On Wednesday, December 12, 2012 10:43:18 AM UTC-7, DaleW wrote:
> Friday was a kale salad with a soft egg and a Pierre Franey recipe for clam sauce and fresh fettucine, and the 2010 Benaza Godello, Really satisfying for the money- sweet peachy fruit, but it’s crisp and dry on palate. Refreshing, minerally, buy again. B+
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> Saturday we lit the Hannukah candles at sunset, had a glass of the NV Castellroig Cava. Light, refreshing, herb and licorice over lemon. Crisp and light. Good length. B/B+
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> Then we went to a Nikolaus party (luckily, rain held off and temps were moderate- Roger is a German traditionalist, and the party must be outside!). Mostly cookies and mulled wine, but I carried along a bottle of the 2007 Trimbach Pinot Blanc. Sweet pit fruits, a hint of Riesling-like petrol, citrus, not especially long, but hey it was really cheap! B-
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> Home for latkes and “Atlanta” brisket (recipe includes Coca-Cola), wine was the
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> 2010 Texier Cotes du Rhone (this is the basic CdR, with the busy/colorful label). Solid red fruits, good acids, light tannins, quite nice. B
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> Sunday we had chicken breast with soy, lime, and sesame oil, baby bok choy, some assorted leftovers, with the 2011 Terres Dorees (Brun) “Cuvee Premiere” Beaujolais. OK, I believe this is supposed to be a Beaujolais Nouveau, but it doesn’t taste like that. Moderate red fruits, but some light but apparent tannin. The confounding part is it improves on night 2 and 3. Plenty of crunchy red fruits, good acids, herb and earth. Fun stuff. B+
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> Recently got some corn smut from Oregon Mushrooms, and beans from Rancho Gordo, so invited some friends for meatless Monday- huitlacoche/mushroom quesadillas, vegetarian tacos (cheese, guacamole, kale). roast kabocha squash, and a vegetarian chili with Sangre de Toro beans.
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> NV Pinon Vouvray Brut
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> Sweet apples, good acids, fine mousse, beautiful for $20 bubbly. B++
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> 2009 Descendientes de Palacios "Petalos" (Bierzo)
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> Red fruits, a little vanilla edge, not bad but would prefer more sense of a place than good internationally styled wine. B-
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> 2010 Baudry Chinon
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> excellent length, black cherry and raspberry, earthy, good. B/B+
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> 2009 Wind Gap Pinot Gris
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> Skin contact (orange) wine I assume, looks like a rose - a darker rose at that. I really didn’t like this at first- seemed austere and overly herby. But improved a lot with air - smoky, cranberry and red plum. full, long. B-/C+ day one, B on day 2.
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> Tuesday we had leftovers- brisket (over egg noodles that weren’t leftover), a kale stew, kabocha squash. Wine was a half bottle of the 2006 Havens Bourriquot. From 375ml this is fully mature, no real tannins left, dark slightly horsey fruit with some red kirschy stuff after some air. a bit dull. I’ve enjoyed other bottles and half-bottles of this much more. B-/C+
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> 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.

The Atlanta Brisket recipe is great. Have done it twice. Made with noodle kugel and sweet potato gratin this year and 1989 Ducru Beaucaillou.