:

> Monday Betsy made a shepherd's pie with a scallion-cheese crust, and
> "Irish onion soup" (similar to French, but using Guiness instead of
> stock, and topped with cheddar and toast). I'm short on Irish wines,
> so settled for a half bottle of the 2003 Vrai Canon Bouche (Canon-
> Fronsac). Fruitbomb style, even riper than I remembered, big red
> fruit, some vanilla, who's arguing at this price ($7/375). But after
> my glass with dinner I skipped out for a talk to a b.mitzvah
> confirmation class, returned about 2 hours after dinner to find a
> rather overripe, overwrought, sloppy wine. B with dinner, C+ later.
>
> Tuesday was chicken poached in Chinese-accented broth, then topped
> with hot peanut oil and a soy/ginger sauce, with rice noodles with
> cabbage, sprouts, and scallions. Wine was the 2002 Ratzenberger
> Bacharacher Posten Riesling Spatlese Halbtrocken. Big and vibrant,
> lots of petrol for a youthful wine, a little sugar. Nectarine, lime, a
> little herb. I have to confess that this was one of those wines where
> all the components were there, yet while I liked, I didn't love. B
>
> Wednesday was my turn to cook, a pork loin roast with mustard/thyme
> crust, roasted vegetable (fennel, potatoes, carrots, onion), and
> broccolini.
> Wines was the 2006 Brun (Terres Dorees) Cote de Brouilly. Ripe, big,
> could pass for Burgundy "proper". Black cherry fruit, a little cocoa,
> ripe but with good acidic backbone. Not awkward as some 2006 Bojo have
> been described, I like this a lot, though might have been happier with
> less heft. B+
>
> Tonight Betsy needed some white wine for a squash risotto, I opened
> the 2005 Drouhin "Laforet" Macon-Villages. A bit of reduction/funk on
> the nose at first, it blows off. Lemon fruit with a hint of apple, no
> oak, clean but not much there. B-
>
> The main course was filets of branzino, with a mustard/horseradish/
> panko crust, served with the risotto, truly horrible green beans
> (tough tough tough), and the 2006 Bodegas de Fefinanes Albarino (Rias
> Baixas). Crisp, minerally, lively, makes me realize I should drink
> more Albarino. A bit floral, but mostly about seashore chalkiness and
> mineral tones. White peach and citrus, good length. Muscadet meets
> Pinot Gris. This goes on buy list. B+/A-
>
>
> 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.
>
> *

Green beans this time of year are traveling a long way to get to you.
The trip toughens them.
I have been drinking more Albarinos over the last year. They are real
meal-friendly wines and a welcome change from most Chardonnays though
with Jambalaya last night had a Lioco Sonoma Chardonnay 2006. Steel aged
and very clean with a citrus nose and taste. Quite good and QPR at
$16.99 not bad.