Friday I had one of those days where everything goes wrong (although
in end fixed everything), since I was griping on phone to Betsy she
decided to do a dinner she knew would please me. She made a venison
stew with potato dumplings, really excellent. The wine was the 2005
Ch. Faizeau (Montagne St Emilion). Quite modern, with ripe red cherry
and plum fruit, a velvety texture, and a healthy dose of toasty oak.
Tannins are present but fine and not harsh. Lower acid, oaky, a purist
could find a lot to complain about. But on this night, maybe because I
was really tired, a slutty/oaky Merlot with some structure and good
length really hit the spot. Who needs to think? I'm probably grading
higher than if I tried on another night, but Friday this got a B+/A-

Saturday we went to a dinner at a local church to benefit some social
action programs the church supports (jnc. my organization). A couple
of friends who used to cook professionally (Alex had a restaurant in
Paris, Peter was executive chef for a bank) put together a dinner,
which is followed by a concert. Dinner theme was Vienna, we had
aspargus with proscuitto and vinaigrette, schweinelendchen (pork
medallions in sauce) and spaetzle (after the concert there was
sachertorte). Concert was also Viennese, the Manhattan String Quartet
was joined by Betsy and some Met Opera players to do movements from a
Beethoven quartet, a Mozart quintet, Schubert's Trout, and more. Great
food and music.

And the wines:
So my friend Fred conducted a little wine tasting first. 2 whites, 2
reds, so people could decide what they wanted to carry to their
table.

2007 Berger Gruner Veltliner
Nice enough, citrus and apple fruit,but not a lot of noticable GV
character,and not quite as crisp as the QPR-champ '06, still a decent
white B-

2007 Huber Gruner Veltliner
More typically GV, some sweet pea and pepper over pretty apple/pear
fruit. Nice for an inexpensive GV. B

2007 Berger Blauer Zweigelt
Like the Berger GV, in liters. Fresh and easy, clean red berry fruit
and not much more. B-

2006 Huber Zweigelt
A little more gravitas here, darker berries and some earth and
leather. Balanced acidity, light tannins, good length. B

Our table had a couple of my wine buddies, Mark and I brought some
bonus wines:

NV Piper Heidsieck Brut Champagne
Lighter style of bubbly, sharp citrus fruit, just a hint of yeast,
zippy. B

1993 Salomon/Undhof Kogl Riesling
I bought this within last couple years, label says Library Reserve, I
guess recent release. Very petrolly, some apple cider, good length.
This is more interesting than outright tasty, at first. Gets more
interesting after a few hours. Earthy, a little flinty. B

1994 Brundlmayer "Zobinger Heiligenstein" Riesling
This was actually I mistake, I thought I was bringing 2 1993
Rieslings. I had really liked the 1993 of this, the shock is how good
the 1994 is. Ripe peaches and tangerine, a light hint of sweetness,
good length. Not the depth of the '93 Brundlmayer,but I like better
than the '93 Salomon. Very popular at table. B+

2000 Nicolas Potel Echezeaux
Ready and willing, Bing cherries sprinkled with earth and Vosne spice.
Very tasty, forward, no reason to hold, really tasty now. I'm not sure
I'd call this clearly GC quality, but it was very cheap for GC and I
wish I had bought more. B+/A-

An aside- at this event 2 years ago a casual acquaintance tablemate
had gleefully poured herself about an 8 oz pour of another Echezeaux I
had brought (ignorance, not malice/greed). A problem at a table of 10.
I avoided her last year, but she apparently asked to be at our table
this time, so I made a point of pouring my 3 wines for everyone. But I
went trolling for turkeys for a charity dinner at neighborring tables
for a few minutes, came back to an empty bottle. At least I got good
initial pour!

