TN: Bdx, Burgs, California, and Alsace
 

With lamb chops the 2001 Reserve de la Comtesse. Really in a nice
place now, classic Pauillac with cassis and lead pencil, not a lot of
complexity here but nice claret. B+/B

With lemon sole I opened the 2000 Ch. Montelena Chardonnay, which
unfortunately showed quite a bit of oxidation, too bad because there
seemed to be a nice wine lurking underneath. But this darkened and
died quickly. As a rule the Montelena Chard can easily go more than a
decade, but this isn't in my cellartracker so don't remember source,
probably some warmth .C
Backup was the 2006 La Louviere Blanc. Citrus fruits, good length,
competent if not exciting. B

With roast chicken and root vegetables the 2005 Bachelet Bourgogne.
Full ripe black cherry, earth, very very nice for a regional wine.
Some tannins, but not harshm this would stand up to a steak. B+

With grilled shell steaks, baked potatoes and salad the 1996 Mayacamas
Cabernet Sauvignon. Fresh dark fruits, good acids, ripe tannins, some
mushroom and (pleasant) bell pepper notes. Excellent length, this is
tasty but really calls for another decade in cellar. B+/A-

With my Superbowl turkey chili and sauteed arugula the 1993 Ridge
Lytton Springs. Berries, tobacco, and cedar, this doesn't come across
to me as especially Zin-ish, too bad it's my only one 'cause I'd have
liked to stick this in as a ringer in a Bdx flight. Very pleasurable,
if not very long. Two nights later is still alive, now with more a
fruity zin character (and little obvious oxidation). B/B+

With leftover vegetables a 375 of the 2000 Trimbach "Cuvee Frederic
Emile" Riesling. Last one I had was totally premOxed, this is advanced
though drinkable (and do I detect a tinge of blue on cork?), petrol
and pit fruits, some mineral, a nice enough 20 year old Riesling that
is unfortunately 12. B - (and drinking remaining ones soon)

Dinner at Juniper in Hastings last night, fun little BYOB place.
Carried a red and a white so we could decide, went with red to go with
a house made pate with mustard and quince compote, broccoli soup, duck
breast and confit with beans, maitakes, and turnips, and venison with
red cabbage. Wine was the 2006 Meo-Camuzet Bourgogne. Ripe and full,
red and black cherries, good acids for vintage, smoke and earth. 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.

TN: Bdx, Burgs, California, and Alsace
 

On Feb 9, 10:43*am, DaleW > wrote:
> With lamb chops the 2001 Reserve de la Comtesse. Really in a nice
> place now, classic Pauillac with cassis and lead pencil, not a lot of
> complexity here but nice claret. B+/B
>
> With lemon sole I opened the 2000 Ch. Montelena Chardonnay, which
> unfortunately showed quite a bit of oxidation, too bad because there
> seemed to be a nice wine lurking underneath. But this darkened and
> died quickly. As a rule the Montelena Chard can easily go more than a
> decade, but this isn't in my cellartracker so don't remember source,
> probably some warmth .C
> Backup was the 2006 La Louviere Blanc. Citrus fruits, good length,
> competent if not exciting. B
>
> With roast chicken and root vegetables the 2005 Bachelet Bourgogne.
> Full ripe black cherry, earth, very very nice for a regional wine.
> Some tannins, but not harshm this would stand up to a steak. B+
>
> With grilled shell steaks, baked potatoes and salad the 1996 Mayacamas
> Cabernet Sauvignon. Fresh dark fruits, good acids, ripe tannins, some
> mushroom and (pleasant) bell pepper notes. Excellent length, this is
> tasty but really calls for another decade in cellar. B+/A-
>
> With my Superbowl turkey chili and sauteed arugula the 1993 Ridge
> Lytton Springs. Berries, tobacco, and cedar, this doesn't come across
> to me as especially Zin-ish, too bad it's my only one 'cause I'd have
> liked to stick this in as a ringer in a Bdx flight. Very pleasurable,
> if not very long. Two nights later is still alive, now with more a
> fruity zin character (and little obvious oxidation). B/B+
>
> With leftover vegetables *a 375 of the 2000 Trimbach "Cuvee Frederic
> Emile" Riesling. Last one I had was totally premOxed, this is advanced
> though drinkable (and do I detect a tinge of blue on cork?), petrol
> and pit fruits, some mineral, a nice enough 20 year old Riesling that
> is unfortunately 12. B - (and drinking remaining ones soon)
>
> Dinner at Juniper in Hastings last night, fun little BYOB place.
> Carried a red and a white so we could decide, went with red to go with
> a house made pate with mustard and quince compote, broccoli soup, duck
> breast and confit with beans, maitakes, and turnips, and venison with
> red cabbage. Wine was the 2006 Meo-Camuzet Bourgogne. Ripe and full,
> red and black cherries, good acids for vintage, smoke and earth. 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.

