With salmon Thursday, the 2018 Thomas-Labaille €œAuthentique€� Sancerre Rose. Snappy, mineral, tasty. B+

No wine Friday, we went with some friends to Carnegie Hall to see Betsys sisters final performance with the Metropolitan Opera orchestra (fine performance, Mahlers Ruckert-Lieder with Elina Garanca, and Bruckners 7th Symphony)

Saturday we hosted a party to celebrate a pair of retirements - Betsys sister and a friend whos a teacher. Pretty much a perfect night on patio- mild, light breeze, low humidity. We started with charcuterie and the NV Barnaut €œAuthentique €œ Grand Cru Rose Champagne
Beautiful clean red cherry and strawberry fruit, citrus zest, full-bodied, lively. Fine value B+/A-

(what are chances of 2 wines named €œAuthentique €œcouple days apart? )

I handled the first courses, a scallop/radish crudo and then butter poached/tarragon lobster & shrimp.
1991 Stony Hill Chardonnay
Ive had variable bottles from this lot but liked this one. Ripe apple/applesauce, almond/nutty, some orange zest, vanilla, good. B/B+

2010 Drouhin Marquis de Laguiche €œMorgeot€� Chassange-Montrachet 1er
Lovely and balanced apples and pear with orange zest and a little oak. Fine length, WOTN A-

Main was bucatini all'Amatriciana along with an Ottolenghi recipe for broccolini, green beans, and snow peas in a tahini dressing

1987 Kenwood Jack London Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Red plum and black raspberry, more acid than tannin, decent length, holding on well if not especially exciting. B

2012 San Carlo Brunello di Montalcino
Well, some people liked this. Hot, manipulated, and sweet, this is Brunello? C/C+

A wine event planned for an out of town guest had to be scrubbed, so we changed plans and were able to attend two graduation parties Sunday. The first featured a soft taco bar with pulled pork and chicken, Freds amazing gravalax, and lots of other food. I sampled a few wines:

Escudo Real Vinho Verde- I dont know Ive ever had a rose VV before. Light easy and fun. B-
Clovis rouge (Vin de France) - guessing this is Rhone or Languedoc, red fruit with a brambly underbrush note, nice balance. B
2016 Windisch Riesling Kabinett (forgot to take down vineyard) - a bit plodding, sweet, nice flavors, needs some zip. B-/C+

At second party I had a tiny sip of a 2016 Mendoza Vineyards Malbec Gran Reserva and a Mionetto Prosecco, neither worth a note but very happy to be at the party as Ive know grad since she was 2 days old (had a good burger)

Late Fathers Day dinner that night, a thyme-marjoram double pork chop sousvide, with the
2016 Coudert/Clos de la Roilette €œGriffe du Marquis€� Fleurie. Im going through these fast but they are so good. Dark fruit, smoked meat and coffee, floral/. Ripe and full but quite balanced. A-

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.