DaleW wrote:
> Originally Betsy was supposed to be out of town Friday, so I had agreed
> to a night with a local tasting group. Then her plans changed, so she
> was home. Luckily the tasting group was meeting at 8:30, so we had an
> early dinner. Betsy made some lemon-herb duck breast, served with
> leftover mushroom risotto. I opened the 1997 Ceretto "Zonchera" Barolo
> Fruit-forward with ripe cherries and raspberries and quite oaky, not
> bad. The following night it showed better - round, with ripe red fruit
> and some tar as well as some vanilla. B+

I realize that I should know this already, but is Ceretto considered a
"modern" producer?


> Next up is a medium-bodied red. Some smoke and grilled meat, modest red
> fruit. A tad acidic. Guy who brought it says it's 100% one grape, so I
> take a stab in the dark and guess St. Joseph. Turns out to be the 2002
> Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage. Not awful, but not up to Graillot's
> usual standards. B

In all fairness to the estimable M. Graillot, '02 was a difficult year
to say the least...

> Then Saturday we had some friends over for dinner. The appetizer was
> smoked salmon canapes, with which I served the 2001 Johann Donabaum
> Spitzer Point Reserve Grüner Veltliner. Big rich Gruner, white fruit
> with a touch of apricot and pineapple, possibly just the slightest bit
> off-dry. Long finish from this mouth-filling wine. Label says there's
> some light botrytis here, wouldn't have guessed except maybe that
> apricot note. Best so far of the GVs from I've gottten from
> winemonger.com, even if less typical than the '02 Donabaum. A-

In case you'd forgotten my review of this wine:
c: deep gold
n: toasty, pepper, slightly hot
p: rich entry, apricot, melon, honey, crisp finish

Wow! As much as I liked the Smaragd, this wine was even more
impressive. It had complexity, balance and length with potential for
improvement with age.

So your pineapple is my melon ;-)

Mark Lipton
(drinking a Mauritiushof Riesling this evening)