I've generally found the 1994 Pomerols to be the best wines of the
vintage in Bordeaux, though tannic. So when I saw the 1994
Petit-Village (Pomerol) for sale at less than $30, I thought it was
worth springing for a couple ( I thought I remembered trying it a few
years ago, but can't be sure). With Betsy away, seemed a good night for
a rare steak to fight those tannins. Quickly browned the steak, then
made a sauce with shallots and a little of the Pomerol. Nice steak,
served with a baked potato and a salad. The Petit-Village was extremely
tight at first, but an hour in the decanter helped a bit.
But just a bit. I don't expect any 1994 to be a fruit bomb, but the
fruit here was quite reticent. More red than black fruit, overlaid with
some distinct new-oak aromas. Low-acid, with and some slightly scratchy
tannins. I switched to some delicous leftover Fleurie, then went back
several hours later to the Petit-Village. A little more fruit now, but
still that oak. Rebottled, I carried half of a bottle to a party the
following night. Oak now had a more pleasant cedary tone, but the red
plummy fruit was by now overlaid with oxidative notes. Oh well. B-/C+

Our friends Alex and Hilary have birthdays a couple days apart, and
threw themselves a birthday bash. Alex used to have a restaurant in
Paris, so I knew food would be good.

An assortment of wines:
2004 St. Francis Chardonnay (Sonoma)
Fig and tropical fruit, a touch of sweetness & butter, more than a
touch of oak. B-/C+

2005 (?!?!?) Medaille d'Or Gewurztraminer
I couldn't see a producer on this, the "Medaille d'Or" designation was
the biggest thing on both front and back labels (is it possible I noted
vintage correctly- what is this, Gewurztraminer Nouveau?). A friend of
the hosts who is now living in Alsace brought this along. Everyone else
liked, but I felt it to be a poorman's version of a ZH. Off-dry, funky
fruit, low-acid, short finish. C

One of those wooden "boats" of sushi appeared. I was looking to dump my
Gewurz when Storm, the golden retriever, leaped up to greet me and
spilled my wine. Easier than looking like a snob at a non-geek party. I
happily poured myself a glass of the
2002 Cazin Cour-Cheverny Vendanges Manuelles. Ahhh, more like it. A
little lighter in structure than the Cuvee Renaissance, this is a
welcoming and distinctive wine. Floral nose, deep quince and apricot
fruit, brilliant acidity. I might mistake for Chenin Blanc (as
Romorantin isn't something I have on a regular basis) with the
minerally finish. Yum yum. A-/B+

Main course was a moussaka-ish casserole. With that (and later the
cheese), an assortment of reds:

2000 Reignac (Bdx. Sup)
This is the top bottling, the one RP gave a high score (tan label, tall
bottle). The oak has integrated somewhat from the
lumberyard-in-the-mouth effect this wine had on release.
Soft ripe cassis and blackberry fruit, some vanilla. Less tannic than I
expected. A big hit among the Joel Gott/Marquis Philips set. When
pressed for my opinion I state it's a pretty good CalCab, but not such
a great Bordeaux (for my tastes). B/B-

2003 Vieux Donjon (Chateauneuf du Pape)
A bit tannic, and very ripe. But there's something about ripe Grenache
that doesn't bother me like extremely ripe Merlot or CS, this comes
across big but inviting. A herby (lavender,rosemary, thyme) nose,
crushed red berries and licorice, strong finish. I really quite liked 2
small glasses of this, although I wonder if I'd be as appreciative of
an entire bottle with dinner. But for what it is, A-

2003 Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon
Ripe approaching overripe blackberry fruit, notes of coffee and vanilla
pudding. As the wine aerates, the jaminess actually intensifies. Not my
cuppa, but very popular around the room. B-

2003 Bouchard Bourgogne
In the past I've often not liked the Bouchard regional Bourgogne due to
thin/weedy texture, but here's a situation where the hot 2003 temps did
some good. Ripe red plum and black cherry fruit, good concentration and
length of finish. I'll look for some. B/B+

2001 Rocher Corbin (Montagne-St-Emilion)
Nothing complex here, but a good example of Right Bank merlot- cassis
and black plum fruit, some earth and mineral. Soft, easy, tasty. B

2000 Vieux Maine Tigreau (Cotes de Blaye)
Hmm, this however is not a good example of RB merlot, despite the
vintage. There's a hardness to the tannins, plus an overtness to the
wood (not really new oak toastiness, more of a wood tannin kind of
thing). The red fruit has a dull note to it. C+

Nice party, nice walk home.

Got up to snow today. After shoveling took the Basset Hound on a walk
to retrieve my car from Alex and Hilary's. Then home for a day of books
and minor home repairs. David was out for dinner, so I sauteed some
chicken sausages and some potato-mushroom pierogis (store bought, I
don't eat as well with Betsy away) and opened a bottle of the 2004
Domaine de Closel "La Jalousie" Savennières. This is a bit round,
without the acidic nervosity I expect from Savennières. It seems to be
almost sec-tendre, not the bone dry I expect from Savennières. But the
great thing about this wine is the palate is totally dominated by
minerality- somewhere between chalk and flint, I shouldn't have slept
through that Geology101/Rocks-for-Jocks class at UNC. Lemon and
orange-peel, cool wine. 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 in news:1133742351.601748.34820
@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
>
> 2000 Reignac (Bdx. Sup)
> This is the top bottling, the one RP gave a high score (tan label, tall
> bottle). The oak has integrated somewhat from the
> lumberyard-in-the-mouth effect this wine had on release.
> Soft ripe cassis and blackberry fruit, some vanilla. Less tannic than I
> expected. A big hit among the Joel Gott/Marquis Philips set. When
> pressed for my opinion I state it's a pretty good CalCab, but not such
> a great Bordeaux (for my tastes). B/B-

I opened a bottle of this very same Reignac 2000 and was clearly
underwhelmed. I did not feel it was a Bordeaux in any manner. What a pity.

S.