Arv Rao organized a group last night for a Post-Valentine's Magnum
Madness dinner at Triomphe. A chance for geeks to gather with our
spouses (or spouse-to-be in Arv's case). 5 couples plus Matt (Kristin
was stuck in CA after a cancelled flight) gathered for a nice
evening.

My contribution was the 2001 Nigl "Privat" Gruner Veltliner
(Kremstal) (magnum). On the one hand, one of my favorite wines of the
night, on the other hand a tad disappointing as it wasn't quite what I
expected. Instead of the regally austere wine I had anticipated based
on other Privats, this was a juicy/friendly slobbery kiss of a GV.
White peach and tropical fruits, big, with a touch of sweetness I
didn't expect. Lots of body, a little hint of white pepper and lots
of mineral notes on the finish. Big white, ready to go. Saved a bit
for the first course, very good match with Betsy's scallops in foie
gras butter. A-/B+

On to the reds
1982 Ch. Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa) (magnum)
Ripe soft red currant fruit, some earth, and some animal/fur notes.
Jacques found it too bretty, I thought it was just a touch and found
it added to the wine. Revisited later there was some mushroom and
black olive notes. Probably a tie for best red of the night for me,
not very long or deep but very pleasant mature CS. B+

1975 Ch. Palmer (Margaux)
A 750. At first quite dominated by really drying tannins, though with
pleasant enough fruit flavors of roasted red plums and cherry, with a
smoky edge. But those tannins. Revisited much later an initial sip was
my favorite sip of wine of the night, a gloriously aromatic and deep
mature Bordeaux, but just 5 minutes in the glass left it pruney.
Excluding that one sip, B-/C+

1998 Ch. Quinault L'Enclos (St Emilion) (magnum)
So my initial notes read " vanilla, vanilla oak, oaky vanilla, oak,
and toasted oak." On palate showing more blueberries and black plum.
With some time it calms down a bit and the oak at least partially
integrates, but still I don't care for this. Big wine but a little
hollow in the middle, unsure time will help. Others like better. C+

2004 Vall Llach (Priorat)
Brawny beasty bouncer of a wine, beats you up and throws you out on
the sidewalk. This is too hot, too oaky, and too big for me, but I
respect it more than the Quinault because it seems to me to be what
Priorat is about. But I'd rather drink their second wine, Embruix. B-/
B

2001 Phelps Insignia (Napa)(magnum)
This is all about the sweet fruit, but it does that simple task quite
well. Tannins are apparent but very ripe and easy, good acidity for a
CalCab, balanced overall. B+

1998 Frogs Leap Cabernet Sauvignon(Rutherford) (magnum)
Pleasant fruit-forward style of CS, a little note of green underneath.
OK though it didn't make a big impression. B

1996 Rene Renou "Les Melleresses" Bonnezeaux
I had bought a little assortment of '96 Renous, reviewing notes I
really liked the Cuvee Anne, less excited with other bottlings. That
still holds true. Waxy Chenin nose, but fruit has an overripe
overwrought quality, kind of canned apricots meets canned peaches. C+

Maybe not the best wine night, but quite fun. Nice to have Betsy with
me at a wine event, to see old friends, and meet a few new people.

Triomphe was having an event in the main dining room, and we were with
a few other tables in what is normally the private room. I thought
service suffered a bit , probably due to emphasis being placed on the
other event. A decent job done of keeping my water glass filled
(always a daunting task), but it was a struggle to get even
rudimentary glassware (luckily I had brought a few stems). Our food
was mostly quite good- I enjoyed my venison main course, my endive
salad, and my squab starter. Betsy's scallops, soup, and lamb were
mostly good, though the last a bit underseasoned. Strangely, we split
a 3 cheese assortment and got 2 blues (one Stiltonish,the other more
like a Roquefort). Don't think that was intended, but we were pretty
full and just nibbled (good berries and apple, too). But the main
thing was the people, and I think everyone had a good time.

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.