A couple of gorgeous, cool, fall-like nights in a row. Thursday I
was alone while Betsy was at a friend's home in Garrison, I did veal
chops with sage on grill, corn, fried rice, and salad. Wine was the
2006 Pierre Matrot "Perrieres" Meursault 1er. I confess I was
disappointed at first- slightly muted, some oak, sweet pear fruit.
With air this opened up, big and brawny, pear and tropical fruit,
ripe. Nice, but not particularly Meursault-ish much less Perrieres-
esque. A fairly typical drink up early 2006 white Burg. But a glass on
following evening still showed ripe fruit, but with much more
pronounced minerality, now that's what I like in 1er cru Burg. Night
one B, night 2 A-/B+

Some friends flew home from CA via Rhode Island, where their dog had
stayed. They picked up some great seafood on way home, and came for
dinner. The dogs had bones, and we had steamers, smelts, cod, corn,
and salad. And, shockingly, some wine:

1993 Brundlmayer "Zobinger Heiligenstein" Riesling (Kamptal)
Dry, white nectarine fruit, wet rocks, petrol. Nice length, popular. B/
B+

2008 Henri Boillot Bourgogne Blanc
Big, white fruit, hazelnut, could use just a little more zip. B

2009 Cantina Santa Maria La Palma "Aragosta" Vermentino di Sardenga
Decent acidity, but a bit short and dilute. Clean is the best I can
say for it. Others liked a bit more. C+

2007 Edmunds St. John "Old Black Magic"
Cherry fruit, leather, smoke, mid-bodied, nice balance. Quickly
emptied. I thought the leatheriness was a result of some Mourvedre,
but a look at the label says it's 71%Syrah, 29% Grenache, shows you
what I know! But I like the wine, and wished I'd poured myself more
before it was finished. B+

2006 Havens Bourriquot (Napa), 1/2 bottle
Showing more Cab Franc-y than previous bottles, dark fruit framed with
green tobacco leaf, moderate tannins, nice length. B/B+

Lovely evening/

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.*