Dinner wines

[Florida Jim]

With a soup made of chick peas, chicken, onion, carrot, spinach, lemon and tofu:

1999 Salomon, Pfaffenberg Riesling:

bleach-water, honey, flowers, minerals and apple juice on the nose; becomes more tropical with airing/

medium body, starts out quite crisp but smoothes a bit with time open, flavors follow the nose and undergo the same change, concentrated and elegant, lovely balance/

long, balanced finish.

A lovely wine with a graceful nature and clearly Austrian. It will only get better with time in the cellar.

About $15, on sale.

With assorted cheeses:

1990 Sullivan, Cabernet Sauvignon:

decanted off substantial sediment/

cassis and black fruit nose with overtones of pond water and sourwood/

full body, still somewhat tannic, flavors are ripe black fruit with a touch of earthiness, pretty smooth, concentrated and intense, balanced/

long, slightly drying finish.

In 13 years this has dropped a lot of tannin and smoothed out some but it lacks any real complexity or development. Good with the cheese.

About $35, (at release).

Best, Jim