Wednesday a good friend got a clean 3 month report after a health scare, invited us to dinner Fri. We had commitment Friday so instead said "you guys come over tonight." I had already shopped, but we combined the lobster intended for last night and tonight's beef, and had surf and turf. They brought the sides, and bones for the dogs

Greeting was salmon on cucumber and the NV Pierre Gerbais "Cuvee de Reserve" Extra Brut Champagne. Surprised this is extra brut, not at all austere. Full, lemony, mineral. B+/B

next a lobster salad , with a Cali Chard.
2005 Martinelli "Three Sisters Vineyard Sea Ridge Meadow" Chardonnay
Good news is this is quite young at 10. Bad news is it tastes like a young wine with canned pears in syrup, vanilla, and oak flavors. C+

Dinner was grilled skirt steak, mushrooms, roasted sweet potatoes, and salad
2001 Pontet-Canet
Young, fresh acids, somewhat polished tannins. Plush cassis fruit, mocha, light oak remaining. Nice example of a somewhat modern Pauillac, best about 2 hours after decanting. B+/A-

2009 Rotie Cellars "Northern Blend"
I've generally liked the Rotie wines, but this was a bit ripe/sweet (I looked to see if it was actually the Southern, tasted more Grenachey than Syrahy. But Syrah/Viognier. Pleasant, but not worth price. B-

Last night I was out at a speech at Iona but Betsy saved me a plate of grilled chicken with couscous and kale. Wine was the 2012 Calluna CVC. Nice midbodied Bordeaux blend, good acids, more about elegance than power., At moment there's a raspiness to the tannins, I think I'll hold for a couple years. It's not very long, otherwise I'd go a bit higher. B/B+

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. 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.