Too bad about the Montelena. I opened a 1993 Montelena Cab on Monday
that was really exceptional.

TN: Bdx, Burgs, California, and Alsace
 

On Feb 9, 9:10*am, "Bi!!" > wrote:
> On Feb 9, 10:43*am, DaleW > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > With lamb chops the 2001 Reserve de la Comtesse. Really in a nice
> > place now, classic Pauillac with cassis and lead pencil, not a lot of
> > complexity here but nice claret. B+/B
>
> > With lemon sole I opened the 2000 Ch. Montelena Chardonnay, which
> > unfortunately showed quite a bit of oxidation, too bad because there
> > seemed to be a nice wine lurking underneath. But this darkened and
> > died quickly. As a rule the Montelena Chard can easily go more than a
> > decade, but this isn't in my cellartracker so don't remember source,
> > probably some warmth .C
> > Backup was the 2006 La Louviere Blanc. Citrus fruits, good length,
> > competent if not exciting. B
>
> > With roast chicken and root vegetables the 2005 Bachelet Bourgogne.
> > Full ripe black cherry, earth, very very nice for a regional wine.
> > Some tannins, but not harshm this would stand up to a steak. B+
>
> > With grilled shell steaks, baked potatoes and salad the 1996 Mayacamas
> > Cabernet Sauvignon. Fresh dark fruits, good acids, ripe tannins, some
> > mushroom and (pleasant) bell pepper notes. Excellent length, this is
> > tasty but really calls for another decade in cellar. B+/A-
>
> > With my Superbowl turkey chili and sauteed arugula the 1993 Ridge
> > Lytton Springs. Berries, tobacco, and cedar, this doesn't come across
> > to me as especially Zin-ish, too bad it's my only one 'cause I'd have
> > liked to stick this in as a ringer in a Bdx flight. Very pleasurable,
> > if not very long. Two nights later is still alive, now with more a
> > fruity zin character (and little obvious oxidation). B/B+
>
> > With leftover vegetables *a 375 of the 2000 Trimbach "Cuvee Frederic
> > Emile" Riesling. Last one I had was totally premOxed, this is advanced
> > though drinkable (and do I detect a tinge of blue on cork?), petrol
> > and pit fruits, some mineral, a nice enough 20 year old Riesling that
> > is unfortunately 12. B - (and drinking remaining ones soon)
>
> > Dinner at Juniper in Hastings last night, fun little BYOB place.
> > Carried a red and a white so we could decide, went with red to go with
> > a house made pate with mustard and quince compote, broccoli soup, duck
> > breast and confit with beans, maitakes, and turnips, and venison with
> > red cabbage. Wine was the 2006 Meo-Camuzet Bourgogne. Ripe and full,
> > red and black cherries, good acids for vintage, smoke and earth. 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.
>
> Too bad about the Montelena. *I opened a 1993 Montelena Cab on Monday
> that was really exceptional.

And I had a 1999 3 weeks ago that was still superb an A- easily. I
find that Cali Chards are very susceptible to heat damage and I not
quite sure why more so than others.