TN: '98 Chantegrive, '02 Donnhoff QbA

Monday made pork chops in a worcestershire-based marinade with grilled vidalia onions, a recipe that surprisingly NYT had suggested for Bordeaux. So I opened a 1998 Chantegrive. Medium-bodied, still some tannins sticking out. Good cbuttis fruit, but I have trouble getting very enthused (maybe the weather was just too hot for Bordeaux). I nursed my glbutt (had poured half away in a 375 to start) for an hour plus. Some leather and cigarbox, just a hint of earth. B

Tuesday was my turn to do dinner. Some chicken-garlic sausage went on the grill, I made some fiddleheads and also served some store-bought prepared broccoli. After reading a recent note re a downturn in the 2002 D=F6nnhoff QbA Riesling, I decided to give it a try. Indeed, at first it seemed rather fruit-deficient compared to past bottles. But as I scurry betweent the grill and the kitchen (why do I scurry, yet make mediocre food, while Betsy seems to always be in control and -almost- always does well?) he white nectarine fruit peeks out. Fruit is sweet without being cloying, there's plenty of vibrant acidity and LOTS of mineral. A--B+