Matt got together a group with the loose theme of "70s Bordeaux" last night. Some food glitches, but an enjoyable night with good company.
starters (thanks Jay)
1997 Alzinger Gruner Veltliner Smaragd (I missed vineyard) Started out as solid, full, and a bit foursquare, without a lot of GV character, but tasty. The character appeared in spades with air, all green pea and white pepper. Very nice. B+/A-1985 Drouhin "Les Clos" Chablis GC A perplexing wine, though one person loved and a couple hated. Deep color, at first nose is heavy with the cheese and oxidative notes, but the palate is soft, full, and friendly. With air nose brightened, lost the cheesiness, and reminded me of old Tondonia. At end I quite liked the nose, but then it felt like palate had lost its freshness. I think I never hit the magical moment of nose/palate synergy. B/B-
1975 Pape Clement Red fruit, tobacco, pencil lead, oveley (don't know what that means, but looks like what I wrote). Least tannic '75 I've run across. B1970 Figeac Very different, big sweet fruit, a little lifted, lots of ferric notes. Some herby notes. Just a hint of roasted note made worry re storage , but retasted 2 hours later I liked it much more than initially. When poured, B/B+, later one of my faves
1971 Giscours Sweet berry fruits, more acid than tannic backbone, cedar. Lovely mature Margaux. B+1975 Palmer Sweet fruit, some tannins sticking out, but nowhere near as tannic as hard as nails bottle I had last month. Solid, and I might have enjoyed more if it had come with the meat.
1970 Mouton-Rothschild I've had this a couple of times before, and this is best bottle (Matt said same thing). Big exotic nose of mocha, herbs, and mushrooms. Lush on palate, quite nice. B+/A-1970 Leoville Las Cases This had some pretty solid fruit, but seemed a little pedestrian/dull next to its flightmate. I told someone that I'd have been thrilled if it was a Gloria or Langoa-Barton, but for a super-second a bit disappointing. B
1975 Haut Brion Quite divisive wine. My wine of the night by a hair, I found quite typical, with plenty of cedar, tobacco, and earth. Just some hard 1975 tannins kept it from being outstanding, others liked much less. A-/B+1978 Latour Broad shouldered, lots of cassis, pencil shavings, earth. I voted for HB but thing this was table WOTN. A-/B+
2003 Lafaurie Peyraugey Dense, apricots, orange marmalade, intense, but could use some more acid. B/B+Good group of folks, and Morton's at least has the advantage of being close to Grand Central.
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.