Invited to our former neighbors for dinner, I carried along a bottle that was
recently given to me as a gift, the 2001 Frei Brothers Pinot Noir Reserve
(Russian River Valley). Fairly lush red fruit, a little cedar and vanilla.
Inoffensive if unexciting, B.

He was serving a beef curry with assorted Indian sides, had asked for a
suggestion at a local store. He came home with a Hugel Gentil (never got
opened) and a 2002 Marquis Philips "Holly's Blend" (I have no clue what the
blend is). I can't say I was real excited over the thought of a MP wine, as I
thought the reds I tasted were a bit overblown. But when he opened my first
2003 wine, I was pleasantly surprised, if not overwhelmed. Floral nose, fairly
deep flavors of white fruit, good acidity, and a nice nutty finish. For a white
that I'm pretty sure retails for less than $10 not bad at all. B

Last night Betsy made poussins with a calvados sauce. Last time we had this
recipe (with Rock Cornish Hens, I think), Emery suggested Rhone red. So we had
the 1999 Domaine de la Garrigue Vacqueyras. This is one of those bottles that I
don't recall buying, have no idea what I paid for it, and have no knowledge of
the producer. So again a little trepidation on opening. Pleasant surprise-
bright spicy red fruit, a hint of smoke and herbs, a nice medium to full bodied
red that could hold its own with most under-$25 Chateauneuf-du-Papes. As I'm
guessing I paid $10-15 for this (if it was more or less I'd remember) , a very
good deal. B++

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B
a good wine, C mediocre at best. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a
party where it was only choice.
Dale

Dale Williams
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