Betsy left yesterday for a weekend retreat, and I was thinking re
leftovers & a night in front of the TV. Then that afternoon my friend
Marc invited me to join his semi-regular tasting group, for some Pinot
Noir. Before going over, I had a light dinner of leftover pasta and
meat sauce, with a glass of the 2001 Felsina Chianti Classico.
Raspberry/kirsch, a floral lilt to the nose. Good fruit, zingy acidity,
great value (I bought @ $17/750 & $8-9/375, this was from 375).B+

A rather international group (the host is Belgian, the other guests
were all French except one German and me, the ugly American) gathered
at Marc's at 8 PM with our blinded bottles. Marc had a nice cheese tray
(Brillat-Savarin,Humboldt Fog, Chatham Shepherd's Wheel, Brie de Meaux,
& a truffled Italian) and dry sausage, other guests brought ham and
duck rilletes. We snacked, then went for the Pinot:

One guest had brought a '80 Pommard (I think Chateau de Pommard), but
it was way over the hill/damaged. Maderized & funky, cloudy with color
separation. F

The next blind bottle was full of ripe strawberry and black cherry
fruit, with sweet vanilla overtones. Plenty of fruit, not a lot beyond
that. My guess: California (2002 Acacia Pinot Noir , I think Carneros).
B

Next bottle was less fruit-forward but well-structured. Pleasing
balance of acidity, dark fruit, and some light but noticable tannins.
Deep blackcherry and blackberry fruit, some earth and spice. This was
my bottle, so I didn't guess (1999 Monthelie-Douhairet "Les Chanlins"
Pommard 1er Cru). A-

Then came a wine that started off very closed aromatically. Opened up a
bit over time. Some sweet oak notes on top of ripe cherry fruit, a bit
tannic. My guess: young new-wave/modern Burgundy (2002 Joseph Voillot
Volnay). Wine got nicer as night went along, after 3 hours it was quite
good. B+

Next wine seemed a tad rustic. Strong earth aromas over raspberry
fruit. Slightly hard tannins. I thought of Oregon, but eventually just
guessed Burgundy (1999 Michel *** Aloxe-Corton). B

I at least got the regions right, better than I do sometimes! Two
planned participants couldn't make it, too bad we were so Eurocentric
(wine-wise, I mean).

We were having a good time, but the bottles were nearing empty. Marc
the host opened a bottle of 1997 Bacio Divino (Napa blend of Cabernet
Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Peite Sirah & I think Merlot). Sweet sweet sweet
red fruit, loads of vanilla-ey oak. Thick and low-acid. I think I would
NOT like this on my dinner table, but serving here as "dessert" it was
ok- a bit like having some Port! B/B+ for last night, B-/C+ for my
dinner table, not something I'd buy after tasting (I looked today,
seems to run $70-100- yikes).

Marc's house is at the other end of town. I trudged home on a windy
chilly night, warmed by the evening's bonhomie (ok, by the alcohol,
too). Lucy the Basset was excited to hear we'd have a long car
retrieval walk this morning.

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\

Dale