Recent dinner

[Florida Jim]

With houseguests in, Diane made Cassoulet and we tasted:

2000 Nikolaihof, Riesling Steiner Hund:

It is always difficult to get across in words when a wine is, essentially, perfect. Suffice it to say the aromatics were nearly explosive and remarkably complex, the palate likewise and the length hard to believe. And with the food, superb. Ready now, will last (but why wait?).

1999 Chevillon, Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Cailles:

Showing almost painfully young but still refined and relatively complex in the Chevillon style. Black fruit driven, excellent depth, a distinct mineral-stone backbone and ripe tannins; classic Nuits for certain, but perhaps even more identifiable as Chevillon. A wonderful future waits. Very good with the food.

With assorted cheeses:

1999 Pruduttori del Barbaresco, Barbaresco:

Two different wines; upon opening, I’d have thought it some internationally styled cabernet; an hour later, the tar-rose-nebbiolo nose appeared and the texture had that sort of worsted mouthfeel that gives evidence of its structure. Well concentrated juice with surprisingly good balance in need of a decade. Very good with the dish.

Best, Jim

Edited September 6, 2004 by Florida Jim (log)