On Jul 12, 10:16*am, DaleW > wrote:
> Friday Betsy made fried chicken and turnips with potatoes (2 faves of
> my mom who we're worried about) and I opened the 2009 Cantalupo "Il
> Mimo" rosato. Fuller-styled rose, cherry and cranberry fruit, violets,
> shows it's Nebbioloness. B+/B
>
> Saturday we had an apertif of the 2007 Drouhin St Veran. I've
> consistently loved this wine, but this bottle seems more subdued than
> the half-dozen or so I've tried previously. Perfectly acceptable,
> clean Chardonnay fruit, just for some reason seems to lack verve.
> Still, at $13 not bad. Slightly off bottle? B-
>
> Main course was spiced duck breast with candied almonds over green
> beans. Dinner wine was the 2002 Dujac Fils et Pere Chambolle-Musigny.
> I love Dujac, and thought when they appeared that the negoce wines
> might be a way to experience without the nosebleed prices the domaine
> wines are fetching. But overall I've been a bit disappointed. That
> holds true this time- ripe red fruit, ok acidity, some wood spice, but
> a tad dull and not very terroir driven. B-
>
> Sunday we went to Betsy's sister's to watch the World Cup final. In
> honor of the BiL's Dutch *heritage, they had red cabbage, two kinds of
> pickled herring, Gouda, and Dutch potato rolls. I had no real
> preference re game, but in interest of fairness countered with figs
> with Cabrales, Manchego, and a bottle of the 2009 Ulacia Txakolina.
> Light, lemony, but short and lacking the concentration of the better
> Txakolinas, this reminds me of a competent 2nd tier Muscadet. At $15
> not a buy again. B-/C+
>
> After game we went home, and prepared for visit of some close friends
> (and their Standard poodle). We did figs with proscuitto, and they
> brought canapes of tofu, hoisin, and peanuts on cucumber. With the
> appetizers we had the NV Barone Pizzini Franciacorta Brut. I generally
> find Franciacortas poor value versus Champagne, but tried this at $20.
> OK, Parker rolls over very ripe apples, a hint of RS, but not very
> complex and to me not a good value. B-
>
> Dinner on patio *was lamb chops in a yogurt/mint/cardoman marinade,
> orzo salad, grilled eggplant, and green salad. We tried a couple of
> reds:
>
> 2005 Scholium Project "Babylon Tenbrink Vineyard"
> I've had Scholium whites before, this was my first*red. Oswaldo gave
> to me after not caring for it. I thought a good time to try, with Ron
> loving big reds. And this is definitely big. Overripe cherries and
> blackberries macerating in cassis. Big alcohol, big tannins, big
> fruit. I really didn't enjoy this, but Ron (though taken back at
> first) did. C+
>
> 2007 Texier Cotes du Rhone Brezeme
> Much more my speed. Balanced dark berry fruit, herbs and smoke, nice
> length. While skinny next to the Scholium, this is a nice
> middleweight, with fruit, tannins,and acidity all in their places.
> Lovely Syrah (I think). B+/A-
>
> The dogs enjoyed their bones, we enjoyed the food and company, and so
> the weekend ends.
>
> 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.**

Interesting on the Dujac. I haven't tried the nogoce wines from Dujac
but I opened a bottle of 2007 Fred. Esmonin G-C 1er Lavuax last night
and was totally underwhelmed. Tart and thin with no G-C terroir.
Pity. You experience with Scholium is much like mine. I'm not a fan
of the reds and find the whites even wierder.