Thursday I jumped on train and headed to East Village, a nice small group gathered at the St Mark's Grand Sichuan for Patrick in NY Pt 2, the Free Form night. We started with the 1996 Henriot Brut Champagne. Fresh apple fruit, nuts, bread dough, full and fresh. Pairs well with cukes in scallion sauce, less so with spicy noodles. B+

With did the less spicy food with the reds, and then the more peppery dishes with the Rieslings. I especially liked the 5-spice pork with chestnuts this night, but soup dumplings, duck, chicken, etc were all very good.

I brought my red blind, and as expected no one really came close (it really doesn't taste like 40+ year old Napa PN). The 1971 Sterling Pinot Noir (decanted into another bottle about 3 hours before). Red raspberry fruit (I think guesses centered on 90s Gamay and Grenache), cedar, earth. Pretty and refined, if not very pinotesque. B+

The 1996 Allemand "Chaillot" Cornas took a while to open up and come into its own. A bit austere at first but once it gets air plenty of dark fruit, smoke, & olives. B+/A-

The 1978 Ducru-Beaucaillou was soft and open, but also lightly corked.

1978 Gruaud-Larose
Cassis, earth (and a little Cordier funk), cigarbox. Mature and ready to go. B+

1999 Musar
The expected volatility but not overwhelming, some meaty/animal notes, redder fruits. B+/B

2006 Egon Muller Schwarzhofberger Kabinett
surprisingly tropical, even thought a hint of botrytis, I didn't love this as much as I usually do these wines. B/B-

1996 Carl Schmitt Wagner Longuicher Maximiner Herrenberg Auslese
unlike some others I didn't think this overtly oxidized, but it wasn't very attractive and finish was clipped, presumed storage issues. C

1993 Zilliken Saarburger Rausch Auslese #5
Lime, minerals, bright and focused, sugar in background, old style Saar Auslese you'll rarely see on our warming plant. A-

2002 Carl Schmitt Wagner Longuicher Maximiner Herrenberg Spatlese
Ready, balanced, peaches, floral. B+

2001 Meulenhof Erdenner Treppchen Auslese
Broad bodied yet with acidic focus, deep flavors, long minerally finish. A-

Fun night

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