Thursday Betsy made a delicous dish of cod with winter squash, finished
with a balsamic reduction. I served the 2002 Saintsbury "Brown Ranch"
Chardonnay (Carneros). Some oak and just a touch of butter on the nose,
but not overwhelming. Good acidity for CalChard, nice Bosc pear fruit
with a little lemon zest. A minerally edge to the finish. Nice, but a
little empty in the middle. However, retasted Friday it had filled out
a bit, and the oak had more fully integrated, a friend said it reminded
him of a village Puligny. I don't quite agree, but good wine. B/B+

Friday we had an early dinner before Betsy headed to city. Sugar snap
pea soup and farfalle with shrimp, scallops, saffron and ginger. I
opened a
2004 Moreau Chablis AC. Good clear Chardonnay fruit, clean and unoaked.
Good acidity, nice finish. I confess that even thought this was a good
wine I felt slightly disappointed- so many strong reports on 2004
Chablis, but I felt this was just a touch behind the excellent 2002. B

After Betsy left I went to a friend's home for the first meeting of my
local casual wine group since November. We got a fire going and sat
outside - a little cool, but first chance of the year. Wines were
served blind:

1999 Villadoria Barbaresco
Very tight upon decanting, it hadn't shown much more to me on serving a
couple hours later. Group did very well with guessing (my wine, I
didn't participate)- someone said Italian, then narrowed to Piedmont.
Lighter style of modern Nebbiolo, bright cherry fruit and a little
flowers and tar. Got better with time, others liked a lot, but I really
wasn't that impressed. At this price level I prefer the co-op. B/B-

Next wine was very ripe. From a bit of olive and underbrush I guessed
Rhone from a ripe vintage, but then blew it by suggesting St. Joseph or
Crozes. Fred said it was a Chateauneuf, the '03 Beaucastel. I was kind
of shocked, as it didn't remind me of Beaucastel. But when unveiled it
was actually the 2003 Perrin & Fils Chateauneuf-Du-Pape. Sweet red
fruit, a bit hot, and slightly short. But better than I expected with
some '03 Rhone reports. B-/B

Next wine was pretty easy to peg as tired Bordeaux. Flat blackcurrant
fruit, a hint of prunes, some leather. Storage conditions could have
contributed to the demise of the 1995 Barons de Rothschild Reserve
(Medoc), but I think this is really the kind of wine best drunk with
couple years of release. C

I really flailed around trying to get a grip on the next wine, but
really had no serious guesses. A little earth and ripe cherry fruit,
someone suggests Burgundy but this seemed more New World. At same time
it had the garrigue/underbrush note that made me think Rhone. Good
thing I didn't make a guess, 'cause Spanish Pinot Noir wouldn't have
been it (I should have gotten it, I'd tasted this before). The 1996
Torres Mas Boras was better than my previous experience, and almost a
contender for WOTN. B+/B

Next wine quickly drew a Bordeaux consensus- cassis fruit, some cedar
and leather, moderate tannins. A Bordeaux that needs some time, seemed
a tad closed down. We're right, it's a wine I'm not familiar with, the
2000 Larose- Perganson (Haut-Medoc). Nice medium-bodied claret, at a
slightly awkward stage, but assuming price was under $15 I'd buy
(winesearcher doesn't show, guy who brought is a Frenchman living in
Switzerland, former member who was visiting). B+

Last wine had a almost-porty nose, with figs and prunes. Some residual
sugar, though not at all dessert-ish. Some dark chocolate notes over
the ripe cherry and fig fruit. I guess a Valpolicella ripasso, and I
got the region right, it's the 2000 Gaso Amarone della Valpolicella.
I'm a little surprised, as this is texturally/structurally lighter than
I expect from Amarone, but it's a fun drink (and I'm glad it came
last). B+/B

Nice night with the guys. I felt pretty straight, but decided walking
home (my norm in this Dobbs Ferry group) was still the wisest.
Absolutely fabulous spring evening.

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.