Since Monday I had gone to city for Spanish meal, we moved our
Meatless Monday to Tofu Tuesday. But Betsy had rehearsal and I decided
to just cook with what was at home, so no tofu. 6 cheese & mushroom
mac and cheese, cabbage with caraway, salad. Wine was the 2008 JP Brun/
Terres Dorees "L'Ancien" Beaujolais VV. After a bit of air really
showing well, spicy red raspberry/cherry, freshly turned earth, medium
to light body but with concentration and a long finish. A-/B+

We both had big days Wednesday, decided to try Orissa, a new
restaurant in town, Indian with a wine bar (?!?!). We just ordered 3
glasses:

With steamed calamari in a red chili, lemon, and roasted garlic
sauce (my favorite dish of the night), the 2008 Bassac "Isa" Blanc.
Rhonish, floral and slightly oily, peach fruit. Good acidity for a
southern wine, tasty. B

For mains, I got lamb korma and she got lamb chops with a tomato
chutney and garlic spinach, we shared garlic naan. We each had a glass
of red:

2007 Estezargues "Gres St. Vincent" Cotes du Rhone *
Ripe and full, herby, modest acidity, nice length. B*
*
2007 Pellegrini Vineyards Merlot
Coffee and a little burnt rubber on the nose. Low acid, soft, not my
style. A bit stinky, seems slightly off (maybe bottle open for a
while?) C+
*
Nice enough restaurant, though the owner's mother was on duty as chief
schmoozer and could use hints of when to visit table (NOT to come chat
the second the main courses arrive), though she was nice. Happy to
have another option in town.

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.**