TN: Tale of 2 Villages Cote de NuitsVillages, actually

Betsy got back Wednesday, and in short order got her version of comfort food (beef stroganoff) on the dinner table. I served the 2002 Sylvie Esmonin Cote de Nuits-Villages . Big ripe kirsch fruit, a touch of earth and some light vanilla. Quite tasty, if not forcefully Burgundian. The next night I had a glbutt after coming in from a late meeting, a bit of a mushroom-damp earth note rounded out the package nicely, showing a bit better than before. B-B+

Friday I had a speech at a synagogue, came home for a late dinner. Duck breast and pasta with peppers and a bechamel sauce. The wine was the 2000 Domaine Bachelet Cote de Nuits-Villages. Much lighter in body than the '02 Esmonin, but a graceful wine with lively acidity, clear cherry fruit, and a nice finish. Clean and pretty, but just a tad lacking in concentration. B

Both nice wines. As far as matches, if I had to do it over again, I would have served the lighter 2000 with the stroganoff, and the more robust 2002 with the duck.

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.   Dale