TN: Riesling, PN, etc at Grand Sichuan

Todd was in town from AZ, and Salil summoned up a small group to once again greet him at Grand Sichuan on St Marks. I arrived to find Todd and Jay alr eady there, and there was already a bottle open of the Bereche Campania Re mensis Champagne. Apple and white cherries, lovely and refreshing, great m atch with the cucumbers in scallion sauce. I enjoy, but like even better wh en tasted later, while a touch warmer- brioche, nuts, nice length, B+./A-

First round of food included ribs, tea smoked duck, pork soup dumplings, an d red cooked pork

1996 Guy Castagnier Mazy-Chambertin Jay had recently said he had never had a Mazis/Mazy, so I brought this. Qui te approachable for a '96, good but not shary acids, tannins mostly resolve d. Evolved a lot during night (wine or my tastes as I had spicy foods?), b ut I enjoyed at each stage. Seemed to put on weight. Red and black cherries , sandalwood, a light meaty note. Maybe not a great Grand Cru, but this was quite affordable and wish I had gotten more a decade ago. Hope the CSD and Bonnes Mares show as well. B+/A-

1997 Arcadian "Pisoni" Pinot Noir Spicy, red fruit, a little touch of mocha. Nicely balanced, again evolves t hrough night, again unsure if the wine or my palate changing. I think oldes t Arcadian I've tried. B+

Next round of food was spicier - cumin lamb, spicy chicken, and shredded be ef with green peppers

2004 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Spatlese Beautiful, my WOTN. Electric, lime and peach, slatey minerals, floral. Swee ter side of Spatlese but balanced by that acidity, and a great foil for the spicier foods. A-

1988 JJ Prum Bernkasteler Badstube Spatlese Pit fruits, petrol, wet rocks. Balanced acids, on drier side of Spatlese, T his fades a little at end of night, but overall I quite enjoyed. B+

2007 Nikolaihof Muskateller I think others liked a bit more than I did. Very floral, a tropical note, p erfumey. Needs a bit more acid, might have been better on own than with foo d. B/B-

2003 Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Spatlese Wow, what good acidity for a 2003. Stony, sweet, with rich clean apple and apricot fruit. B+

1969 Schloss Reinhartshausen Erbacher Marcobrunn Spatlese Others called this tired, I didn't taste any overt oxidation but it was sur prisingly simple and soft. Applesauce and a little lemon. No prior experien ce with this producer. B-/C+

Very fun night with a very fun group

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.

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DaleW
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