Friday we had a friend and her two boys over for dinner, while the dad
is in Paris for a month (poor Alex). Betsy made a couple of pizza/
flatbreads, a ****aladiere and a tarte flambee. I opened a wine for
each. For the ****aladiere, no Provencal rose on hand, so went a bit
northeast of Nice, to the Vallee d'Aoste.* The 2007 Larmes du Paradis
Rosé was* a pleasant light red, with fresh strawberry fruit and good
acidity. Not a lot there, but what is there is tasty. B

For the tarte flambee/flammekueche, the 2001 Trimbach "Cuvee Frederic
Emile" Riesling.* Wow, this is young but yummy. Clean crisp pears with
a dollop of ripe peaches, totally dry but with a impression of
sweetness to the fruit. Wet stones, earth, a whiff of petrol. Medium-
bodied but with a sense of strength. Good acidity, excellent length.
A-/B+ with potential to be a truly great CFE.

Saturday Betsy made duck legs with turnips, along with braised
escarole with a little sausage. Recipe called for a cup of red wine
for recipe and a rustic unpretentious red as an accompaniment; it was
easier to open bottle on counter than to go to cellar. The 2005 Vinum
"Pets" Petit Sirah (Clarksburg) actually belonged to my dog, it was a
gift at her birthday party. But Lucy doesn't drink so we consumed. For
a PS this isn't very tannic. Fruit forward, with blackberries and
black plums with just a hint of peppery spice. A bit on simple side,
but enjoyable, and Betsy liked. B/B-

Sunday I was working running a meeting all day. Betsy used up rest of
her duck legs in a ragu (with cloves, cayenne, and sweet wine) from a
Batali recipe. When I came home I opened the 2004 Sandro Fay Rosso di
Valtellina. Lighter end of Nebbiolo, spicy red fruit with good
acidity, a bit of earth and tar. Gets more interesting with some air.
Not heavy, but quite decent length for a $14 wine. B

Recipe had called for vin santo, which I didn't have, so had I had
given Betsy a bottle of Sauternes I had somehow acquired, the 2000
Saint-Amand "Grands Vignes" Sauternes. Half a bottle left, I had a
small glass with some blue cheese after dinner. Sweetness approaches
cloying, this needs more acidity. Canned apricots, not much for
complexity. C+

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.
*