Superbowl and Taxes

Saturday our accountant came over; we did taxes then called his wife. She came over, and we had a nice dinner. Starter was a 2001 Fournier "Grande Cuv=E9e Vieilles Vignes" Sancerre. I had grabbed this by mistake (kinda) after liking the '02 at a tasting. Realized when I got home from store I had the 2001. Not as rich as the 2002, and maybe lacking some of the '02s acidic zing. Still, a pretty good (bigger) Sancerre. Grapefruit, some grbutty-herbal notes, a little flint. B

Jim the accountant-mystery writer loves CdP, so I served the 2001 Domaine Pontifical Ch=E2teauneuf-du-Pape. Nice medium-bodied CdP, bright red plum and dark berry fruit, lots of animal and earth aromas, clean bright finish. Some spice, which matches well with the 6-spice braised short ribs (recipe from Floyd Cardoz of Tabla). I don't notice at first, but there's a distinct herbal-underbrush note after it has some air. Good deal at $18. B++

To provide a bit of contrast, I opened a La Pialade C=F4tes du Rh=F4ne. This is the "bargain" bottling from Ch. Rayas, at $17. Lots of earth and merde on the nose (brett, or mourvedre?), light to medium bodied CdR, moderate raspberry fruit. B-B-

Sunday we went to a Sorta Superbowl (American Football) Party. With appetizers (tomato-garlic bruschetta, deviled eggs): 2003 Babich Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough) Lots of gooseberry, a bit of hot pepper and grbutt. Some herbs after a while. Good. B

With the main course (pork tenderloin, with couscous and beans) we probably could have used a big white. But we made do with reds:

1999 Sebastiani Merlot (Sonoma) Lots of vanilla oak notes, ripe red fruit. Not a blockbuster, but agreeable-typical Cal Merlot. B