Saturday I was in charge of dinner as Betsy had a rehearsal in city
till 6. In between trips to office, I put together a salad of red
lentils and lamb (vaguely Indian-ish flavors). About 5 I realized that
I was serving a cold salad as a main course on a cold night with the
possibility of snow; that seemed just wrong. So I quickly soaked some
dried mushrooms, sliced some Napa cabbage, and put both in some duck
broth as a first course. Wine was the 2007 Tenuta delle Terre Nere
Etna Rosso. I've only discovered the Etna wines in last year or two,
this is quite different than my personal (uninformed) epitome of the
area, the delicious Biondi Outis. The Terre Nere is quite light
bodied, with a hint of a green/herby/geranium/floral taste that I
often get from Loire gamay. Fruit is strawberries and slightly
underripe red plums, the floral note fades and gives way to a more
earthy/mineral edge. This is a bright and fun wine, but without the
Burgundian elegance and depth of the Biondi. Quite enjoyable, though.
B

Betsy had a meeting in city putting together a program Sunday, our
friend Oswaldo was in town. Betsy hated to miss him, but our best plan
was my dropping her and meeting Oswaldo. Best plan for me at least,
because he is a great host and had some nice cheeses and two wines
(from half bottles) to taste!

2004 Albert Morot "Bressandes" Beaune 1er
I had passed on some older Morot a couple months ago because I really
wasn't familar with producer. If this is an example, I goofed. Very
nice midbodied Beaune, rich dark cherry fruit tempered with good
acidity and a ferric mineral note. Stylistically I'd put this in the
middle, there good extraction and a little cocoa note that is probably
oak, but nowhere near over the top. Quite lovely. B+/A-

2004 Ducru-Beaucaillou
Fairly aromatically shy, but a forward lush texture. This is a bit
closed down since I last tasted (just after release), but there is
clean sweet cassis fruit kissed by some oak and a graphite/pencil lead
note. I don't enjoy as much as the Burg this night, but that's more a
function of the stage than anything. Probably a B on this night, but
good potential.

Fun seeing the generous Oswaldo. After this, I picked up Betsy after
her meeting and we stopped by Katzs for pastrami and corned beef
sandwiches, with a knish on the side. Yum!

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.
*