With Betsy's season going, it sometimes becomes hard to find quality
time together. So we decided to settle on at least one "date night" per
week, which we could devote to each other- no phone calls, no internet,
no meetings, no laundry - we could stay in or out, but just us.
Unfortunately, on Tuesday when we were first scheduled, a volunteer
became ill and I had to lead a group to the city. So we rescheduled for
last night.

I was cooking, and banned Betsy from the kitchen. I managed to turn out
a decent ****aladi=E8re, and a good salad. I thought Provence ros=E9 or
Beaujolais with the ****aladi=E8re, but what was in my hands as I came
back from basement was the 2004 Clos Roche Blanche Gamay (Touraine).
I've liked this wine in past vintages, but have never done the
cartwheels that others have. This fits the pattern. Nice bright
strawberry and raspberry fruit, a pleasant whiff of herbs, with just
the faintest hint of minerals on the finish. Good acidity, a nice clean
friendly wine to enjoy on the patio with a light meal. A good wine and
a good deal at about $10, but not a wine I clamor for . But not every
wine needs to be. 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.

DaleW wrote:

> I was cooking, and banned Betsy from the kitchen. I managed to turn out
> a decent ****aladière, and a good salad. I thought Provence rosé or
> Beaujolais with the ****aladière, but what was in my hands as I came
> back from basement was the 2004 Clos Roche Blanche Gamay (Touraine).

Now, Dale, it would only have been fair for Betsy to ban _you_ from the
cellar! I wonder what she would have chosen for the meal :P

> I've liked this wine in past vintages, but have never done the
> cartwheels that others have. This fits the pattern. Nice bright
> strawberry and raspberry fruit, a pleasant whiff of herbs, with just
> the faintest hint of minerals on the finish. Good acidity, a nice clean
> friendly wine to enjoy on the patio with a light meal. A good wine and
> a good deal at about $10, but not a wine I clamor for . But not every
> wine needs to be. B

Joe Dressner was heard to comment about this wine that it "needs more
manganese" -- sounds similar to your take ;-)

Mark Lipton

Betsy would have chosen Borsao, as (a) she knows she likes it & (b)
it's inexpensive.

Tried more last night with a Georgian chicken recipe (tamarind and
pomegranite). Not really showing any more complexity. Did surprisingly
well as a match, at least as well as an '04 Riesling QbA. The dish was
less sweet than it sounds, I think something a little drier than the
Riesling would be ideal (a halbtrocken maybe, or a tec-sendre Loire).