Monday we had close friends over, with Betsy making the Zuni cafe
chicken with bread salad, and our friend Rachel supplying a
cauliflower/broccolli puree and some carrots. Couple of wines:

1998 Fontenil (Fronsac)
Sure, this is pretty modern. But it's pretty as well as modern, with
lovely black plum and berry fruit, a touch of lead pencil, and some
mineral earthiness. It may be modern, but it's not to be mistaken for
California. Some lushness without a hint of flabbiness. B+

2002 Five Vintners Syrah (Napa)
Our friends brought this. Apparently a cooperation between various
members of the Beringer and Raymond families. For a Napa, it makes a
fairly decent Barossa shiraz. Well-made, but a bit heavy for my tastes,
and what enjoyment I could glean came after the food was gone, when I
pretended it was a dessert wine. Probably a better wine than score
indicates, just not my style. B-/C+

Tuesday was some oven-roasted spareribs with baked potatoes. Wine was
the 2004 Ch. d'Oupia Minervois. Medium-bodied, nice dark berry fruit
with some strong (pleasant) herbal notes. Good acidity, apparent but
light tannins, nice finish for an under-$10 wine. B/B+, solid A for
value.

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.