With Betsy still in Japan and me too jetlagged to think about cooking,
I mostly ate prepared foods from the local Italian grocery this week. I
picked up some "pinwheels" of beef wrapped around pork loin chops and
panfried them Tuesday, the wine being the 2001 La Fleur du Jaugue (St.
Emilion) . Some oak- more obtrusive than I remembered- on top of red
plum and berry fruit. A bit of cinnamon toward the end of bottle.
Actually a bit boring. B-

The next night a shrimp appetizer followed by a sausage & pepper main
course. I ended up opened 2 375s, a white Burg and a Bdx. The 2002
Domaine Jean-Noel Gagnard "Masures" Chassagne-Montrachet showed quite
well, with some light spicy oak dancing around a core of ripe apple
fruit and minerals. Nice nutty/honey almost-Meursault note on the long
finish. B+/A-

The 2001 Ch. Bernadotte (Haut-Medoc) was a pleasant if rather light
Bordeaux. Modest ripe dark fruit, a little vanilla and marjoram.B


With a chicken breast stuffed with broccoli and cheese, accompanied by
broccoli rape, the 2002 Domaine Fougeray de Beauclair Bourgogne. Ripe
Pinot fruit, with black cherry flavors and a mild earthiness. Easy to
drink and ready, this isn't a Bourgogne-to-look-for like the Bachelet
or Lafarge, but a decent QPR at $12. B

By Friday I was tired of my own company, and ready to cook. Invited
some friends over and prepared a butterflied leg of lamb (garlic,
rosemary). A small thunderstorn rolled in, so I sauteed my summer
squash to save grill time. It was still raining as my guests arrived;
as we waited I served smoked salmon on cukes with the 2001 J.M. Boillot
"La Pucelle" Rully 1er Cru. Good richness and concentration for a
Rully, but the oak was a bit much. By end of night it had integrated a
bit, but this is just too oaky for me to really enjoy. B-/B

Rain continued in spurts, I thanked my switchover to gas, and went and
started grill anyway. Grilled the lamb and some asparagus, served with
the squash and some mushrooms my guests brought. With the lamb 2 reds:

2002 Domaine Vincent Girardin "Clos de la Confrerie" Santenay. This is
a monopole (non-1er); a very modern-styled Burg. Lots of toasty oak,
very ripe red fruit, light tannins. Probably better by itself than with
food. B

2001 Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico- sweet dark cherry fruit with
a real acidic backbone, this is more like it. Time lets in some leather
and tar notes. Both this and the Girardin are about $15, I know which
one I'm getting more of. B+/A-

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