On Tuesday, January 24, 2017 at 4:07:43 PM UTC-5, DaleW wrote:
> Thursday I was indecisive in store, ended up with clams and lamb. So a first course of clams and linguine, then couple small rib chops along with pimenton cauliflower.
> 1993 Ferret Le Clos Tete de Cuvee Pouilly-Fuisse
> Knew this was iffy when I got in a private sale, pretty advanced, though not truly oxidized. Apples/cider, a nutty hint, tired, some chalky notes hinting it would have good a while ago. C+/B-
>
> 2014 La Bettingna Vermentino
> Rounder than my preferred Vermentinos, nutty, modest finish. B-
>
> 2004 Giovanni Rosso Serralunga Barolo (375)
> Red fruits, earth, a little tar, ready to go from half. B/B+
>
> Friday Betsy made roast chicken, I opned the 2013 Keller €œRR€� Riesling. Not labelled as trocken, this is pretty close, just slightly off-dry. Big, vibrant acids, lime and peach with some light herbsl notes and long minerally finish. Took a while but Im becoming Keller fan B+/A-
>
> Saturday I worked but we went to join some marchers for dinner (Johns short ribs, risotto, and salad)
>
> NV Mionetto Prosecco
> The Raventos cava was gone when we got there, a glass of this showed sweet, appley, and simple. C+
>
> NV Taittinger €œLa Francaise€� Brut Champagne
> From private sale, think this had quite a bit of cellar time, some mature nutty/briochey notes, but plenty of fizz and apple/pear/lemon fruit. More complex than a recent release. B+/B
>
> 2000 Ch. La Garde (Pessac-Leognan)
> Double decanted before we went to dinner, nice showing. Still some tannin, but plenty of black cherry and currant fruit, some tobacco leaf, earth. Just entering drinking window. Not especially complex, but this was $16 on release. B/B+
>
> Sunday with leftovers (chicken, cauliflower, et al) while Betsy was at a post concert party, the
> 1997 Vissoux/Chermette €œPoncie€� Fleurie. At first I thought past it, but as initial bottle funk blew away nice black plum and cherry fruit showed up, with saddle leather and cedar notes. Good acids, finish not real long but nice wine for a couple hours. Then it began to crack up, disjointed and with emerging ashtray. But till then solid B.
>
> Monday my flight made it out of White Plains late but almost ahead of storm, got rental in Atlanta and headed north. Met college roommate and his wife at a tavern, I had shrimp and grits and a glass of 2015 Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc. Soft, hint of sweetness, apple and lemongrass, some grassy notes, ok. B-
> Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. 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.

My cellar is an active cellar which I maintain at 55F ad 70% humidity. It's been this way since 1991. My wines generally are in excellent shape as most were purchased on release. I have very old wines that I bought or were gifts that I cant prove provenance on but for the most part I have very few wines that have gone bad pr aged prematurely. That being said...some wines were just not built to last and others that I figured were long since over the hill were shockingly youthful so you can never tell until you open them.