TN: Basic Bourgogne, basic Bordeaux Blanc, both basically good

Monday Betsy made a recipe of salmon with lentils and bacon from the Zuni Cafe cookbook. The cookbook suggested Sangiovese, I said the hell with that and opened the 2002 Catherine and Claude Mar=E9chal "Cuv=E9e Gravel" Bourgogne. Nice medium-weight Bourgogne, some earth with clean red plum and cherry fruit. Some ripe tannins and good acids give it enough body to stand up to the rather rich dish.

The following night Betsy was working and I made some pork chops for dinner. Finished the remainder of the Marechal Bourgogne. I liked even better on day 2, the earth-damp forest floor elements had picked up intensity, but the fruit balanced it well. A very nice Bourgogne, B++

I had needed some white wine to cook my chops with, and had opened the 2004 Haut Rian (Bordeaux). I can't say I'm a big white Bordeaux drinker - the ones I like are too expensive, the lesser-priced ones often lack character compared to similarly priced NZ or Loire SB. But for under $10 this was a nice deal - clean citrus (lemon) fruit with just a hint of grbutt and straw, nice finish with clean fresh acidity. No new oak like a wannabe Graves, not an attempt to mimic a fruit-forward Marlborough, just it's own cool self. Seemingly more Sauvignon than Semillon, this is a nice clean food-friendly wine. 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