On Feb 18, 10:03�am, DaleW > wrote:
> Headed to the city for a guys night with some old friends last night.
> We gathered at Afghan Kebab House on 9th; I hadn't been there in a
> while and as always enjoyed it. We shared some pumpkin and spinach
> bulanee and a complimentary dish of meat dumplings as an appetizer;
> for main course I had lamb kebabs, plus we shared some eggplant and a
> lamb stew.
>
> The wines:
> NV Deutz Brut Champagne
> More elegant than powerful, bright, apples and orange peel with a
> biscuity note, quite a nice bottle of NV bubbly. I should drink more
> Deutz. Thanks Chris! B++
>
> 1993 Gunderloch Nackenheim Rothenberg Spatlese�
> Not as petrolly as the '94, though there definitely is some there.
> White peaches, lots of citrus, flowers. Not quite as vibrant as the
> '94 was, but a nice wine (though maybe a bit better on nose than
> palate). Good match with the pumpkin appetizer. B+/B
>
> 2004 La Roquete Chateauneuf-du-Pape
> Sweet red fruit, decent acidity, some slightly gritty tannins. This
> could use some time, but nice potential is my initial impression. A
> retry later appeals a bit less, as there is a slight cough syrup note.
> I think others like more, and they have more affection for and
> experience with CdP than I. But for me, B/B-
>
> 1998 Galatrona Petrolo
> Merlot SuperTuscan. Okay, this is unabashedly modern/international,
> but very well done in the idiom. Dense black plum fruit, with a little
> minty note and lots of milk chocolate. The oak has integrated into
> those cocoa notes, good length, big warm mouthfeel. I really enjoy the
> first glass, not quite so much later- not because wine changed, but
> others wines had come between. This is the kind of wine for me that I
> love a glass, but not so eager to have a bottle for dinner. Solid B+
> for that first glass. Thanks John for a nice wine!
>
> 1988 Maximin Grunhauser (Von Schubert) Abtsberg Spatlese
> This was another generous offering by John, and maybe bottle I was
> most looking forward to. It was a bit of a disappointment at dinner, a
> bit mute and tight. One could sense some coiled energy back there, but
> not a lot showing. However, I took the remainder with me and had a
> small glass on the train home. What a difference an hour makes. This
> was great (GREAT) wine. Light yet with a core of fruit that stood out
> purely, smoke and wet rocks. There's more, I hope that some of that
> greatness remains tonight. B-/B at dinner, A on the train.
>
> 1995 Ch. Lagrange (Pomerol)
> I seldom see this wine, and tend to think of it as "lesser" compared
> to it's St Julien name-share. But that's based on .....I'm not sure
> what! Only second time I remember having this, and it showed nicely.
> Mature, solid plum fruit, a light leafy note. Some cedar. B+/B
>
> 1986 Ch. Meyney (St Estephe)
> Arv commented how the whole Cordier stable (Meyney, Gruaud, Talbot)
> hit it out of the park in '86. Another nice showing for this old fave.
> Sweet dense fruit, some tobacco and cedar, still some tannins though
> not at all intrusive. This is coasting effortlessly, could even use a
> few more years. A-
>
> 1985 Ch. Canon (St Emilion)
> Thanks Ramon, my WOTN (at table, we'll leave the Grunhauser on train
> out of this), just edges the Meyney, mainly because it is totally and
> completely a pointe right now. Despite that ripe '85 fruit, there's a
> good backbone of acidity. Tannins are resolved, there beautiful red
> fruit- a melange of cherries, red plums, berries. Cigarbox, menthol,
> damp earth. A lovely wine. A-
>
> 1989 Ch. Oliver (Pessac-Leognan)
> Ramon says this is a great introductory Bdx for CA drinkers, I can see
> why. Ripe fruit, lighter tannins, low acids. There is an earthy note
> that says claret. Nice medium bodied wine, not the classic that WS
> called nor the dog that WA predicted. B
>
> Not a wine I wouldn't happily have at my table. Nor a person I
> wouldn't happily have at my table! Generous and fun group,
>
> 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.
> �

I always prefered the Pomerol from Lagrange. A bit juicier and
fleshy with the merlot content and a good QPR.