Monday we had our rear neighbors over for dinner- lemon chicken,
potatoes, and braised escarole with peppers. I prefer wine with the
chicken, and opened the 2005 Giesen Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough).
Clean gooseberry fruit, a little citrus zest and a hint of hot pepper
on the finish. Nice clean SB, decent value at under $10. B

One guest prefers red, and we opened the only Long Island red in my
cellar, a lone bottle of the 2000 Old Field Merlot (disclaimer- the
Old Field proprietors are friends). Really a nice plummy round Merlot,
varietally correct and pleasant to drink. Soft without being spineless.
B/B+

Tuesday was Valentine's Day, and Betsy was accompanying David on a
college visit to Bard. So I said I'd cook. But we'd had a lot of red
meat, and chicken night before. With 20 inches of snow on the grill I
was searching for things I can cook (I'm ok at certain things, but not
versatile). Some recipes by David Kinch (of Manresa) from previous
week's NYT caught my eye. So I made wild salmon with a hot (Colmans)
mustard glaze, braised Bibb lettuce, as well as some pattypan squash.
Definite heat in the fish glaze, so I went with something with its own
sweetness - the 2004 Leitz "Dragonstone" (Rudesheimer Drachenstein)
Riesling Qba (Rheingau). I wasn't wild about the 2003, but overall I
still find this wine one of the great bargains out there. White peaches
and a litltle pineapple, zippy acidity to balance the residual sugar,
chalk and other minerals on the finish. Sweetness balanced the
mustard's heat, while acidity kept everything defined and lively. B+

Wednesday was Betsy's version of steak Diane, accompanied by steamed
artichokes with hollandaise, baked potato, and salad. I stuck with H2O
through the artichokes, then with the steak we had a 375 of the 2002
Worthy "Sophia's Cuvee". Not a wine for those that fear blueberry jam.
Very ripe, blueberry, blackberry,and vanilla. Not a style I buy much
of, but well-enough done in the style. Stood up nicely to the steak and
sauce, just not what I usually want. 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.