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.**

> 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+

I'll note this is $75 locally, very generous of Oswaldo to let me try,
but I think my Scholium curiosity is getting less each time I try,
more interesting than tasty to me.

On Mon, 12 Jul 2010 07:16:51 -0700, DaleW wrote:

> Friday Betsy made fried chicken and turnips with potatoes (2 faves of my
> mom who we're worried about)

I hope that your mom is feeling better soon.

Godzilla

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.