Monday we had a 1996 Dobra Zemlja Zinfandel Eschen Vineyard, from Fiddletown - fill less than a cm below the cork; cork colored barely to almost a quarter inch on one side; rich nose & flavors of red and black berries; balanced mid-palate with adequate acidity, good fruit, and resolved tannins; and a medium long dark berry fruit finish. No signs of being a 13-year old Zin.
Tuesday was a 2004 Vieris Sauvignon, Friuli Isonzo, from Vie de Romans di Gallo - a lovely, light Sauvignon Blanc from Friuli; long cork, barely touched; light nose and flavors of white fruits; mid-palate of adequate acidity, none of the aggressive citrus, grapefruit or grassy notes of a lot of Sancerre - Pouilly Fumé; and a medium-long clean fruit finish. It was light but enjoyable wine.
Wednesday in the evening after Maria’s we had a half-bottle of 2001 Chateau Guiraud Sauternes - good fill; cork barely colored; somewhat dark yellow gold in color; rich nose and flavors of nutty white and yellow fruits; mid-palate with some acidity, good fruit, and a little oxidation; and a long, rich fruit finish.
Thursday night with pasta we had a very nice 2008 Bastianich Rosato Fruiliani (100% Refosco) - screwcap, bright nose and flavors of light red fruits; mid-palate of adequate acidity. good bright fruit; and a nice finish of red berry fruits.
Friday after the tasting at Susan’s we enjoyed a 2000 Ridge Zinfandel Llewellen Vineyard (all old vine Zinfandel (77%) and Carignane (23%)) - fill just below the short capsule; cork saturated a quarter inch (probably a porous cork); nice nose and flavors of red and dark berries and cassis; mid-palate with barely adequate acidity, good fruit, and light tannins; and a medium long berry fruit finish.
Sarurday with Jeff Pfohl we had two 1999 Noceto Sangioveses, a Riserva and ‘Marmolata’ from Sangiovese Grosso grapes - the Riserva had rich earthy cherry fruit, good acidity in the mid-palate, and a medium long cherry fruit finish; the Marmelata had riper, brighter cherry fruit with less acidity in the mid-palate, and a longer richer finish than the Riserva. Then after Jeff left we had with cheese & fruit paste, 1981 Ridge Howell Mountain Claret, from old vines in the Park-Muscatine Vineyard (68% Zinfandel, 24% Petite Sirah, & 8% Carignane) - fill just under the capsule; cork saturated only one cm; rich nose and flavors of secondary & tertiary dark berry and currant fruit; rich mid-palate with barely adequate acidity, rich fruit, and fully resolved tannins; and a medium long berry finish.
Sunday with veal chops we had a 1985 Philippe Rossignol Village Gevrey-Chambertin - fill 3/4 in. below the cork; fully saturated cork; rich nose and flavors of secondary & tertiary dark fruit and licorice; mid-palate of ok acidity, initially a little hard before food. but with the veal & sauce, resolved tannins and richness; and a long tertairy fruit finish. This was followed with dessert by a half-bottle of 2001 Ch. Coutet Barsac - young, but rich white and yellow fruits, reasonable acidity, and a long finish.