Michael hosted SOBER Monday in his newly renovated kitchen (4 dishwashers, multiple ovens and cooktops, a salamander- yes, I'm jealous). We were greeted with a creamy dip with carrots and the best fried eggplant I've ever had (brined, dipped, rolled in a mix of regular breadcrumbs, panko and sesame seed); bubblies were served.

NV Camille Saves Rose Champagne
Lovely- red fruit, toasted bread, chalk. Plenty of body yet refined. B+/A-

NV Barnaut "Grand Cru" Blanc de Noirs Champagne
Some didn't care for, I liked. Lots of citrus, pearl, plenty of floral notes. Elegant. B+

First blind flight served with smoked trout, horseradish aioli, spinach salad. Andy got Alsace right off bad and PG shortly after. We flailed at vintages.

Wine # 1
Driest, youngest, peach fruit and good acids, just not as complex.
2011 Zind-Humbrecht "Rotenberg" Pinot Gris
B

Wine # 2
Sweet but with good acids, very floral, exotic (I thought for a minute maybe Gewurz), complex.
1997 Zind-Humbrecht "Clos Jebsal" Pinot Gris
B+

Wine # 3
I thought this was at least VT. Sweet, honied, full-throttled, some people's fave, my least fave
1995 Zind-Humbrecht Rangen de Thann, Clos St Urbain" Pinot Gris
.. B-


First red flight
I thought 1 & 2 could be ripe vintage Bordeaux, but someone quickly guessed Cali Cab. But we all thought older than they turned out to be

Wine # 4
Seems youngest, a bit tart and tannic, black plum and a little herb
1997 Groth Cabernet Sauvignon
B

Wine # 5
Sweet, ripe, but with acids and tannin to hold up, but just a little oxidative edge. Very developed, but still drinking well overall
1997 Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon
B+/B

Wine # 6
Ripe to overripe, developing pruney notes, tired.
1997 Alta Mura Cabernet Sauvignon
C+/C

Second Red Flight
I think Dan got Amarone quickly, once confirmed Franco immediately said Bertani. I'm not a big Amarone drinker, so take my notes with a few extra grains of salt. All pretty similar,all surprisingly (to me) tasty.

Wine # 7
Ripe, complex, herby.
1967 Bertani Amarone
B+

Wine # 8
Similar, a little more anise-y.
1976 Bertani Amarone
B+

Wine # 9
Sweet, fleshy, others favorite
1983 Bertani Amarone
B

Quickly table settled on Bordeaux, these need some time
Wine # 10
Tight, tannic, but with nice core of cassis fruit.
2000 Pontet-Canet
B/B+

Wine # 11
Brooding, but with solid base of black fruit, cedar.
2000 Leoville Las Cases
B+/A-

Wine # 12
Most open, redder fruit, plush
2000 Pape-Clement
B

We finished with a dessert wine, a 1989 Lingenfelder Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese. Pretty tasty, though without the wow factor one might expect from TBA with a bit of age. Slightly clunky, with applesauce, cinnamon, and apricot. B

Fun night!

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. 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.