What did you drink tonight?

It was ok, but it didn't grab me like the '95 or the others. There's a reputation that needs to be upheld if it says Montebello on the label.
 
those Occidental Zins from the early '70s were a revelation to me. Coincidentally I spent last Friday afternoon in an "old-timer's roundtable" conversation with Paul Draper and Josh Jensen. Great fun.
 
Pete, '89 was a pretty weak vintage in N Cal. I don't know if it was as bad in the SCM as in Napa and Sonoma, but there weren't a lot of wines from year that would impress you now. Like any vintage generalization, there are certainly exceptions, but an '89 not standing out in that Murderer's Row of Montebellos doesn't surprise me.

Mark Lipton
 
The other bottle of '70 Occidental I had recently was last November with Sandi, Thor and Theresa. It was on Namu Gaji's wine list. I think after sampling these 2 bottles, this wine might be immortal.
 
1974 Sterling Reserve Cab Sauv: Just freaking incredible. Everything one could want from old school Napa Valley Cab. The friend who brought this had completely forgotten he had it until he looked in his magnum cases last month. Buried treasure!
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The 1978 was in remarkably good shape last December. Makes you want to cry when you see those Sterling Vintners Collection end caps in Safeway.
 
I drank this: http://hardyswines.com/blog/w/wine/nottage-hill-riesling?from_term=nottage-hill&from_tax=range. 2012 nottage hill Riesling . Not bad in fact. And considering I'm in Thailand, on a tiny, snakey tributary of the Mekong with Burma directly across and laos at 90 degrees (and that it is 97F), really very welcome.
[ETA] I should add that it had some dry Riesling typicity; and wasn't screechy or over-ripe. Under screw cap, and very serviceable.

Much better than the Chilean mapo valley Sauvignon blanc I am drinking at the moment, which is bitter; heavy on the cat piss light on much else; maybe some sour grass. But it followed me here b/c I had lots of extra Vietnam dong and there wasn't much else safe to buy in the Hanoi duty free shop. The only other white was mouton cadet. And that was $2 more.

There is a bottle of Bereche waiting at home in the fridge.....
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
Thanks for the postcard, Kirk!
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Wait until you see the actual post cards that just got delivered! You have no idea.

The better news is that the local sugar cane rum caipirinha-type cocktail with fresh ginger is excellent!
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:
Speaking of Mr. Edmunds, I ordered a 2005 ESJ Bassetti tonight to show some UK friends what your wines could do. Still evolving but the glory was there and they were convinced. More exciting than the 2012 Donnhoff Leistenberg Kabinett or the 2012 Cornelissen Munjabel Rosso 9, both of which were very convincing in their own right.
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I just opened a 2005 ESJ Bassetti this week as well. The first night it was quite tight but a glass the next day was very expressive. Poured half directly into a half bottle that I have sitting in my "cellar." I may try tonight, will report back!
 
Michel Gahier Troussea "Le Vigne de Louis" 2010 was drinking very well over two nights. I think this is worth drinking now, don't see too much more aging potential
 
originally posted by wrrntl:
originally posted by Rahsaan:
Speaking of Mr. Edmunds, I ordered a 2005 ESJ Bassetti tonight to show some UK friends what your wines could do. Still evolving but the glory was there and they were convinced. More exciting than the 2012 Donnhoff Leistenberg Kabinett or the 2012 Cornelissen Munjabel Rosso 9, both of which were very convincing in their own right.
Click to expand...

I just opened a 2005 ESJ Bassetti this week as well. The first night it was quite tight but a glass the next day was very expressive. Poured half directly into a half bottle that I have sitting in my "cellar." I may try tonight, will report back!
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Yeah, I have had some more expressive/precise bottles over the past few years. But I'm still waiting on the rest of my own bottles as I don't exactly have cases stacked away.
 
1983 Couleé de Serrant Savennieres, from a cache of bottles that had not only been heat damaged but also suffered through a flood at the wine shop. Pretty rough looking fill, even for a thirty year old bottle, but this is by far the best of the bunch so far. Honey, flowers and stones on the nose, in the mouth it is at first piercing but gentle at the end, verging on oranges. Maybe some botrytis. With seared scallops over leeks and mushroom it is heaven.
 
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