Tonight’s dinner, out on our balcony, so we could hear the music from the plaza, was Shepherd’s Lamb loin chops, a little over an inch thick, grilled a little below medium rare, seasoned with SI Mesquite Seasoning and granulated garlic - and finished with Kosher salt, rosemary. black pepper, and Tuscan EVOO; with cauliflower, boiled with onion powder and caraway seeds - finished with coarse sea salt, butter, and black pepper. All was enjoyed with a 1998 Ridge Lytton Estate Syrah - fill an inch below the cork, a little saturation into the cork; a dark ruby - garnet color; nice berry fruit in nose and flavors; mid-palate of almost resolved tannins and bright acidity; with a medium berry fruit finish; it will never be confused with a Côte-Rôtie, but it was enjoyable with our lamb.
Then for dessert while watching the team time-trial of the TdF, we had a Pink Lady apple with three grappas, Marolo Grappa di Moscato, Banfi Grappa di Brunello, & Badia a Coltibuono Wood-aged Grappa di Sangiovese. For me, the Marolo was a bit fruitier than in the past but still a bit hot; the Banfi was hot but good fruit; and the sangiovese was the best with the apple, good balance and woody fruitiness.