On Dec 4, 11:03�am, DaleW > wrote:
> Last night SOBER met at my place. Betsy made a nice meal, and we had
> some cheeses from a new place in Bronxville. I set up my wine station
> on the washer and dryer so no one could spy the wines being served
> blind, the basement is at a nice holding temp of about 60 right now.
>
> My notes are even more rudimentary than useful, instead of my usual
> stream of consciousness scribblings I was making notes when I went
> down for next flight.
>
> As people arrived we had a non-blind wine, the 1997 Philipponnat "Clos
> des Goisses" Champagne Brut. I liked this quite a lot, although
> someone commented on the softness for Clos des Goisses. Citrus and
> green apple, a chalky/stony minerality. �This is pretty much a drink
> now, but a fun drink now! Wish I had gotten another one or two at
> Posner's closeout. �B+
>
> On to the doubleblind (but not for me) wines
>
> Flight 1 �(with a gingery seafood risotto)
>
> 1989 Trimbach "Cuvee Frederic Emile" Riesling Vendange Tardive
> I got to give Gilman credit. His guesses in order were "Alsace",
> "Vendange Tardive", "Trimbach" and "1989" �Really lovely wine, maybe
> my WOTN, long, precise, focused. Good acidity, big on palate, citrus
> and a bit of petrol. A-/A
>
> 1990 Trimbach "Cuvee Frederic Emile" Riesling Vendange Tardive
> Several thought this German. More apparent sweetness (though still
> basically dry), quite minerally, long. �Some people liked it much less
> than the 1989, but for me they were pretty close. I thought lovely. A-
>
> We paused from our blind festivities to make a toast to the hostess,
> as today is Betsy's birthday, and the actual party isn't till next
> week. So I poured the 1959 Marques de Murrieta Ygay Gran Reserva.
> Perfect label so I assume recent release, the gunky cork is clearly
> original. Showing well and quite young, midbodied with a slightly
> lifted nose. Red fruits accented with spice and citrus zest. A-
>
> Flight 2
> 1985 Phelps "Backus" Cabernet Sauvignon
> Craig quickly said both wines from same producer. John went Cal Cab.
> The Backus got general approval around table, solid black plum and
> currants, big dose of mint/eucalyptus, resolving tannins. A-/B+
>
> 1987 Phelps "Eisele" Cabernet Sauvignon
> This provoked some debate, some feeling it was too woody. Certainly
> suffers from being served next to the Backus, riper wine that is maybe
> entering decline. But served by itself I would have been happy with
> it. B
>
> Flight 3
> I served this just before the beef in Barolo (well, actually beef in
> Barbaresco) made it to the table, to keep from giving hint. Initial
> guesses from nose centered on Cabernet, and then Sangiovese. Once they
> were on Nebbiolo, they quickly got which was Barbaresco and which
> Barolo, and vintage. Beef was served with potatoes and crispy kale.
>
> 1985 Prunotto "Rabaja" Barbaresco
> Nose is not very Nebbioloish, dark fruits, leather. On palate more
> apparent- redder fruits, tar (remember, not blind for me, so I'm
> looking for this), resolved tannins. B+
>
> 1985 Marcarini "Brunate" Barolo
> A little VA, bigger, red and black fruits, good length, still some
> tannin. No hurry on this one. B+
>
> Flight 4
> 1971 Renato Ratti "Marcenasco" Barolo
> My intention was to open to check for corkiness and let these slowly
> oxygenate. But when I went to open this just before guests arrived,
> cork was like sawdust. I decanted through a filter, and a rather foul
> smelling light color browning wine came out. The bottle had more
> sediment �that I have ever seen other than MAYBE a VP. Since a couple
> people couldn't make it, I had decided to skip flight 5, but added
> back in as I expected this to be undrinkable. But lo and behold, when
> I went down for the first flight, the color had deepened. And the foul
> smell had blown off. And by time it was served (about 3 hours after
> opening) it was a perfectly nice mature Barolo. Good acids, red and
> black cherries, wet moss, tar. The miracle bottle. F on opening, B+/A-
> later.
>
> 1971 F. Rinaldi Barolo
> I didn't actually write anything down for this other than "some VA" ,
> I know I thought it a pleasant mature Barolo, but preferred the Ratti.
> B
>
> Flight 5
> 1983 Drouhin "Clos des Mouches" Beaune
> I said it was a much maligned vintage, and 1983 Burgundy was quickly
> guessed. John went Pommard and then Beaune, and got the CdM. Craig
> said he got a little rot, to me I couldn't find it. A nice bowl of
> cherries with a bit of cedar and dirt. Great showing for the vintage. B
> +/A-
>
> 1989 Drouhin Charmes-Chambertin
> This was servicable, but maybe my least favorite red of the night.
> Clearly Burgundy (even to those tasting blind), ripe, low acid, a bit
> short, with a slight horsey note. OK, but the 1er cru kicked the GC's
> butt. B-
>
> Flight 6
> 1963 Warres Vintage Port
> Mark and I had each gotten this at a good price recently from Pops, so
> he wasn't allowed guesses. I think initial guesses were in 70s, but
> overall they got vintage quickly (producer, not so fast). Fig paste,
> spices, nice if not profound. B+
>
> 1972 Mayacamas Late Harvest Zinfandel
> It was kinda funny because at first Mark thought this was the port,
> and had a "uh oh I own this?" look on his face. Several people thought
> it was port, but then Craig said late harvest Cali Cab. Pretty close!
> This is an interesting and kind of weird wine, a changing palette of
> herb notes- one minute oregano, then mint,. then green tobacco leaf,
> etc. All over a fruit base of raisins and ripe plums with some cocoa.
> B
>
> I had shocked everyone by serving no Bordeaux! Fun night, most of the
> wines showed as well as I could have hoped, fun people to host.
>
> 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.��

SOunds like a fun line-up thanks for the notes. I have a bottle of
the '87 Phelps Eisele that I planning on opening for the New Year.
I'll report on it.