So I had told some people last week they could call for help on
Monday, once I was at office I realized how few things were open
(Independence Day observed). It was slow, so I closed a bit early, and
fished around for dinner companions. Only Roger bit, but we had a nice
seafood spread- squid, sardines with an herb sauce, and halibut; plus
a bean/corn salad and grilled baby zucchini. Roger is both a total
soccer fanatic and German, so knowing where conversation would center
I decided to do Germany vs Spain as a wine theme (much better than
Holland/Uruguay from a wine standpoint!):

2004 Selbach Oster "Zeltinger Schlossberg" Riesling Spatlese
This is actually showing quite well, lush almost creamy texture
balanced by vigorous acidity. Lively and long, green apples accented
with citrus and river stones. Very solid wine, drinking well but with
a future. A-

2000 Lopez de Heredia "Tondonia" Rioja Gran Reserva Rosado
Like most people meeting the LdH rose for the first time, Roger is
startled, then confused, and then happy (well, sometimes people don't
make it to happy). Intensely dry, strawberry and blood orange fruit,
accented with citrus zest and onionskin. I quite enjoy, but it's a tad
soft and doesn't seem to have quite the zip/verve of the '93 or '97,
my benchmarks for this wine, this reminds me of the 95 and 98. Still,
that's no complaint! B+

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:
> So I had told some people last week they could call for help on
> Monday, once I was at office I realized how few things were open
> (Independence Day observed). It was slow, so I closed a bit early, and
> fished around for dinner companions. Only Roger bit, but we had a nice
> seafood spread- squid, sardines with an herb sauce, and halibut; plus
> a bean/corn salad and grilled baby zucchini. Roger is both a total
> soccer fanatic and German, so knowing where conversation would center
> I decided to do Germany vs Spain as a wine theme (much better than
> Holland/Uruguay from a wine standpoint!):
>
> 2004 Selbach Oster "Zeltinger Schlossberg" Riesling Spatlese
> This is actually showing quite well, lush almost creamy texture
> balanced by vigorous acidity. Lively and long, green apples accented
> with citrus and river stones. Very solid wine, drinking well but with
> a future. A-
>
> 2000 Lopez de Heredia "Tondonia" Rioja Gran Reserva Rosado
> Like most people meeting the LdH rose for the first time, Roger is
> startled, then confused, and then happy (well, sometimes people don't
> make it to happy). Intensely dry, strawberry and blood orange fruit,
> accented with citrus zest and onionskin. I quite enjoy, but it's a tad
> soft and doesn't seem to have quite the zip/verve of the '93 or '97,
> my benchmarks for this wine, this reminds me of the 95 and 98. Still,
> that's no complaint! B+

Great idea, Dale. Yes, yesterday was slim pickin's around here, too.
We had another bottle of the '09 Baudry rosé, which is a great, fun
rosé, albeit in a totally different vein than the LdH rosado.

Happy Belated 4th!
Mark Lipton

--
alt.food.wine FAQ: http://winefaq.cwdjr.net

On Jul 6, 10:58*am, Mark Lipton > wrote:
> DaleW wrote:
> > So I had told some people last week they could call for help on
> > Monday, once I was at office I realized how few things were open
> > (Independence Day observed). It was slow, so I closed a bit early, and
> > fished around for dinner companions. Only Roger bit, but we had a nice
> > seafood spread- squid, sardines with an herb sauce, and halibut; plus
> > a bean/corn salad and grilled baby zucchini. Roger is both a total
> > soccer fanatic and German, so knowing where conversation would center
> > I decided to do Germany vs Spain as a wine theme (much better than
> > Holland/Uruguay from a wine standpoint!):
>
> > 2004 Selbach Oster "Zeltinger Schlossberg" Riesling Spatlese
> > This is actually showing quite well, lush almost creamy texture
> > balanced by vigorous acidity. Lively and long, green apples accented
> > with citrus and river stones. Very solid wine, drinking well but with
> > a future. A-
>
> > 2000 Lopez de Heredia "Tondonia" Rioja Gran Reserva Rosado
> > Like most people meeting the LdH rose for the first time, Roger is
> > startled, then confused, and then happy (well, sometimes people don't
> > make it to happy). Intensely dry, strawberry and blood orange fruit,
> > accented with citrus zest and onionskin. I quite enjoy, but it's a tad
> > soft and doesn't seem to have quite the zip/verve of the '93 or '97,
> > my benchmarks for this wine, this reminds me of the 95 and 98. Still,
> > that's no complaint! B+
>
> Great idea, Dale. *Yes, yesterday was slim pickin's around here, too.
> We had another bottle of the '09 Baudry rosé, which is a great, fun
> rosé, albeit in a totally different vein than the LdH rosado.
>
> Happy Belated 4th!
> Mark Lipton
>
> --
> alt.food.wine FAQ: *http://winefaq.cwdjr.net- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Slim pickin's here too. I opened a bottle of 2005 Evans and Tate
Margret River Chardonnay. Pretty good chard for under $15. Tropical
fruits, pineapple, some melon nice acidic balance.

DaleW > wrote in news:b02828cc-6020-4b53-8abe-8252f7fd1d68
@i31g2000yqm.googlegroups.com:
>
> 2004 Selbach Oster "Zeltinger Schlossberg" Riesling Spatlese
> This is actually showing quite well, lush almost creamy texture
> balanced by vigorous acidity. Lively and long, green apples accented
> with citrus and river stones. Very solid wine, drinking well but with
> a future. A-

That was the wine that got me totally hooked on German Riesling. To a point
that Zeltinger Schlossberg is my favorite Mosel vineyard. You chose a great
example of German wine <VBG>.

>
> 2000 Lopez de Heredia "Tondonia" Rioja Gran Reserva Rosado
> Like most people meeting the LdH rose for the first time, Roger is
> startled, then confused, and then happy (well, sometimes people don't
> make it to happy). Intensely dry, strawberry and blood orange fruit,
> accented with citrus zest and onionskin. I quite enjoy, but it's a tad
> soft and doesn't seem to have quite the zip/verve of the '93 or '97,
> my benchmarks for this wine, this reminds me of the 95 and 98. Still,
> that's no complaint! B+

If it was my table... Germany would have won for sure. I have never been
impressed by LdH rosés.

We'll see tomorrow!

s.