Nothing to stand out and overwhelm, but I could have used a shot in the arm to get the salivatory juices flowing better. Perhaps it's merely a sign of this dreary summer (coolish, rainy, and without sunlight for the most part).
Giuseppe Quintarelli, Valpolicella, 1996 A dark and dusty cherry-red color. Cherries mashed in neutral grain alcohol with a straw-floral-almond aroma. This is showing bitter cherry and bitter chocolate. Very glycerin-y and tight and tannic on the end, where it reveals some dried orange rinds and blood orange. This is good Valpola but the wallop of alochol and the drying finish make it feel less than seductive for a wine that should be all about seduction. B+
Corino, Barolo 'Vigna Giachini', 1990 Still a youthful deep cherry-red, with some of the tawny notes toward the edge. Not giving off much at first: a slight cherry, smoke, some floral aroma, but all rather muted. Perhaps it has been sitting too long in the bottle. "Come out come out wherever you are!" This is a little better in the mouth, bearing sweet smoky cherry, some anise seed, and a dusty, strapping component that suggests this is still young, though I doubt will become more complex than it is right now. With airtime, the tar finally comes out along with tarter cherries/cranberries, and a little hot streak toward the end. Not thrilling nebbiolo, but serviceable (something I don't really want to hear after cellaring for 14 years). B+
Jean Dauvissat, Chablis 'Vaillons', 1999 Light bright gold colored. Pear and apple flower scents along with hayfield. Softish quality to this light Chablis, but does have it's share of minerals and calcium to aid in fighting osteoperosis. Good.
Nigl, Kremstal, Gruner Veltliner - Alte Reben, 2000 Rather deepish gold, Sauternes-like. Wet river stones and candied honeysuckle flowers on the nose. Much richer and fuller bodied on the palate than the nose would suggest, with candied ginger, quince, guava and sugar snap peas/straw showing off bountifully, and lingering on in a weighty way. The white pffer shows off with air on the nose. Very good. A-
And some wines with restaurant meal:
Jean-Marc Burgaud, Morgan, Cote du Py 'vielle vignes',2003 Spicy, smoky gorgonzola on the nose. Atypically ripe with lowish acid. Black raspberries... Good, despite the cheese note.
Pousse d'Or, Volnay, Clos de la Bousse d'Or,2000 Smoky cherry nose with floral aromatics. Cherry and charry-oak, pomegranite juice with a refreshing acidity, along with raspberry. Medium weight, I would drink this within the next 4-5 years, if not sooner. Good. B+ (Although a bottle I had a year ago had much more exuberant fruit)
Chat. Smith Haut Lafite, Pessac Leognan (rouge), 1999 Lots of cedar and smoke. Blackcurrants, charry wood and plenty of oak. Medium bodied, and could develop more tobacco with age. This is still young, but too dominated by it's oak cage right now to pass much judgement. B
Brancaia, Chianti Classico, 2001 Rich and dense with olives, cherry-licorice, new wood and fat, low acid. You can tell my enthusiasm, right? B