Got together with three friends last night at AOC Bedford in Greenwich Village for some food, wine, and fellowship. Nice group, nice food, nice wines.
I got there a bit early, and had a glass of the 2004 La Carraia Orvieto while I waited. Decent slightly floral lighter white, modest white fruit, hint of almonds on the finish. B-
Once everyone arrived, we got down to the reds:
2002 Lafarge Bourgogne This is showing a bit closed compared to at release, but a nice light-to-middleway Volnay impersonator. Black & red cherry fruit, light ripe tannins, some earth on the finish. Not a wine for the acid-averse, the acid keeps it lively and its better with food than without. I am going to leave rest for 2-4 years. B+1988 Bachelet Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes I decanted for sediment before heading to city. At the time, nice nose, but a disappointing palate- muddy and disjointed. By time we served the palate had filled out and found itself. Funky nose with earth, leather and mushrooms, pretty raspberry fruit on the palate. I'm not sure this was a pristine bottle (ullage was maybe 2.5 cm, not really low, but not perfect), but did quite ok. B/B+
2001 Bachelet Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes Man, you can feel the brooding power behind this one. Quite closed, it only began to fill out at very end of evening. Good acidity, fair amount of tannin for a Burgundy, some meat/game aromas over the red and black plum fruit. This needs time, but it feels like it's going to be a beauty. B/B- for drinking now, A- for potential.2000 Bachelet Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes Much lighter and more open, this is a very pretty elegant wine for drinking now. Flowers and red fruit, more flowers (violets, methinks) and earth. Nicely structured if not especially big, good balance, a real pleasure to drink. B++
1996 Domaine des Chezeaux Gevrey-Chambertin I think this is even more closed than the 2001 Bachelet. Tight, with cherry and red plum fruit. Seems well made, but there's a tingliness to the acidity that I can't warm up to. B?Food was quite good, I had a appetizer special of duck pastilla and the suckling pig. Service was a little slow at times, but understandable - the free corkage deal led them to be pretty full for a Monday. Nice time with nice people.
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.