Monday no wine, Tuesday Betsy made slightly spicy Greek meatballs with feta and tomato sauce, I had no Greek wines so opened the 2013 Burlotto Barbera d'Alba. More tannic structure than I expect in Barbera, the acids I do exp ect, and quite full black cherry fruit. This is quite tasty but could use a little time in bottle. Fine value B+/B
Matt comes to town! One of our former organizers of our Bordeaux group was in town from CA, and Paul arranged a nice dinner at the Gander
Amuses of blini with sea trout roe and a artic char crudo with capers
2001 Donnhoff Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Spatlese Trocken Not at all austere, brisk, apple, ginger and a little petrol. Really quite good, but hard to drink after I taste the offdry 04. B+2004 Donnhoff Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spatlese Big but balanced ample acids, citrus and slate, very long. A-/B+
1st Flight Barbarescos Beef Tartare, Lardo, Hazelnuts, Pecorino2001 Bruno Giacosa Asili Barbaresco (double-decanted , 4 hours in decanter earlier in day)I thought this tight and unexpressive, but seemed to be a good wine underneath. That was confirm ed when I revisited at end of night, lots of air time had helped a lot. Red fruits, smoke, a little citrus peel. B for drinking now, but I suspect in
15 years I'd be in A territory.2001 Bruno Giacosa Riserva Rabaja, Barbaresco (double-decanted , 4 hours in decanter earlier in day) More expressive, ver y rich and complete, very young but still delicious. B+/A-
2000 Bruno Giacosa Asili Riserva Barbaresco I found this a bit odd, with a slightly sour note. Big ripe fruit, lots of tannin, maybe just needs time to sort itself out. B-2nd Flight (California Cabernet) Sunchoke Soup, Braised Brisket, Bordelaise Vinaigrette
1978 Heitz Martha's Vineyard (double-decanted that AM) Wow, I was very happy with this showing. There wa s some funk when I decanted, but by dinner there was just pure sweet old Ca li Cab. Black cherry fruit, smoke, spice, herb (but only a hint of eucalypt us). Complete and complex. Shows just as well 2 hours later. A-/A1976 Heitz Martha's Vineyard (double-decanted that AM) also really good, though maybe a half-step behind another bottle Paul opened last Dec. Rich red fruit, a little mocha, nice length. The herby notes here do have some eucalyptus. B+/A-
1977 Ch. Montelena Black fruits, cigarbox, leather. Really good, nice contrast to the Heitzs, I think I would have thought Bordeaux blind. A-3rd Flight (Super Tuscans) Casareccia, Oxtail ragu, Polenta, Cloumage, Beef Jerky
1999 Antinori Solaia I was surprised how much I liked this- I generally avoid Cab heavy Tuscans. Blackcurrants, coffee, some rose- floral notes, wood present but not heavy . B+.1997 Antinori Solaia Corked. They tried the Saran wrap trick which left it non-corked but non-dr inkable.
1997 Antinori Tignanello Very ripe, fairly developed. B-1995 Antinori Tignanello A bit fresher, good acids and tannins. B
4th Flight Chateau Latour Grilled Hanger Steak, Smoked Mushroom Gratin, Soubise, broccoli2004 Chateau Latour (double-decanted , 1 hour in decanter earlier in day) Very young, a bit glo ssy, but nice core underneath. I thought it got better with air. A couple o f people strongly disliked. B+
2001 Chateau Latour Young, a hard core underneath, not as charming as most '01s but maybe just shut down. B1988 Chateau Latour Now this is what Latour should be like. Masculine but refined, tannins stil l there but smooth. B+/A-
1975 Chateau Latour Some funky brett and lots of caramelly oxidative notes. Cone more to finish
1988 Ch. Climens I love the way acids balance out '88s, and this is one of my alltime favori te Sauternes/Barsacs. Big but balanced, lovely peach, apricot and mango fru it very long finish, A- Really fun night, I liked the food, company was great, especially great to see Matt.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 p arty where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivi ty, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.