2004 Heidi Schrock Furmint I was very impressed with this wine. Aromatic with quince, wool, flowers, and minerals and a great weight and texture like heavy cream in the mouth. Dry, with good balancing acidity and longish spicy finish. The primary fruit and freshness balanced against the weight of the wine made this interesting. Does anyone age these? It was my first experience with dry furmint but I guess this would age beautifully.
2004 Salomon Undhof Gruner Veltliner Von Stein Reserve this really reflects the terroir with lots of stones and gravelly smells, some red berries, green apple, seasalt. Started unctious, round and smoky initially and then some sharper acidity and spicy white pepper develop towards the finish. A little disjointed now, but I liked this complex and concentrated GV. Comes with a glass stopper in place of cork!
2004 Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Kabinett smells like lemon pound cake, but boy was this acidic on the first day open. I really didn't enjoy it until day three, when things had settled down. Lots of slate, and some grapefruit flavors. I liked the balance of the 04 Karthauserhof Spatlese better than this.
1994 C.H. Berres Zeltinger-Deutschherrenberg Auslese pale young color, great balance and seems just off dry, hints of ruby red grapefruit. I don't think this is anywhere close to maturity. Very enjoyable.
2001 Fourrier GC VV This is showing more earthy Gevrey dirt and structure than the pretty Chambolle like flavors of a bottle a year ago. Probably best to let this one sleep some more.
2002 Ponsot Gevrey Chambertin Cuvee L'Abeille volatile varnish and overripe cherry fruit smells, rustic earthy tannins and finished with some noticible heat. I didn't enjoy this very much.
2002 Archery Summit Arcus Estate Oregon pinot noir A friend opened this for me on a recent visit to Philly. Smells vaguely like Pinot, dark, extracted, plummy fruits with flavors from the 100% new french oak quite noticible.
1994 Ceretto Bricco Roche a fine earthy mushroom aroma, but kind of lean with tannnins that grab the front teeth and don't let go. Interesting, but not easy. I wonder if this was too early, or if it reflects the tough vintage.
1999 Ferrando Carema (white label) We drank this with dinner at Becco, before taking my teenage sons to see their first Broadway musical. I was enthralled with the wine, but it was a fantastic evening so my impressions are colored by this. Lovely nebbiolo perfume of roses and dried cherry, fresh acidity, fine supple tannins. Great with both the ravioli in brown butter and sliced hanger steak with polenta. For those that don't know, this is relatively affordable nebbiolo from the Carema DOC in northern Piedmont. For those that are familiar, the 99 is drinking very well right now.
Best,