Some short commentary on wine over the weekend:
2006 Rhys Alesia Syrah Fairview Ranch (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands)
Drinks fairly well, though better on night two. Mostly up front fruit and tanni on the first night. After 24 hours open it fleshes out and gains some meaty, smoky elements that make the overall package much more interesting.
2009 Jean-Paul Thevenet Morgon Vieilles Vignes (France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Morgon)
Typically ripe in the 2009 Beaujolais mold, but more transparent than most of the top wines. This moves more towards the red fruit side of the spectrum, and seems more like Beaujolais, less like village Burgundy. Very easy to drink, especially on a sunny spring afternoon.
2004 Lingenfelder Freinsheimer Goldberg Riesling Spätlese halbtrocken (Germany, Pfalz)
Subtle - perhaps too subtle for its own good. I like the freshness of the fruit, but it has no mid-palate or finish, just some pretty up front flavors and then gone. Disappointing.
1998 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Heimbourg (France, Alsace, Turckheim, Alsace)
Oxidized. Deceased.