Cathleen hosted SOBER last night, with Steve acting as chef/grillmaster. Really fascinating tasting, with great food. We arrived to find some nice salami and pate on the table, and 2 Champagnes were passed (non-blind)

2000 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Rose
Really drinking well., beautiful red fruits, some floral notes, plenty of zesty acids, fine mousse. Very long. I can’t imagine this getting better though I am sure it will last for a while, really in a good place (Later Cathleen and I discussed how in general it seems roses do well with a few years age, but - counterintuitively to me at least- are less likely to do well in long aging). A-

Ployez-Jacquemart Champagne (I think this was a NV Brut, but not totally sure)
Crisp, light, minerally, refreshing. B+/B

On to the reds (blind)

Flight 1
Pretty clear these were Bordeaux from beginning

Wine #1- black fruit, cocoa, some wood, most approachable of the three. 2001 Ch. Palmer B+

Wine #2- firm, austere, woody, the tannins on the backend are raspy. This is in a grumpy place. I opined this was like most ‘86s 10-12 years ago. 2000 Ch. Rausan-Segla B-

Wine #3 -green herby notes on nose, some wood, also quite tannic. 2000 Ch. Palmer B

I think all of these will improve with time, but for now only the 2001 was any real fun.

About this time Steve served a truly unbelievably good curried carrot soup (from the Modernist Cuisine at Home).

Flight 2
Wine #1- lovely giving wine, dark fruit, elegant, good ripeness,. balanced. 1998 Ch. Palmer. A-

Wine #2 - Tannic, green pepper, dill, a bit volatile, by this point we knew it was Bordeaux, but reminded me more of not so great modern Rioja. 1995 Ch., Rausan-Segla B-/C+

Wine #3- still some oak, but good dark fruits, long finish. 1995 Ch. Palmer B+/B

A theme is emerging.

Flight 3
Wait a damn minute, this isn’t Margaux!

Wine #1 - very light color made us guess older than this is. Red fruits, sandalwood, smoke. Great acids, bright fuits, long finish, very good length. I guessed Chambolle, but Mark correctly got Gevrey. 2001 Truchot-Martin “Combottes” Gevrey-Chambertin. A-/A

Wine #2 - darker, riper, more tannic, someone (I think Craig) guessed Jadot early, but it took a few guesses to get vineyard. 2003 Jadot Musigny B+
(as good a 2003 as I’ve had)

About here we were chowing down on slices from a couple 3” Lobel porterhouses, with great polenta and mushroom ragout, plus some green beans.

Flight 4
Wine #1 Pretty intense green bell pepper, totally dominates the fruit, 1993 Ch. Rausan-Segla C+/C

Wine #2 Young fresh and vital, wellbalanced, 1986 Ch. Rausan-Segla A-

Wine #3 corked (too bad, seemed to be nice stuff underneath) 1986Ch. Palmer

Flight 5
Wine #1 corked 1985 Ch. Rausan-Segla

Wine #2 ripe, full, red berries, tobacco, good. 1982 Ch. Rausan-Segla B+/B

Flight 6
Wine #1 Pretty classic claret, redder fruit with cigarbox and forest floor, very nice and ready but not faded. . 1966 Ch. Rausan-Segla A-/B+

Wine #2 Full, powerful but elegant, 1983 Ch. Margaux A-

Wine #3 Thinner, a little ashtray over the dark fruit and decayed leaves, not bad but outclassed,. 1966 Ch. Kirwan B

Fantastic look at Margaux appellation, plus other fun wines and amazing food

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.