No wine Monday (tofu tikka masala, cardamom rice, bok choy).

Tuesday was the salmon teriyaki, broccoli, lentil/barley. Wine was the 2011 Foillard Fleurie- I was a little worried this would be closed when I realized what I had opened (thought it was a different Fleurie, this label is very unlike Foillard Morgon). But with a little air it showed fine- silky, floral, pretty red fruits. Nice, but costs more than the Morgon, not sure it's a value play. But liked B+


Wed 2008 Richter Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett with spicy shrimp in a coconut milk sauce kale. Real Kabinett, moderate sweetness, a little funky, good acids, modest length, not the elegance and distinction of a great MSR Kab. . This was pretty inexpensive and fine for what it is.. B/B-

Poor Lucy the Basset had to have bladder stones removed. Apparently she's been in pain for a long time, but she's so good natured we missed it. After her surgery we had pork chops with spicy pumpkin seed sauce and toasted her with the 2012 Mulderbosch Faithful Hound. Nice Bordeaux blend, black plums and a little smoke and leather. Midbodied, maybe a little more sweettextured than my ideal, but pleasant little wine to toast our faithful hound with.. B/B+

Some friends came over Friday and brought the appetizer, hummus and smoked oysters
The 2011 Gramona "La Cuvee" Cava was a little less than fresh, flat notes, no real oxidation but this tasted too old for 2011. C+

Main duck legs with mustard and panko, Chinese broccoli, & potatoes
2013 Chevillon Nuits St George VV
Young but very tasty, black cherry, soil notes,sandalwood coffee. Some tannin, nice acids, this should age well if I can keep hands off, B+/A-

2012 Mosse Anjou rouge
Herby, green tobacco leaf, black currant, smoke. Very fun. B+

With duck leftovers, I opened the 2010 Parusso Barolo. Some tannin, some light oak notes, sweet cherry, but with a strange bitterness to finish. With air I thought this got more tannic. B-/C+

Sunday with Betsy in NH I went solo to a Valentines open house where I saw a lot of friends. Wines were mostly things like Cavit, Principato, Woodbridge. I did try the 2013 Wente Fog Chardonnay, which wasn't bad in the slightly sweet a little bit of oak style. Not my fave, but I've had a lot worse. B-/C+

I also tried the 2013 Produttori del Barbaresco Nebbiolo Langhe (I brought).. Lovely easy to drink young Nebbiolo- floral, cherry fruit, smoke and tar. B+/B

For dinner trout, sauteed spinach, curry noodle soup, and the
2007 Trimbach Cuvee Frederic Emile. Fine young Freddie, rocky minerals over clean white fruits. With air more citrus/lemon notes and a little flower edge. Dry, fullbodied, long. A-/B+

Betsy had a snowy drive back fro NH, we had a quiet post-Valentines day dinner . Sockeye and leftovers, how romantic. Wine was the NV Chartogne-Taillet Rosde Champagne. herry, blood orange, brioche - mature (2008 disgorgement), tasty. B+

We got up at 2:30 to drive to Newark in slush, now in CA, probably skipping wine tonight though Wed snd Th should be great wine days

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.