Had a couple of interesting reds a couple of days ago. We both ended up bringing some 'different' wines...
1999 Domaine Berthoumieu Madiran Cuvée Charles de Batz(France, Southwest France, Madiran)
Opened my bottle up without much warning, so I couldn't decant it for as long as I would have liked. After an hour, the is very dark wine was still quite tight. After about 3 hours it was starting to open up, and it was a real beauty, with very dark, dark colour and fruit, black licorice, and a lovely smooth texture and ripe tannins. Not giving up much at first, but there's a core of great fruit here that makes it very tasty after a few hours (A-).
2000 Chateau de Pibarnon (France, Bandol)
Again, quite tight at first, but by the end of the night it was a wonderful Bandol, with leathery notes, dark fruit, a hint of garraigue and another lovely smooth texture. Very pure wine (A-).
Lustau Moscatel Superior 'Emilin' NV
Talked K into a dessert wine as well, another unusual one. Started out almost as rich as PX, (but it was certainly not as thick or sweet). But what differentiated it was the acidity that made it much more balanced than any PX I've had. Rich flavours of raisons, dates, figs, etc. Not much complexity, but very, very tasty and dangerously easy to drink(A-).
Oh, K gave me a taste of a white (blind) as well. It was quite rich and full in the mouth, with lime and tropical fruit notes, and I was sure it was an Alsacian. I never would have guessed it was a 2004 Gobelsburger Gruner Veltliner. I'm no gruner expert, but I've never had such a rich bottle; usually they have been much more transparent and light on their feet. But quite an intriging wine, and very nice QPR (B+).