Been trying to eat light and not have wine for a week or so to get rid of some holiday pounds. We went to an annual Valentine Party Saturday, incredible we could comfortably be outdoors in Feb, I tried a few wines (spitting)

2020 Terres Blondes Gamay
Cranberry, cherry, with a distinct “potted plant”/geranium note I often get from Loire Gamay. Clean, bright acids, and if one is less sensitive to that note might be a winner. B-/C+

2019 Guigal Cotes du Rhone
I know this is pretty mass market, but it’s a competent CdR that is likely a decent value. Ripe black cherry, pepper, and a little floral note. B

2015 Billards St Amour
(what else to bring to a Valentines party- where I didn’t want to bring Calon-Segur?). Riper vintage, but still a backbone of acid. Smoke, gamebird, and big black cherry. Fun, and I wished I wasn’t spitting. B++

For SuperBowl we went over to some friends for a nice gathering. Again, I was (mostly) spitting, and this time I regretted it for all the wines. Betsy was rooting for Niners (NoCal girl), and I was rooting for Chiefs (anything that pisses off Roseanne Barr, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Jesse Watters must be right). Started with hummus and guacamole, then at half enjoyed a package from Zahav- lamb shoulder with rice, beets with tahini, fennel, carrots, green beans, eggplant, and spicy zhug and harissa (with wonderful pitas). I probably forgot something. Best Goldbelly thing I’ve ever had.

1975 Domaine de Chevalier (blind)
I was off by decades on the DDC. My immediate reaction was RB, but then a distinct CabS note should have gotten me to Graves (when it’s a little bit Right and a little bit Left). But I was shocked that it was almost 50 years old- lots of tannin, but plenty of fruit as well. The complexity really grew in decanter as the tannins softened. A-

2002 Leoville Barton
This time I offered blind. Mark got Medoc, but guessed 2005 Pauillac. Much closer than I was to DDC! Cassis, a little leather, nice and correct but a bit foursquare. B

1990 Haut Brion (from 375)
Rich, savory, and gorgeous. Amazing complexity with spice, smoke, tobacco and gravel. I always worry about aging curve from 375s, but this was as young as a lovely 750 we had in a vertical a few years ago. A/A-

Very fun night.
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. 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.