Sunday we had a slow day around the house, doing some prep for a Labor Day party, watching the dog sleep, etc. Betsy made a late summer favorite, lobster with browned corn and fresh tomatoes. I opened the 2011 Closel “Jalousie” Savennieres - wool and wax, chalk, citrus fruits. Nice length for level, focused. Less successful than I hoped for match, but very good wine. B+

Good thing I only had a bit over a glass of wine with dinner, because after dinner Betsy realized Lucy had broken her stitches, and had an infection, and I spent most of the night at ER vet. Back home at midnight, hours of listening to crying dog. Next morning we cancelled Labor Day party (sorry folks, 40 people doesn’t go well with sick dog and sleepdeprived hosts). On Monday once dog was settled some freezing, some dropping off food at a pantry, a little lunch (grilled 5 lbs of lamb). For dinner we some tortellini with pesto that had been dropped off and the 2011 Edmunds St John “Heart of Gold” Clean, white pit fruits and lots of flowers, good acidic grip. B+/B

Tuesday dog was resutured, dinner was a seafood (mussels, scallop, and shrimp, with lobster broth) risotto, the wine was the 2007 Fevre “Bourgos” Chablis GC. Fresh, no sign of PremOx, rich, citrus, saline mineral notes. B+/A-

Wednesday was SOBER reported elsewhere. Tonight Betsy made an old fave, the Zuni Cafe chicken with figs. Cooking wine was South African, the 2011 Joostenberg Family Blend (mostly CB). More Clarksburg than Vouvray, a nice rounder wine with pear and peach fruit, lots of flowers, just a hint of wool. Nice bargain wine. B-/B

Dinner was on patio, with the 2011 Donkey and Goat “Helluva” Pinot Noir (Anderson Valley) I found this challenging, speaking more of “natural” than “delicious”. Tart cranberry and cherry fruit, good acids, earthy, but not making me want more, II want to like this more than I actually do. B-

And the hound is healing nicely (but hates the Elizabethan collar)

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.

DaleW wrote:

So sorry to about Lucy's problems, Dale (I guess that I know now what an
"Elizabethan collar" is for a dog). I hope that she's feeling better
and that you've got some more sleep. Interesting collection of wines.
I visited D&G when last out in the Bay Area and had much the same
reaction as you: all the reds tasted much the same ("natural"?). I did
bring back a skin-contact PG that I quite liked.

Mark Lipton