Very short notes from Friday's repertoire dinner at Cafe Ysabel.
Ruinart Brut NV - Fresh. Medium-bodied. Surprisingly fruity for a Champagne but still dry. Only slightly bready. Very good.
Hermann J. Wiemer Dry Gewurztraminer 2006 - From Finger Lakes. Classic lychee nose. Very light, semi-sweet. Easy. Uncomplicated but quite good.
Chateau Lanessan 1996 - Thin, acidic. Definitely over the hill.
Vermanonte Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2006 - Watery, acidic, zero finish. Yuck.
Les Planes Chardonnay 2005 - From Spain. Shocking medium gold color. Not much on the nose. Oxidized. I hope this was just a bad bottle and not representative of the wine.
Conde de Siruela Crianza 2004 - Very dark. Meaty nose. Well-judged use of oak. Medium-bodied. Good balance. Ready to drink. Very good.
Veramonte Merlot Reserva 2006 - Corked.
Sileni Estate Merlot and Cabernets 2000 - From New Zealand. Curry on the nose. Soft, plum. Still ok but lacks vibrancy. Probably should have been consumed a year or two ago.
Vermanonte Primus 2004 - Carmenere, Cabernet, Merlot. Fruity, soft. Ready to drink now but really boring.
Krug Grande Cuvee - The saving grace of the dinner as far as the wines were concerned. Old gold color perhaps betarying less than perfect storage. On the palate, though, perfection! Very strong coffee, roast nuts, great complexity but real easy to drink. Excellent.
We usually do pretty well wine-wise at these dinners so I hope the dinners next week will be better.