Dan hosted SOBER last night. I picked up Craig and Franco and mosied up to Pound Ridge; we were greeted by some nice cheese plates, guacamole, and a magnum of 1989 Pommery Cuvee Louise Champagne Brut. Very cold when first opened, but lovely as it warmed and opened up. Someone commented on sourness, but I didn't get that at all. Good crispness, fine mousse, baked bread. I thought this a bit fresher than a (good) recent mag of 1990. B+/A-
On to table where the rest of the wines were blind. Mark was definitely on this evening, best guesser by a longshot.
White Flight #1
#1 Sounds thoughts of Graves or a CA Graves blend, but Mark was spot on with Chardonnay. Mature, ripe apple fruit,no oak, good acids. Some felt this was overly advanced, but while I doubt it lasts, it drinks well now (others disagree). 2000 R&V Dauvissat "Les Clos" Chablis GC. B+
#2 totally oxidized, sherried nose. Too bad, as Dan said this had been a nice bottle as recently as last year. Damn premOx. 2000 H. Boillot Meursault-Charmes 1er D-
About this time a great crab salad with avocado made the rounds.
White Flight # 2 #1 Lovely and long, there's a bit of a waxy note that makes me think Chenin at first, but when Mark declares white Graves that seems to fit. Citrus, fig, trpocial, full, long, lovely. 1979 Laville Haut Brion A-
#2 Unusual nose (some said celery, I didn't get that), citrus, round, a tiny bit tired. Outclassed (John calls it "the Archie Bunker of White Bordeaux" ) but doing better than I would have expected. 1985 Carbonnieux B
Red Flight #1 #1 Ripe, full, fruity, herbal. I'm thinking classic Cali (someone's suggestion of Heitz seems appropriate) but it's Bordeaux, a lovely bottle of 1985 Rauzan-Segla. A-
#2 Lighter, red fruits, herbs, and leather, some though four-square but I liked. Mark pointed out it would have shown better on own with food than against the Marguax. 1985 Magdelaine B+
Red Flight #2 Lovely flight. #3 had a bit of a delay (first one opened , which later was revealed as a 1997 Lafleur, was corked) and by time a replacement got there I was convinced flight was Northern Rhone. Oops!
#1 Ripe, young, bacon, earth. 1997 Chave Hermitage A- #2 Sweet, meaty, herbal, olives, just a hint of barnyard. Never heard of this producer before. 1997 Gallet Cote-Rotie B+ #3 Full, rich, meaty, floral, lovely. Oh, it's PN? Well, it's truly lovely. 1997 Dujac Clos St Denis. A-/A
Main course was roast beef, with rice and lentils and green beans.
Red Flight #3 Mark strikes again, with immediate Graves call. #1 Red plums and blackcurrant, voilets, leather, 1983 La Mission Haut Brion. B+/A- #2 Even better in a more feminine style, tobacco, leather, sweet cassis fruit. Fantastic showing for the 1978 La Tour Haut Brion. A-/A
Red Flight #4 we hurried a bit through last 2 flights as folks needed to depart. #1 fresh, ripe, red cherries and citrus peel , I like a lot. 2000 Rousseau Chambertin Clos de Beze. B+
#2 big, long, similar flavors but fuller and longer. I like even more. 2000 Rousseau Chambertin, A-
Red Flight #5 Some confusion re decanters, but #2 was softer and quite different from #1 and #3
#1 High acids, sharp red fruit, ok. 1993 F. Esmonin Mazis-Chambertin B #2 Softest, plush red fruit with earth and mushrooms, I like a lot. 1978 Faiveley Corton. B+/A- #3 Similar to #1, but a bit less acidic, and with just a touch of barnyard, but maybe a tad more complex. 1993 F. Esmonin Ruchottes-Chambertin B
Really, other than the premOxed Boillot I'd have any on my table (various others savaged the Esmonins, the Dauvissat, the Carbonnieux, and the Magdelaine, but I'm easy). Very fun (long) night. Sorry I had to spit!
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.