Betsy had bought sauerkraut last week for hot dogs,as I'm only
consumer we had lots of leftovers. Sunday I used those with some quite
spicy jalapeno-chicken sausages, bacon, etc to make a variation on
choucroute. For the wine I used a little leftover Selene SB and half a
bottle of the 2004 Haart to Haart QbA (Mosel-Saar-Ruwer). Had the
rest with the meal- just barely off dry, this is drier than most QbAs
in this market. Grapefruit with a hint of peach schnapps, good length,
nice minerality. A good match with the faux choucroute (the hint of
sweetness let it deal with the pepper better than a dry Alsace, though
the simmer in the wine had tamed a bit). I have to say this is one of
those times where all the elements I'm looking for were there, a good
wine for $12, but it didn't really speak to me emotionally for reasons
I can't fathom (missing my wife?). B?

Despite missing my wife, I enjoyed the 2006 Edmunds St. John "Bone
Jolly" Gamay Noir Rosé (Witters Vineyard, El Dorado County) Monday
night. I grilled salmon, squash, and eggplant for Dave and myself. I
usually like PN with salmon, but wanted to try this. Bigger and darker
than most rosés I drink, it stood up well to the salmon (which I had
given a short marinade in a semi-teriyaki sauce - sherry, ginger,
garlic, and soyu)..Substantial weight, even a sense of light tannins.
Flavors of raspberry and strawberry, a whiff of earth, nice finish. I
consumed 2/3s of bottle, enjoying every bit (though I did put back in
fridge, at one point as it warmed - still cool, maybe 60°F- I found it
less appealing). This is very nice, but for me a clear dinner rosé, as
opposed to the lighter "picnic" rosés I enjoy by the river. B++


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