A couple of nights of leftover pork, with slightly different preps to break up monotony. With burritos and crema/salsa, I went pink- A bottle of Guion rose was corked, but the 2012 Arnot Roberts Touriga Nacional rose was not.. Cherry blossoms, red fruit, a mineral backbone. B+/B

Back to bo ssam, with the 2011 Foillard “Cote de Py” Morgon. Nicely balanced, fresh red fruits with light smooth tannins, fresh acids,soil notes, good length. B+

Lemon sole en papillote with ginger/scallion/arugula and the 2008 F. Cotat Le Culs de Beaujeau Sancerre. Takes a while to open up, but does so nicely, with vivid acidity under full ripe fruit. Apples and peach, ginger and flint, long and complex. A-

A recent gift of the 2000 Rocher Corbin (Montagne-St. Emilion) still was hanging on to a bit of plummy fruit, but no structure left, a bit formless on the palate. With a bit of time some ashtray notes, send this to the vinegar crock. C+

Despite the Indian summer, I made spaghetti with Italian sausage in tomato sauce, with the 2012 Arianna Occhipinti SP68. Fresh berries, herby, with very good length for a rather lighter styled wine. Quite enjoyable, and holds well over 2 days. B+

Saturday I went to pick up Dave and Mary Kate at JFK, by time I was back just had some gyosa, okra, and leftover wine. Sunday Betsy’s sister and her family came over for a family dinner to welcome Dave back, we started with smoked duck breast canapes, crudite, and caprese, main course was miso-glazed salmon with a Chinese broccoli/sprout/rice noodle dish.

2004 Nicolas Feuillatte Blanc de Blancs Champagne
Lime and Granny smith fruit, not very bready, good crispness, a tad sweet on finish. B

2011 Schafer-Frohlich Bockenaur Riesling Kabinett
Full for kab, this seems to have closed up a bit, but still good fruit, slatey minerals, good acids pulsing underneath. B+/B

2009 Drouhin Morgon
This was rather muted at first, some fruit opened up, but this remained someone stiff and ungiving. Closed? Maybe, but for now C+

1988 Ch. Canon
As a belated birthday celebration for David. Not what I really expected for an ‘88, no apparent tannin, more elegant than burly, fully mature, black and red currant fruit with leather and cigarbox. Ready, willing, able. B+

We also sampled some leftover dessert wine that had been opened (but I forgot to post on) Sunday, the NV Annapolis “White Wedding” wine, a blend from Nova Scotia (brought back by friends who just bought a house there). 65% Reliant (new one for me), rest PG and NY Muscat (?). Peaches/canned peaches, medium sweet, allspice. Interesting flavor profile, could use a bit more zip. B-/C+

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.