2000 Ch. Puy-Blanquet (St Emilion)
Mark brought this. Just hard tannins and a little cassis at first,
this was the least generous minor 2000 I'd run across in a while. But
I salvaged the rest (with Mark's approval) to carry to the musicians'
post concert meal, much more giving after 2 hours. Broad red currant
and plum fruit, a little cigarbox, still a tad hard, but not like
earlier. B

2005 Ch. Picque Caillou (Pessac-Leognan)
A little more body than the '04 of this, but harder and less giving. I
thought the '04 a nicely balanced if lighter weight Graves, but this
is less charming, at least now. Will it integrate as tannins fade? I
hope so (I have more), but this doesn't seem to have great
concentration lurking. B-

2006 VRAC Cotes du Rhone
With the musicians meal. Straightforward, herby, strawberries and
raspberries, but quite short and lacking in concentration. B-/C+

Really fun night, though wine came in 3rd after food and especially
music.

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.

DaleW > wrote:

> 2007 Berger Gruner Veltliner
> ...
>
> 2007 Huber Gruner Veltliner
> ...

Dale, since both are situated right in Veltliner country,
both might have at least three, possibly up to five different
bottlings. It would help to give exact names and alcohol content,
since this (especially the latter) would give a clue to whether
it's a very basic bottling or something up the scale.

> 1993 Salomon/Undhof Kogl Riesling
> I bought this within last couple years, label says Library
> Reserve, I guess recent release.

Exactly, a recent release.

M.

On Nov 24, 3:13�am, Michael Pronay > wrote:
> DaleW > wrote:
> > 2007 Berger Gruner Veltliner
> > ...
>
> > 2007 Huber Gruner Veltliner
> > ...
>
> Dale, since both are situated right in Veltliner country,
> both might have at least three, possibly up to five different
> bottlings. It would help to give exact names and alcohol content,
> since this (especially the latter) would give a clue to whether
> it's a very basic bottling or something up the scale.
>
> > 1993 Salomon/Undhof Kogl Riesling
> > I bought this within last couple years, label says �Library
> > Reserve, I guess recent release.
>
> Exactly, a recent release.
>
> M.

The Berger was the basic bottling in the liter, the Huber was in a
750, but I assume also fairly cheap, as it was a fundraiser for a non-
wine centric crowd.

DaleW > wrote:

>>> 2007 Berger Gruner Veltliner
>>> ...
>>> 2007 Huber Gruner Veltliner
>>> ...
>> Dale, since both are situated right in Veltliner country,
>> both might have at least three, possibly up to five different
>> bottlings. It would help to give exact names and alcohol
>> content, since this (especially the latter) would give a clue
>> to whether it's a very basic bottling or something up the
>> scale.

> The Berger was the basic bottling in the liter,

I see. Liter bottles practically cross the radar of a wine
aficionado over here, for the simple reason that it's normally
the litter container for everything not fit for a standard bottle.

> the Huber was in a 750, but I assume also fairly cheap, as it
> was a fundraiser for a non- wine centric crowd.

Then cerainly his basic bottling, apparently called "HUGO". Here the
list in ascending order of price (from the homepage):

HUGO 2007
Obere Steigen 2007
Alte Setzen 2007
Berg 2007
Klassik 2007

Michael Pronay > wrote:

> I see. Liter bottles practically cross the radar of a wine
^
never

> aficionado over here, for the simple reason that it's normally
> the litter container for everything not fit for a standard bottle.

M.

On Nov 25, 7:44*am, Michael Pronay > wrote:
> DaleW > wrote:
> >>> 2007 Berger Gruner Veltliner
> >>> ...
> >>> 2007 Huber Gruner Veltliner
> >>> ...
> >> Dale, since both are situated right in Veltliner country,
> >> both might have at least three, possibly up to five different
> >> bottlings. It would help to give exact names and alcohol
> >> content, since this (especially the latter) would give a clue
> >> to whether it's a very basic bottling or something up the
> >> scale.
> > The Berger was the basic bottling in the liter,
>
> I see. Liter bottles practically cross the radar of a wine
> aficionado over here, for the simple reason that it's normally
> the litter container for everything not fit for a standard bottle.
>
> > the Huber was in a 750, but I assume also fairly cheap, as it
> > was a fundraiser for a non- wine centric crowd.
>
> Then cerainly his basic bottling, apparently called "HUGO". Here the
> list in ascending order of price (from the homepage):
>
> * * * * HUGO 2007
> * * * * Obere Steigen 2007
> * * * * Alte Setzen 2007
> * * * * Berg 2007
> * * * * Klassik 2007

