On Feb 23, 12:29*am, Mark Lipton > wrote:
> Over the weekend, we opened a few different wines with dinner. *On
> Saturday, we had our friends Chris and Alan over for paella. *Our
> starter was a spinach, feta and olive pizza with which we had:
>
> 2004 Dom. de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre et Maine 'Clos des Briords'
> nose: minerals, quietly fruity
> palate: round but firmly acidic, crystalline minerality
>
> Jean and I both got a hint of cork taint, but thankfully not enough to
> spoil the wine. *Softer than it was in its youth, it's not yet made the
> transition to a fully mature form, but is still very appealing. *One has
> to wonder whether it would be even better had it not been tainted, so
> I'm glad that we have more in the cellar.
>
> Our friend Chris brought over:
>
> 2003 Ridge Lytton Springs
> nose: intially, somewhat oaky, turning more cedary, dark berry fruit
> palate: full body, round, growing leaner as it sat open, deep fruit,
> moderate acid
>
> Still too youthful for me, but beginning to round into form. *Its oak is
> still evident but not intrusive and there is every sign that it will
> fully integrate and become more classically Lytton Springs with time.
>
> On Sunday, I roasted a goose with bread stuffing (late Christmas
> dinner?) and separately roasted some Brussels Sprouts. *With the goose,
> I opened:
>
> 1996 Clos de l'Oratoire St.-Emilion
> nose: initially, roasted coffee, becming more herbal and cedary
> palate: medium body, good acidity, herbal, tobacco, plummy fruit, a bit
> hollow midpalate
>
> One of our few remaining '96s. *Jean had requested Bordeaux with her
> goose, so I decided to go for something a bit more aged than our current
> drinking '05s. *Pretty classic Bordeaux profile and not at all OTT to my
> tastes. *The roasted, coffee-like character I often get in St. Emilion
> was evident only early on, after which the wine had more generic
> Bordeaux character.
>
> Mark Lipton
> --
> alt.food.wine FAQ: *http://winefaq.cwdjr.net

Too bad about the Briords and TCA, even if faint. I have quite a few
of these, should visit.
Not bad for a 96 Right Bank (I think the hollow midpalate is true of
even the best ones)
Thanks for ntoes