Saturday I did beef ribs (cumin/3peppers/garlic/br.sugar rub, 90
minutes in low oven, then grilled, sauced) , roasted root veggies
(kohlrabi/beet/ celeriac), and cabbage/daikon coleslaw (ok, other than
ribs I was just emptying fridge). I originally thought of Zin, but
ended up doing a comparison of a couple of halves of Havens. Friday a
couple of friends I had split cases with during the Billington
bankruptcy both said they liked the Syrahs and Merlot better the
Bourriquot, thought I'd compare a couple.

2005 Havens Hudson Vineyard Syrah (Carneros)
Blackberries and vanilla oak flavors, ripe, a bit gamey. At first I
liked this better, but it kind of stayed static over evening as
Bourriquot developed some complexity over time. Still, not bad for a
$10 half. B

2006 Havens Bourriquot (Napa)
A little tight at first, but more open than a 750 last year. Black and
red plums, cocoa, a little herby note. Sometimes I think a hint of
brett dancing around in the background, more of the wet horse than the
dung variety. Moderate acids and tannins. Last glass is the best (open
4 hours). Good for $10/375. B/B+

Today a combination of work, house work, errands, and wine stuff.
Betsy had a concert in White Plains, but I skipped. Rather than make
dinner, I ordered pizza (Brooklyn style, with sausage, garlic, and
broccoli rabe) and made salad for her return. She had a long week (VOX
rehearsals, practicing for this concert, etc) so I open a "this week
is over" celebration Champagne, the NV Charles Ellner Rose Brut.
Fairly full, medium mousse, decent acids. Strawberries and cherries, a
little brioche. A bit creamy in texture. B+

The pizza wine (hey, it doesn't HAVE to be Italian!) was the 2007
Baudry Chinon (estate bottling). Nice middleweight, red fruit, tobacco
leaf, a little barnyard earth. Maybe not quite as defined as I
remember from a previous bottle. B

By the way, the Chinon was good with pizza, but the Champagne even
better.


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.**