Chateau de Sancerre 2008

Bought this at the Ganges liquor store on Salt Spring. Very nice. Pale gold, crisp but not too lemony, apply, asparagus, crushed peas, that type of thing. We're watching SNL with Jesse Eisenberg, which had one of the funniest Weekend Updates since Seth Myers went solo. Ate some rare lamb at Market Fresh Cafe for dinner. When in Rome.

Chateau Bolaire Bordeaux Superieur 2007

At first I was not a huge fan of this wine, but it is difficult to describe what I didn't like. It was a bit closed off, thin tasting. I love subtle wines, and this one did get better after being open for a couple days. It is lemony, moderately tannic, cranberryish, lightly vanillan. I have another bottle to try in a few months.

Packing for a tomorrow's weekend trip to Salt Spring Island. Went out for a drink for Po's farewell. He's headed back to Shanghai. Listening to My Morning Jacket.

Just over $30.

Chateau de Gironville 2007

A red Bordeaux from the Haut-Medoc with moderate tannins, tobacco maybe? Blackberry. Watching Boardwalk Empire. Vanilla. Sour cherry. Nice.

Around $30 from Marquis

Santa Rita Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2010

The white bean and Swiss chard stew is simmering and we're sipping the remains of this crisp white from the bottle, which sits on our rail by the kitchen, close to where the drywall is bubbling with water damage from our leaking condo roof.

I did the dishes before the meal, which is awesome. We're listening to My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West again. Sipping from the bottle.

Nicolas Maillart NV Brut Plantine Premier Cru Champagne

This was the 12:00 pop last night, ringing in the new decade, and celebrating our five-year anniversary, with fizz.

It's super tasty: toasty, nutty, crisp, and a pretty lightish gold in the glass. We're about to eat leftover pork, delicious, and watch season two of Dollhouse, cruelly cancelled. What a great show it was, and could have been.

Starting the new year off right.

$50 at Marquis Wine Cellars
12.5%

Remelluri Reserve 2003 Rioja

A magnum of Spanish red to go with last night's pork and potatoes and calendar smashing.

Really nice: moderate tannins, cherry, vanilla, tobacco. Subtly delicious.

Lucien Albrecht Cremant D'Alsace

A nice start to New Year's Eve. This sparkling has nice citrus, and a creamy mouthfeel. Though it occurs to me that that might be psychosomatic.

Brought over by James and Ria, popped by me, chilled by nature on the patio, enjoyed by all.