Friday night I ate on the run, and didn't have wine. But that night Betsy and I
enjoyed a glass of the 2002 St. Urbans-Hof Riesling Qba (Mosel-Saar-Ruwer).
Modest balanced Riesling, light-bodied with a nose of flowers (almost dogwoody)
and pleasantly citric flavors in the mouth. OK for $9, but unlike the 2001 not
something I'm going to load up on. B

Saturday went to some friends' home to watch the NCAA semifinals on their wall
(nothing like lifesize players). While rooting for the ACC teams (friends
couldn't believe a dedicated Tarheel would root for Dook, but conference
loyalty), had lots of munchies and a couple of reds. The 2002 Dehesa Gago "G"
(Toro) was an international fruit bomb - lots of red fruit, vanilla/coffee
notes, a little hint of earth. I probably liked it better since I was mostly
just sipping than if I had with food, but even so I'm hard pressed to give it
more than a B-.

The 2001 Castle Rock Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa) has been getting a lot of buzz
as a QPR winner. Sweet toasty oak, sweet black plum and blackberry fruit, soft,
easy, and low-acid. Again, probably better without food. B

Sunday Betsy played both cello (prelude to a Bach suite and an amazing Arvo
Pärt piece) and tamboura at a Palm Sunday church service, then we went back and
started working on dinner. Friends arrived for an early dinner, we had bloc de
foie gras as an appetizer, along with the 1999 Fèvre "Fourchaume" Chablis 1er
Cru. I had somewhat low expectations due to the producer's rep as Mr.
WoodyChablis and what I thought was the vintage's soft character, but a modest
pleasant surprise. Oak is quite subtle and in the background, and there's
enough acidity to balance the fruit. Other than a slight flinty stoniness is
doesn't exactly scream Chablis, but it does show as a nice light-to-medium
bodied white Burg. B+

There was also floating around a bottle of the 2000 Martinelli "Martinelli
Vineyard" Russian River Valley Gewürztraminer. I had thought I remembered when
I had this earlier that it was just slightly off-dry, but there's definite
sweetness here (think riper Spätlesen). Rich apricot and pear fruit, floral
nose. A bit boring. This is usually one of my favorite American
Gewurztraminers, but then again that's damning with faint praise. B

After a tasty cucumber soup, we have tenderloin steaks with gorgonzola sauce,
roasted potatoes, and some green veggies. Work our way through an assortment of
reds, including:

1999 Michel Lafarge Volnay Vendanges-Sélectionnées
Nose of flowers (violets?), spice, and red fruit. Deep black cherry fruit on
the palate, long aftertaste with a meaty note. Just delicious, if too young.
A/A-

2000 Bertineau St. Vincent (Lalande de Pomerol)
Dense, ripe red fruit with espresso beans, lush and soft. Fairly oaky, and
there's some tannins, but with the meat a good match. Probably could use a
couple years, but pretty tasty now. B+

1982 Marquis-de-Terme (Margaux)
Some earth and mushroom on the nose. Fully integrated tannins, leathery,
smooth dark plum and cassis fruit. Nice enough mature Bordeaux, but not
something that makes one want to run out and look for more. B/B+

1999 Voge Côtes du Rhône
Deep dark color, peppery blackberry nose. Tons of dark fruit, lots of spice,
with ripe tannins and nice finish. Very good wine, wish I had gotten more, down
to last bottle or two (I think this will age for a bit, but it's too tasty
now!). A-

Besides some aged gouda, pont l'eveque, and chevre, I had found some real
Munster (Muenster? I never am sure of this spelling). So in addition to the
other wines, I passed around a 1997 Aime Stentz Vendange Tardive
Gewurztraminer. Not a producer I've seen in the states, this was a gift from
friends when I was in Paris. I have to say a bit disappointing. Sweet and
simple, litchi and peach fruit, light floral notes. No discernable botrytis
(though I might be hard-pressed to identify in Gewürz). Nothing actually wrong
with the wine, but a waste to carry across an ocean and cellar for 4 years.
C+/B-

BTW, one of our guests was French, and said his Alsatian grandfather always put
cumin seeds on Munster. We try it, and it's kinda nice. Anyone else ever heard
of this?

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

Dale

Dale Williams
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