TN: Basque and Burgundy
 

Friday Betsy was planning an early dinner (she was playing and I was
hosting my local group), she called to ask for a cup or more of dry
white wine. I said anything white on the top shelf of the "anything
goes" rack, thinking that I had a Pernot Bourgogne, a Haut-Rian Bdx
blanc, and the rest reds. But discovered my lone bottle of the 2005
Ameztoi (Getariako Txakolina) had been plundered. Not a biggie as far
as $$$, but I was looking forward to this and wouldn't have planned
this wine as a Bolognese ingredient (or accompaniment). But I did enjoy
the remaining couple of glasses. This Txakoli (I've seen the wine
referred to as Txakoli, Txacoli, and Txakolina, someone can explain
Basque to me later) is quite lemony, with a spritzy edge. There's a
Muscadet-like salinity/minerality to the wine, I like a lot, and will
add to my next order. B+

Betsy was playing Sat night, but not the matinee- she would be home for
dinner, but had appointments to keep her from cooking. I made marrow
bones with a caper/parsley salad followed by duck breast over greens
with a red wine sauce. The wine was the 2003 Joseph Drouhin "Vero"
Bourgogne Pinot Noir. Pricewise, this wine is intended to be a step up
from the LaForet, I paid $18. The ripeness of the vintage is
compensated for by Drouhin's stylistic reserve. Nice ripe cherry and
raspberry fruit, decent acidity, nice finish. Some tannins but ripe and
fine. With time some floral and cola (which I associate with new oak,
but didn't get any other new oak aromas) emerge. I didn't really care
for the 2002 of this but the 2003 is better (can't remember another
Burgundy I'd say that about!). B+/B

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.