After a bad day at work (nothing like the server for your primary email being down for 10 hours), I was happy to be home, and to cook dinner while Betsy made her way home from rehearsal. Fried chickpeas with chorizo and spinach, sauteed beet greens, and sweet potatoes.
2005 Valdehermoso Roble “Terruno Hombre" (Ribera del Duero)
Running a bit hot, ripe red fruit (I'm envisioning skins splitting!) , smoke, a little tire on pavement. Not my style (I think Dave liked). B-/C+
After dinner, I headed to Roger's for our local group's look at Tuscany. Roger is German and had an interesting selection of German and Italian meats and pates, plus some cheeses. Wines were blind:
Wine #1
Dark cherries, leather and a little ashtray, this is tired on palate though color is good. Drinkable, but tastes old, I'd assume storage issues. B-/C+
2000 Casanova di Neri "Tenuta Nuova" Brunello di Montalcino
Wine #2
My wine. I had double-decanted at home (lots of sediment). It had seemed tired then, but had picked up by time we served. Red fruit, dried cherries, leather. Good acids for a Tuscan with lots of Cab. OK finish, this is no spring chicken but a pleasant mature SuperT. B. 1982 Avignonesi Grifi
Wine #3
Ripe, seems younger than first two. Not especially complex, but nice in a fleshy kind of way. My guess is 2001 Chianti, from a modern producer. B 1998 Talenti (Toscano IGT)
Wine #4
Quite different from previous 3, this is light and lovely, a pretty bright wine with fresh strawberry/cherry fruit, soil, and a little hint of brett. I really like this, but didn't guess though I have had before. B++ 2007 Montevertine "Pian del Ciampolo"
Wine #5
Big, sweet and overripe, some tannins, short finish for a big wine. Very popular with some but I don't care for it. I guess a 2003 Super T. C+
2006 Le Cupole di Trinoro
Wine #6
Better balanced acidity, ripe but not overripe, integrating oak, tasty modern midweight. Fred and I both guess the 05 Greppicante, but we knew Marc bought tons so this wasn't brilliant tasting, just social engineering. B+/B 2005 Il Greppi Greppicante
Wine #7
More ripe red fruit, a little VA, despite the ripeness there's an edge of green. I like a bit more with some air, B- 2006 Poggio al Tufo "Rompicollo" Maremma
Wine #8
Since I had worries re the Grifi, I had opened and brought a second bottle. I can say this is the best 2002 Tuscan I've tried. The 2002 Montevertine seems to be pretty ready, a mid-bodied Sangiovese with good acids, nice concentration in the red and black cherry fruit, nice finish. Not a profound Montevertine, but excellent considering the vintage (I think I heard there was no Pergole Torte for that year, which might help explain). B+
Fun night with the guys. A very wet 10 minute walk home, but worth it!
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.