TN: Runaways and wines

(note: I realize my diary style can be disconcerting, telling you more than you want to know. But I find it useful -checking archives for "what did we have when Joe was here", or whatever. This one is even more off-topic than most,sorry. The web-based site I post on lets me bold the wines so folks can just skip to that, but not Usenet, alas)

Betsy was in NC for some concerts, I was prepared for a picnic-concert earlier this week, but it was canceled as a big thunderstorm rolled in. So I took my stepson David and his girlfriend to try a new sushi place in town (mediocre), then a friend came over and we opened a couple bottles intended for the picnic

2003 Lafond "Roc-Epine" C=F4tes-du-Rh=F4ne A weird juxatapostion of very ripe grenachey fruit but with a sharp coarse acidity on the finish. Is this (poor) acidification at work? C+

(2004) F=E2mega Vinho Verde Just a spritzy hint of petillance, lemon and granny smith. Light and refreshing. Hard to beat at about $5. B

The next day began a bizarre interlude. As I was preparing to take a group on a Midnight Run, got a phone call from an old friend of Betsy's in NC. Her son and his girlfriend (childhood friends of David) had run away. He had been talking of NY, and sure enough he called David. I located their car, had it impounded, but no kids. Spent time before and after the run looking for the kids, combined with a speech and a Midnight Run to the city. When I got in at 2 AM I was still awake and anxious, so I as I talked to the girl's mother in NC I had a glbutt of wine - the 2002 Gilbert Picq "Dessus la Carriere" Chablis (from 375). Good acidity, no sign of oak, which is usually what I look for in Chablis AC. Red apple fruit with a touch of grapefruit and lemon zest. Not a bad wine, but not identifiably Chablis to me. B

Friday evening I grilled some swordfish , had a glbutt of the Chablis (holding well) and opened a bottle of 2003 Lazy Creek Gewurztraminer (Anderson Valley) that Betsy had gotten me in California. Just a tad off-dry, but with intense flavors of peaches, pineapple, luychees, and roses. A bit of spice. B+-A- About 10 PM I was having my second glbutt, and contemplating going to bed early. Then I got a call from David. The runaways had phoned his cell. The parents of the boy were driving up but were hours away, and I regrettfully dumped rest of the glbutt. David went and met the kids (who said they'd run if they saw adults-police). At 3 AM he got them to agree to sleep in his car. When the parents arrived at 3:45, I pointed out his car (we pretended we had just noticed, David was concerned he didn't want to be considered a fink). Whew.

On Saturday I picked up Betsy in the AM (after 2 hours sleep, again). Good to have her really home after 3 weeks. We had been planning a quiet meal together, but the parents of the boy were too tired to drive back, and were staying till Sunday AM. So we invited them for dinner. Betsy made whole chickens on the grill with a lime-cilantro baste, and poat dot (Cambodian corn). We had some of the opened wines, as well as a bottle of 2002 D=F6nnhoff Riesling QbA. Slightly subdued compared to previous bottles, but nice clean white peach fruit with a little lime. Minerally finish. Best glbutt is the last, after midnight while doing dishes. 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