Sunday was lovely, just the right kind of a day for a birthday party of a hound. Lucy is 12, and invited some friends over to play. Barking and tail wagging ensued. The people sampled the 2007 Mulderbosch Faithful Hound, a Bordeaux-style blend from Stellenbosch SA.. There's a bit of a glossy oak sheen that I don't remember, and some fruit forward styling that I do. Cassis and a little bell pepper, vanilla. Pleasant enough, and though I wouldn't seek it out on its own, it's the only wine I'll buy a bottle a year for the name.B-

Dinner was rosemary/garlic tuna steaks, eggplant in a balsamic marinade, & salad. Wine was the 2013 Occhipinti SP68 red. Spicy, red plums, a slight hint of barnyard, good mouthwatering acids. B+/B

Cheesey barley with mustard green and tomatoes, a Caprese salad, grilled eggplant, and green salad with pears. The barley was cooked with the 2013 Chidaine Touraine Sauvignon Blanc. I am a big Chidaine fan, but felt first couple vintages of this negoce wine were a slight disappointment. But this I think is a fine value- light, fresh, good acids, citrus, just a tiny hint of grass. B

Dinner wine was the 2013 Baudry Chinon Rose. Nice, structured for rose, cranberry and red cherry fruit, rocky finish. Plays well with others (or at least the wide variety of dishes). B+

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. 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.