TN: Hoares in NY After a day of airplane delays, Ian and Jacque arrived late Friday night. We shared a small glbutt of the already-reported on 2002 Geantet-Pansiot "Champs Perdix" Marsannay. I escorted them to their hosts' home, and made plans for them to come to dinner the following night at my place. Betsy was in NC for trio rehearsals for a couple days, so they needed to put up with my cooking. Appetizers were simple smoked salmon, along with some (wine-killing) marinated anchovies. I poured the 2002 Nikolaihof "Hefeabzug" Grüner Veltliner (Wachau). This wine is made "sur lies" a la Muscadet, and indeed had a freshness similar to a young Muscadet. Clean bright wine with strong floral aromas, spice (including the stereotypical white pepper), bright acidity, and mineral finish. I quite like, though I'll take Michael Pronay's word that it's not wine to age. B+ Main course was steak (coffee-crusted porterhouse and simpler sirloin- there was some doubt about numbers for a while, and the last batch of meat got simpler treatment), with some broccollini on the side. My friend Gabrielle brought mashed potatoes and mushrooms. The wines were: 1990 Ch. de Sales (Pomerol) A gift from Arvind Rao, and what a gift. I always think of de Sales kind of like Clos Rene- very nice Merlots, but without that archtypical Pomerol lushness. Well, this one was clbuttic Pomerol all the way through. Deep dark fruit, huge notes of coffee and chocolate, and a rich velvety texture. Decanted about an hour before guests arrived, it gained complexity through the night, with hints of leather, anise, and flowers. Very very nice. A- 1993 Arrowfield Show Reserve Shiraz (McClaren Vale) I don't have a lot of experience at aging Oz wines, and was worried this might be cracking up. It actually didn't show old at all, but that didn't mean it showed as especially complex, either. Straightforward blackberry fruit, some vanilla-cedar notes. Sweet edge to the fruit, might have shown better against lesser compebreastion. B-B- A cheese course followed (a rather too-mature Neals Yard cheddar, some aged Gouda, a Colson Bbuttet Stilton on it's last legs), to go with the Stilton we had the 1994 Taylor-Fladgate LBV. Medium-bodied, a bit of volatilty quickly blew off. Flavors of raisins, blackcurrants, and licorice. Not bad. B-B+ Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency Dale Dale Williams Drop "damnspam" to reply 
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