2004 Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese #22
Rich, open and very tropical in its flavor profile. This is very accessible and delicious with a high slurpability quotient.
2008 Wind Gap Wines Chardonnay Yuen James Berry/Brosseau Vineyards
There's a a very interesting set of fruit and mineral flavors to this wine, but even at 12.9% ABV the finish is somewhat marked by heat. Air fleshes the wine out a bit & the sense of heat fades, but the balance is not quite right. I want to like this a lot more than I do.
2000 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon
Quite impressive with grilled steak. The balance is good, flavors are rich but not at all candied, and the finish is very pure with no trace of lingering alcohol. Drinking very well now. Much more approachable and enjoyable than the '98 of this I had on Thursday.
With popcorn and a movie after dinner:
Pol Roger Brut Champagne NV (white label)
There was nothing at all distinctive about this wine. There was nothing wrong with it either, it was good Champagne, but there was no excitement, no element that made me or anyone else say that it was more than just basic sparkling wine. Perhaps all that farmer fizz has gotten me jaded (I always used to like Pol Roger NV), but whatever the cause this did zero for me.