Steamy day in NY, we invited some friends and their standard poodle
over for dinner and bones (the latter for the dogs). I ventured out
into the sauna to grill some pork chops with sage, Nancy brought a
grain salad, and Betsy made a green salad and cut up some melon. We
started with leftover rosés, but after we settled into dinner we
switched to reds, as they are mostly red people.

2005 Copain "l'Automne" Pinot Noir (Anderson Valley)
This appealed to me less than last time I tried. Bright, lighter
style, definitely not over the top stylistically. But the acidity now
seems just a little prickly, and there is that cola note I never like
in PN. Other like more than I. B-

2006 Catherine et Pierre Breton "Trinch!" Bourgueil
Black raspberries and cherries, tobacco, earth. Juicy but with some
structure, good length for level, clean finish. WOTN for me. B+

2006 Cascina Tavijn Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato
High acidity, light tannins. Very floral nose (though Ron calls it
musky, certainly perfumed) , cherries, a little pepper. This suffers
from coming after the food, needs to be a dinner wine. B

Thank goodness for AC.

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.
*