I've generally found the few liter Gruners imported to US (the one I
see most is Hofer) to be quite competent if very light styles.

The Huber was probably the Obere Steigen then, I've seen the
(unimpressive) Hugo a few times, this wasn't it (it has a bright
colored label with HUGO in large letters, kind of like Loimer's LOIS).
This had a more " traditional" label. I'll confirm with Fred when I
return from the South this weekend.
Thanks for info

DaleW > wrote:

> I've generally found the few liter Gruners imported to US (the
> one I see most is Hofer) to be quite competent if very light
> styles.

True, haven't tasted it yet, but this is about the only one I have
heard of.

> The Huber was probably the Obere Steigen then, I've seen the
> (unimpressive) Hugo a few times, this wasn't it (it has a bright
> colored label with HUGO in large letters, kind of like Loimer's
> LOIS). This had a more " traditional" label.

It's also possible that Huber doesn't list the liter bottling on
the homepage.

> I'll confirm with Fred when I return from the South this
> weekend.

Thanks in advance!

> Thanks for info

You're welcome!

M.

On Nov 26, 9:38*am, Michael Pronay > wrote:
> DaleW > wrote:
> > I've generally found the few liter Gruners imported to US (the
> > one I see most is Hofer) to be quite competent if very light
> > styles.
>
> True, haven't tasted it yet, but this is about the only one I have
> heard of.
>
> > The Huber was probably the Obere Steigen then, I've seen the
> > (unimpressive) Hugo a few times, this wasn't it (it has a bright
> > colored label with HUGO in large letters, kind of like Loimer's
> > LOIS). This had a more " traditional" label.
>
> It's also possible that Huber doesn't list the liter bottling on
> the homepage.
>
> > I'll confirm with Fred when I return from the South this
> > weekend.
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> > Thanks for info
>
> You're welcome!
>
> M.

Actually it was the Berger in the liter, the Huber was in a 750

DaleW > wrote:

> Actually it was the Berger in the liter, the Huber was in a 750

Ooops, sorry, just forget what I'd written ...

M.

In article
>,
DaleW > wrote:

