Out to dinner last night with friends at a very good, friendly byob restaurant (no corkage charge) here on Long Island, Kitchen A Bistro. Food was great as usual, and we had a great time with this interesting and fun melange of wines.
1998 R. López de Heredia Rioja Rosado Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja (7/30/2009)
Delicate nose with some mango and peach pit aromas. Crisp, easy, subtle, some dried apricots, peach, minerals, nice length. Delightful wine.
1990 Schloss Schönborn Hattenheimer Nußbrunnen Riesling Auslese - Germany, Rheingau (7/30/2009)
Nice acidity, good sweetness, some almond. Didn’t really get to focus on this one but very nice.
2004 André Perret Condrieu Chery - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu (7/30/2009)
Gorgeous nose of honey, melon, and seashells. Great texture, rich, honey, nectar, and lychee on the palate, finishes really long, the flavors linger for 20 seconds. Delicious!
1999 Bodega Numanthia Termes Toro Numanthia - Spain, Castilla y León, Toro (7/30/2009)
Delightful cherry, vanilla nose with a hint of spice. Rounded, elegant texture, well balanced, cherries and raspberries, hint of leather, not especially deep but very nice.
1985 R. López de Heredia Rioja Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja (7/30/2009)
This took a while to open up. Nice floral and bing cherry nose. Light texture, some tobacco, leather, light cherry & herbs on the palate. The fruit seems to have faded and this may be past it’s prime, but will taste some leftover wine and see.
2001 Schwarz Zweigelt ‘W’ Red Table Wine - Austria, Burgenland, Neusiedlersee (7/30/2009)
Smoky, woodland berries, hint of vanilla on the captivating nose. Silky texture, complex and deep, amazing berry-like fruit, resembles a lush pinot noir. Incredible wine!
1999 Pierre Gaillard Côte-Rôtie Viallieres - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie (7/30/2009)
Bacon fat aroma hits you right away, raspberries and smokey nose. Elegant, rich and long, silky, bacon and black raspberry fruit, some sage on the palate. Tannins are barely noticeable, seems mature. Textbook Cote-Rotie and just a lovely wine.
N.V. Renardat-Fâche Vin du Bugey-Cerdon Méthode Ancestrale Demi-Sec - France, Savoie, Vin du Bugey-Cerdon (7/30/2009)
Refreshing, delicious, crisp, some strawberries on the palate. Paired well with dessert.