The last few days have been a blur of work and dealing with cold temps. But
Betsy still managed to make sure that good dinner was served, even overcoming
her bunny aversion to put a rabbit in a balsamic marinade. Served alongside a
saffron risotto from Mario Batali's cooking show, both were delicious. I opened
the 2000 Francoise & Denis Clair Bourgogne-Hautes Côtes de Beaune. Bright,
pleasant little Burg, good acidity and clean red fruit. Just a note of herbs on
the nose, nice wine. B+

The next night Betsy served some duck breast with roasted grapes. The 2001
Graillot Crozes-Hermitage had initially grapey flavors, but these soon
transformed into firm black fruit. Some earth and meat aromas, but not
super-expressive. Nice wine, but a few years might let it really shine. B+
(with A- potential)

Saturday we went to celebrate a friend's birthday at her house (well, her
living space- it's bigger than most houses, though it's actually the
refurbished servants' quarters of a dilapidated mansion - just too cool). They
served pork loin with applesauce and red cabbage, and we had a cheap Riesling
duel. My contender was the 2001 Thanisch (Erben-Thanisch) Estate Riesling
(Mosel-Saar-Ruwer). Nice Qba, sweetness and acidity well-balanced, white fruit
and some minerality B/B+. The other was an Alsace, the 2002 Leon Beyer
Riesling. Medium acidity, bone dry, but a bit of a short finish. I thought the
sweeter German did better with the applesauce, but the Alsace was an ok wine,
say a B.

Also served that evening were a couple of reds. The 2001 La Rose du Pin was a
soft easy quaffer, red plum fruit and little more. B- being generous. The 2000
Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (Colchagua, Chile) wass a little more
interesting, with black fruit framed by some cedary oak. B

Sunday my organization had their annual meeting, and I was bone-tired by time I
returned home that evening. But I perked up as some great smells started coming
out of the kitchen. "Would you mind grilling a steak?" Betsy said, and I fired
up the Weber. What a meal- ribeye with a chutney over salad, baigan bharta
(eggplant) and nimbu bhat (piquant lemon-cashew rice). Steak meant red wine to
me, but the spices made difficult. So I chose a cheap ( no need to waste an
expensive wine) red with a hint of spice. The 2001 Domaine Lafond Roc-Epine
Cotes-du-Rhône was a nice lighter CdR, red berry flavors and some pepper and
oregano. Nothing to get excited about, but a decent $7 wine. B

My usual disclaimer: I'm a pretty easy grader, basically A is a very good wine,
B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party
where it was only choice

Dale

Dale Williams
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