On Jul 24, 12:50*pm, DaleW > wrote:
> John hosted our SOBER group last night. As we arrived, some nice
> salmon canapés awaited, along with the 2002 Donnhoff
> Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Spatlese. In the discussion of
> the "official" wines this got lost, but it was an excellent way to
> start the evening. Stony minerals, fresh cutting acidity, floral, lime
> fruits. Excellent wine that's drinking extremely well. A-
>
> On to the blind wines
>
> Flight #1
> #1 - Light petrol, grapefruit, pears, saline minerality, clean, good
> length. Not the fruitiest Riesling in the world, but I liked (more
> than table). 1988 Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg "Fuder 67" Riesling
> Auslese B+/A-
>
> #2 - Gasoline, weighty fruit, sweet, but corked. 1985 Fritz Haag
> Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Lange Goldkapsel
>
> Flight #2
>
> #1 Tarry, red fruit, I was pretty sure it was Piedmont (oops). Seems
> older than its flightmate, I liked at first but it wasn't doing well
> in glass, odd clipped finish. 1993 Santa Restituta "Rennina" Brunello
> di Montalcino - B-
>
> #2 - now this is lovely, though I'm less certain its Barolo (Tim gets
> Tuscany and eventually producer). Wonderful and long, kirschy (but not
> overdone) red fruit, mushrooms, earth. 1993 Soldera "Case Basse"
> Brunello di Montalcino A/A-
>
> Flight #3
> #1 What a change from previous flight. Big black plum and cassis nose,
> I'm pretty certain we're on Right Bank for both of these. Nice fruit,
> good acidity. I like this, but it does have a bit of a drying finish,
> and a bit too much cigar ash on end for me to love. Have one of these
> which I need to put in drink queue. 1978 Domaine de Chevalier(Graves).
> B
>
> #2 Expansive nose, soft and lush, berries and black plums, nice
> length. Very very good. 1970 Domaine de Chevalier. B+/A-
>
> We had a bonus blind bottle here, brought by Mark R. Sweet tangerines,
> lemon, flowers,herb. I guessed a Smaragd Gruner, Mark says no. We
> didn't come close to getting the 2005 Niellon "Clos St Jean" Chassagne-
> Montrachet. Much easier to peg it as Burgundy once it was unveiled.
> B+
>
> Flight #4 (with an excellent dish of salmon with a salsa of peppers
> and tomato).
> #1 Some differences of opinion here. Some found it overly oxidized, I
> got some nutty/oxidative notes I would just call mature. Rich pear and
> hazelnut, a little ginger, a little tired but nice drink on its way
> down. 1992 Sauzet "Referts" Puligny-Montrachet B+
>
> #2 lemon curds and limes, fresher, lovely, a little pleasantly funky,
> guesses centered around Meursault. 1992 Overnoy Arbois Pupillin B+/A-
>
> Flight #5
> #1 Sweet fruit, earth and mushrooms, Dan called Gevrey for both wines
> immediately. Nice length, lots of live ahead. 1988 Truchot Charmes-
> Chambertin Vieilles Vignes B+/A-
>
> #2 A bit more herbal, lots of damp soil, more sweet fruit, mature but
> not fading.1985 Georges Mugneret Ruchottes-Chambertin B+
>
> Flight #6 (with a nice stew with chicken and sausage)
> #1Blackberries and cassis (though others noted blueberries), lively,
> good finish, quite a flight that this was my second favorite. 1991
> Clape Cornas
> A-
>
> #2 Floral nose, deep red fruit, pavement, meat, olives, fantastic
> length, a better bottle of the 1983 Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage than
> one we had last year. A/A-
>
> Great night, and I was glad to not be driving!
>
> 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.

obviously should be Gaja