Thursday we went to Red Hat for a friend's birthday, her husband was
paying so I didn't want to have more than one of the overpriced BTG
offerings (others had a cocktail to start). The (vintage unknown)
Drouhin "Chardonnay'" (LaForet Bourgogne I think from spying across
room -wasn't the time to be winegeeky) was pretty good -ripe, crisp,
no apparent oak. But at $13/glass not a value. Did well with both the
delicious octopus starter, and my ok fluke (needed a bit more
crispness to crust). Not a great wine night, but a great friend
night.

Dave and his girlfriend joined us again for dinner on a snowy Friday,
they were ok with mostly leftovers. We started with some chilled
shrimp
and cocktail sauce, with the NV LaMarca Prosecco. Bright, light, and
easy, a touch of apparent sugar, orangeade and apple juice. B-

Dinner was pasta with Bolognese sauce, butter bean salad, broccoli,
and Indian carrots.

2009 Montesecondo Rosso (Toscano IGT)
Very light color, but nice depth of flavor. Red cherries and plums,
earth, oregano. Good acidity, light to medium body, good length. Betsy
and I both liked, think the kids would have liked a bit more fruit
centric. 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.*