2006 Bouchard, Batard-Montrachet:
Gently oaky, somewhat buttery, lots of lemons and medium bodied. Served with lobster tails and drawn butter - ‘mighty nice.
2006 Bouchard, Le Corton:
Tight at first but, with air, became quite expressive. The structure is firm but the aromas and flavors are lovely; feminine and complex. Good length, too. More than I expected from such a young Corton.
1996 Allemand, Cornas Reynard:
‘Has arrived at a place in its life where I think it delivers a fabulous Cornas experience; iron, ash, blood and warmed fruit on the nose; similar flavors with a worsted texture that is both rustic and smooth at the same time, extraordinary complexity, intense and very long. Changes in the glass from one sip to the next and is so character driven that it would be hard to guess it was from anywhere else. Perfect balance and years to go before it starts to decline. With peppered, grilled rib-eyes, sublime.
2005 Chat. Clos de Sarpe, St. Emilion:
Polished but not soft, big structure yet not overdone, complex and nuanced but integrated, showing young though still of whole cloth - a wine that may be worth its hype. And absolutely killer with dry-aged NY strips.
1994 Ridge, Cabernet Sauvignon Montebello:
Beautifully balanced and soft in the mouth but with acidity keeping it focused; some secondary development, firm tannins and fine textures. Has another decade to peak but showing very well now.
1996 Ridge, Cabernet Sauvignon Montebello:
A little too much brett for me but this is more ready to drink than the ’94 even though it has little secondary development.
2003 Ridge, Cabernet Sauvignon Montebello (375 ml):
Way too young to be drinking and pretty disjointed. I don’t drink a lot of cab. so I really can’t guess at its future but its not a good idea to open it now.
2008 Ridge, Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mtns.:
Bright, crisp, expressive chardonnay with only hints of wood. A nice bottle.
2007 Ridge, Chardonnay Montebello:
Big, oaky, deeply flavored and concentrated. Too much wood for me but its a well-made example of its style.
2008 Ridge, Carignane Buchignani Ranch:
Flamboyant on the nose and palate, lots of old vine scents and tastes and an almost hidden structure. A joyous wine that is perfectly balanced and ready to drink now.
2006 Numanthia Termanthia, Toro:
Giant flavors, soft, simple, weighty, milk-shake texture, gobs of this and that, hyper-concentrated - not my kind of wine. Tempranillo, I guess.
Others at the table loved it.
Best, Jim