Saturday AM I opened freezer and a package slid out, almost breaking my
toe. I survived, but decided that was the end of the ground lamb. Betsy
was working and I made a simple lamb ragu to serve over linguine for my
dinner. I went downstairs looking for a bottle of southern Italian
wine,but emerged with the 1995 Felsina "Rancia" Chianti Classico
Riserva. Floral nose, with rich black cherry and black plum fruit. Soft
acidity for a Chianti, though certainly not flabby ala a few 1997s.
With time some saddle leather and bitter chocolate notes emerge. I open
this about 5 PM, and nurse till Betsy gets home at close to midnight.
Towards the end the fruit is skewed a bit more towards kirsch. Round,
plush, friendly, big Tuscan. B+

I told Betsy I'd take care of dinner tonight. I served a first course
of ham & split pea soup I'd made a few nights ago, then got back to
stove to do a haddock meuniere and cauliflower with garlic and
anchovies (Bittman, simple enough for me to do). Wine was the 2004 JP
Brun (Terres Dorres) Beaujolais Blanc. I usually love this wine,but
this time only like it. Sweet pear fruit, but lacking in the minerality
and verve I remember? Off-bottle, getting tired early (plastic cork) or
the fact that I've got a slight cold (most likely latter). But still
this is a B and great QPR (both Chambers Street and WineLibrary have
this for under $9, I assume in anticipation of arrival of '05).

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.