TN: Macon, GruVe, Gloria, CdCastillon, and sips of Palmer and Salon

Betsy has worked the last 3 nights (with rehearsals and a matinee beforehand), so I've been on my own. Too lazy to shop, I'm been denuding our freezer of meat.

With some veal simmered in white wine, the 2002 Manciat Macon-Charnay Vieilles Vignes. This was a surprise for me - instead of the crisp clean Chardonnay I expected, this came across much bigger, with a bit of vanilla-butterscotch. There is ample acidity, but this is more fruit and oak driven than I expected. More like a Meursault to my mind than a Macon. Nice minerally finish, a very nice wine, just not what I expected. B++

With lamb chops, the 2002 Gloria (St Julien) from 375 ml. Ripe and forward for a 2002, there's red and black currant fruit, with noticable toasty oak that turns cedary with air and time. A little tannic at the moment, but a nice showing. Wish I had grabbed when Zachys had for $18, but still a deal elsewhere in low $20s. B+

With roast chicken, the 2004 Schloss Gobelsburg "Gobelsburger" Gruner Veltliner (Langenlois). Nice green apple and green du Puy lentil character, just a touch of white pepper. Clearly GruVe, but unfortunately a bit dilute. Light-bodied, I just wish there was a little more there. B-B-

Over several nights, the 2000 Sainte-Colombe (Cotes de Castillon). Oak has settled down in this, and tannins too. Nice ripe round red fruit, a pleasant if uncomplicated Right Banker. B

Also stopped by Zachys yesterday. They were having a big tasting -lots of wines, with in most cases winemakers or owners in attendance. I didn't have a lot of time, but visited a few wines: 1995 Salon - yeasty, with a chalkiness that reminded me of GC Chablis. Approachable, but needs time. A couple of '04 Kim Crawfords were ok. Archery Summit: 2002 Red Hills PN and 2003 Renegade Ridge PN. Both pretty heavy-handed with the oak. I refer the '02 Red Hills which seemed to have better acidity than the rather flabby '03 Renegade Ridge. At $70 & $60 each I'm definitely not a buyer. I did enjoy the Palmer table. The 2003 Alter Ego reminded me of the 2000, a less structured style than the Palmer, but a nice fleshy full Margaux. The 2003 Palmer was also fruit-forward and round, though not in the least flabby. Some tannins need to integrate, but this has the making of good Bordeaux, not the caricature overripe wine I feared. The 2002 showed much as it did at a 2002 horizontal - tannic, lots of red fruit, surprising acidity. Needs lots of time. The 2001 was a little easier to appreciate right now- the tannins seemed finer-smoother, there's a real spicy note to the blackberry and raspberry fruit. But the best one on the table was the 1996 - big and brooding, but with grace.

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.