Today was Lucy the Basset's 3rd birthday (actually, she's probably
about 2 =BE, as vet guessed she was 9 months when we got her from the
basset rescue folks, but we celebrate from then). She had a "doggie
tea" Sat afternoon- her guests included 4 Yorkies, a Lhasapoo, a
standard Poodle, a Golden Retriever,and 2 pugs. Much barking and
play ensued, perfect day for it. Then last night we invited a few of
her favorite humans to dine with us, while she worked on a bone.

Betsy made Moroccan lamb chops with chermoula (actually a little too
much cayenne for my tastes, though good), baked brown rice, and a
green salad with chevre and figs. The 2001 Saintsbury Reserve on day 3
was still a bit oaky, though less tannic. This needs time, not air. The
main wine was the 2001 Mulderbosch "Faithful Hound" (Stellenbosch). A
Merlot-driven Bordeaux blend, quite tight, tannic, and woody on
opening. Some air time helped, the dark berry and plum fruit rounded
out quite a bit, and it ended up quite popular at the table. Definite
sense of earth, with a smoky/mineral note on the finish. I'm not
totally sure I would have picked this as the outlier in a blind tasting
of $20 Bordeaux. Low-acid, better now than later, but decent juice.
B/B+

We toasted Lucy, and with a special hope that all the faithful hounds
from the Gulf Coast found their forever families. Lucy gets an A++++

Also over a few nights, the 2000 Haut-Chaigneau (Lalande de Pomerol).
On night one muted and closed, just some light black plum fruit and a
little cedary oak. Day 2 was similar, but on third day (from
half-bottle filled on day 1 and refrigerated) it seemed to find its
own. Ripe plum and blackberry fruit, an overlay of toasty oak. Not a
stunner, but a solid B on day 3.

Tonight Betsy was working, so we had an early dinner -she made a Pierre
Franey recipe of fettucine with a littleneck clam/cream/basil sauce.
She had used the 2004 Clos Roche Blanche Sauvignon (Touraine) in the
sauce, and we had with dinner (well, mostly I did). Nice clean
gooseberry and citrus fruit, some flinty mineral notes, a nice wine if
a little short on the finish. Not the equal of the 2002, but still a
nice QPR wine. 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
=20