> Friday I had one of those days where everything goes wrong (although
> in end fixed everything), since I was griping on phone to Betsy she
> decided to do a dinner she knew would please me. She made a venison
> stew with potato dumplings, really excellent. The wine was the 2005
> Ch. Faizeau (Montagne St Emilion). Quite modern, with ripe red cherry
> and plum fruit, a velvety texture, and a healthy dose of toasty oak.
> Tannins are present but fine and not harsh. Lower acid, oaky, a purist
> could find a lot to complain about. But on this night, maybe because I
> was really tired, a slutty/oaky Merlot with some structure and good
> length really hit the spot. Who needs to think? I'm probably grading
> higher than if I tried on another night, but Friday this got a B+/A-
>
> Saturday we went to a dinner at a local church to benefit some social
> action programs the church supports (jnc. my organization). A couple
> of friends who used to cook professionally (Alex had a restaurant in
> Paris, Peter was executive chef for a bank) put together a dinner,
> which is followed by a concert. Dinner theme was Vienna, we had
> aspargus with proscuitto and vinaigrette, schweinelendchen (pork
> medallions in sauce) and spaetzle (after the concert there was
> sachertorte). Concert was also Viennese, the Manhattan String Quartet
> was joined by Betsy and some Met Opera players to do movements from a
> Beethoven quartet, a Mozart quintet, Schubert's Trout, and more. Great
> food and music.
>
> And the wines:
> So my friend Fred conducted a little wine tasting first. 2 whites, 2
> reds, so people could decide what they wanted to carry to their
> table.
>
> 2007 Berger Gruner Veltliner
> Nice enough, citrus and apple fruit,but not a lot of noticable GV
> character,and not quite as crisp as the QPR-champ '06, still a decent
> white B-
>
> 2007 Huber Gruner Veltliner
> More typically GV, some sweet pea and pepper over pretty apple/pear
> fruit. Nice for an inexpensive GV. B
>
> 2007 Berger Blauer Zweigelt
> Like the Berger GV, in liters. Fresh and easy, clean red berry fruit
> and not much more. B-
>
> 2006 Huber Zweigelt
> A little more gravitas here, darker berries and some earth and
> leather. Balanced acidity, light tannins, good length. B
>
> Our table had a couple of my wine buddies, Mark and I brought some
> bonus wines:
>
> NV Piper Heidsieck Brut Champagne
> Lighter style of bubbly, sharp citrus fruit, just a hint of yeast,
> zippy. B
>
> 1993 Salomon/Undhof Kogl Riesling
> I bought this within last couple years, label says Library Reserve, I
> guess recent release. Very petrolly, some apple cider, good length.
> This is more interesting than outright tasty, at first. Gets more
> interesting after a few hours. Earthy, a little flinty. B
>
> 1994 Brundlmayer "Zobinger Heiligenstein" Riesling
> This was actually I mistake, I thought I was bringing 2 1993
> Rieslings. I had really liked the 1993 of this, the shock is how good
> the 1994 is. Ripe peaches and tangerine, a light hint of sweetness,
> good length. Not the depth of the '93 Brundlmayer,but I like better
> than the '93 Salomon. Very popular at table. B+
>
> 2000 Nicolas Potel Echezeaux
> Ready and willing, Bing cherries sprinkled with earth and Vosne spice.
> Very tasty, forward, no reason to hold, really tasty now. I'm not sure
> I'd call this clearly GC quality, but it was very cheap for GC and I
> wish I had bought more. B+/A-
>
> An aside- at this event 2 years ago a casual acquaintance tablemate
> had gleefully poured herself about an 8 oz pour of another Echezeaux I
> had brought (ignorance, not malice/greed). A problem at a table of 10.
> I avoided her last year, but she apparently asked to be at our table
> this time, so I made a point of pouring my 3 wines for everyone. But I
> went trolling for turkeys for a charity dinner at neighborring tables
> for a few minutes, came back to an empty bottle. At least I got good
> initial pour!
>
> 2000 Ch. Puy-Blanquet (St Emilion)
> Mark brought this. Just hard tannins and a little cassis at first,
> this was the least generous minor 2000 I'd run across in a while. But
> I salvaged the rest (with Mark's approval) to carry to the musicians'
> post concert meal, much more giving after 2 hours. Broad red currant
> and plum fruit, a little cigarbox, still a tad hard, but not like
> earlier. B
>
> 2005 Ch. Picque Caillou (Pessac-Leognan)
> A little more body than the '04 of this, but harder and less giving. I
> thought the '04 a nicely balanced if lighter weight Graves, but this
> is less charming, at least now. Will it integrate as tannins fade? I
> hope so (I have more), but this doesn't seem to have great
> concentration lurking. B-
>
> 2006 VRAC Cotes du Rhone
> With the musicians meal. Straightforward, herby, strawberries and
> raspberries, but quite short and lacking in concentration. B-/C+
>
> Really fun night, though wine came in 3rd after food and especially
> music.
>
> 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.

A slutty Merlot? Otherwise great notes Dale. Only tasted a few 2005
Bordeaux so far and wow, most are big wines that will need time. Lots of
tannins for me. I'm thinking even the low end ones won't be really
pleasant for 8-10 years.