DaleW wrote:
Originally Betsy was supposed to be out of town Friday, so I had agreed
to a night with a local tasting group. Then her plans changed, so she
was home. Luckily the tasting group was meeting at 8:30, so we had an
early dinner. Betsy made some lemon-herb duck breast, served with
leftover mushroom risotto. I opened the 1997 Ceretto "Zonchera" Barolo
Fruit-forward with ripe cherries and raspberries and quite oaky, not
bad. The following night it showed better - round, with ripe red fruit
and some tar as well as some vanilla. B+

I realize that I should know this already, but is Ceretto considered a
"modern" producer?


Next up is a medium-bodied red. Some smoke and grilled meat, modest red
fruit. A tad acidic. Guy who brought it says it's 100% one grape, so I
take a stab in the dark and guess St. Joseph. Turns out to be the 2002
Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage. Not awful, but not up to Graillot's
usual standards. B

In all fairness to the estimable M. Graillot, '02 was a difficult year
to say the least...

Then Saturday we had some friends over for dinner. The appetizer was
smoked salmon canapes, with which I served the 2001 Johann Donabaum
Spitzer Point Reserve Grüner Veltliner. Big rich Gruner, white fruit
with a touch of apricot and pineapple, possibly just the slightest bit
off-dry. Long finish from this mouth-filling wine. Label says there's
some light botrytis here, wouldn't have guessed except maybe that
apricot note. Best so far of the GVs from I've gottten from
winemonger.com, even if less typical than the '02 Donabaum. A-

In case you'd forgotten my review of this wine:
c: deep gold
n: toasty, pepper, slightly hot
p: rich entry, apricot, melon, honey, crisp finish

Wow! As much as I liked the Smaragd, this wine was even more
impressive. It had complexity, balance and length with potential for
improvement with age.

So your pineapple is my melon ;-)

Mark Lipton
(drinking a Mauritiushof Riesling this evening)