Walking the dogs

[Florida Jim]

After walking the dogs for six miles, we ate a fresh pear, goat cheese and raw cashews:

1999 Leo Alzinger, Riesling Loibenberg Smaragd:

Focused white fruit and floral scents/

medium body, lots of cut at first, opens somewhat with air, prominent acidic backbone, flavors follow the nose and open a bit over time – still pretty tight, intense, balanced/

long, crisp finish.

Needs five years minimum but went so well with the pear we almost missed it.

For sipping prior to dinner:

1993 Feudi, Greco di Tufo:

Pleasant nose of citrus, turpentine, white fruit and spring water/

light bodied but no lack of flavor or complexity, a lovely finished flavor profile with the aromas of the nose repeating themselves in nuance on the palate, fully resolved, perfect balance/

medium finish that fades just a bit.

Wow; a ten year old Greco that shows how very well this variety can age. A delight to drink without food and an intellectual experience thrown in for good measure. Excellent wine.

1999 Daniel Lenko, Chardonnay Old Vines (Niagara Penn.):

There is some very nice fruit and acid here but it is overlayed by such a strong American oak presence as to make the variety all but unrecognizable. ‘A shame what they did with pretty nice fruit.

With pan fried rib-eye steaks with morels and broccoli:

1992 Matanzas Creek, Merlot:

Quite complex with chocolate, blackberry, sweet fruit coulis which became nicely layered, wild mushroom appeared as it opened/

medium body, silken texture, flavors follow the nose with more complexity, as it opened it picked up even more layers of flavor, quite lively and never showed any sign of its 11 years in bottle, intense, concentrated, well-balanced/

long, fruit filled and well resolved finish.

Amazing. Not at all what I expected. I have followed a case of this stuff and it has gone from ripe and delicious (at release) to green and nasty (about two years out) and now, it is simply better than most Pomerols. Testament to the fact that Merlot can age (who’d a thunk?).

With cheese:

1999 Gilles-Robin, Crozes Hermitage:

The best $9 wine ever made.

Best, Jim

[Carema]

G Robin rocks the universe (esp 1999) but where on earth are you getting it for 9 bucks- here is chicago cost (from the wholesaler) is about 14.....

[Craig Camp]

G Robin rocks the universe (esp 1999) but where on earth are you getting it for 9 bucks- here is chicago cost  (from the wholesaler) is about 14.....  

Who is the wholesaler?

[Florida Jim]

G Robin rocks the universe (esp 1999) but where on earth are you getting it for 9 bucks- here is chicago cost  (from the wholesaler) is about 14.....  

I found it at close-out in NJ.

Craig, its Eric Solomon.

Best, Jim