The early arrivals sampled a couple of non-blind whites with nuts, soppressata, and cheeses:
1990 Pierre Morey "Perrieres" Meursault 1er
A little tight at first, opens quickly, a bit fat, not especially focused, some nutty notes. Tired though not dead. B-
1996 Zind-Humbrecht "Clos Windsbuhl" Pinot Gris
Fair amount of sweetness, but not flabby as I find some ZHs. Good richness, complex blend of floral, fruit (oranges, peaches), honey, and even a little mineral. It IS a bit much, and I think I'd struggle with it over dinner table, but nice as an apertif (and with a very ripe Munster). B+
After that the wines were double blind.
Flight One
Served with a lovely scallop dish in a cream sauce with leeks and ginger
Wine #1:
Bright fresh nose, not very yeasty, citrus based, young.
Wine #2
Initially the biggest nose, a whallop of caramel and brioche. A bit odd on the palate.
Wine #3
Lovely, easily my favorite of flight. Young and vibrant, yet with notes of maturity. Yeast biscuits, lemon zest, lively on palate.
Wine #4
Quince and lemon, fading mousse, very mature. Others like more than I do.
I don't drink enough Champagne to have guesses. All turn out to be Blanc de Blancs.
#1 1998 Deutz Blanc de Blancs B
#2 1988 Deutz Blanc de Blancs B-
#3 1989 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne A/A-
#4 1975 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne B
Very interesting and informative flight
Flight Two
With salmon with a red wine/shallot sauce and potato gallete
Wine #1
Slightly spicy nose, raspberry and cherries, good length, but maybe just a tad thin in middle. Nice mature Burg.
Wine #2
A note of iron on nose, both red and black fruit, some earth. My favorite of flight.
Wine #3
Meaty, good acids, maybe a tad short on finish, but I liked.
We were mostly in Burgundy, though there was some discussion re Northern Rhones. John felt a couple might be Jadots, thinking he saw some indications of high temperature fermentations.
#1 1985 Jacques Prieur Musigny B/B-
#2 1979 Jadot Musigny B+
#3 1988 Mongeard-Mugneret Echezeaux Vieilles Vignes B
Flight Three
Wine #1
Savage bretty nose, some red fruit and a little coffee underneath.
Hard to get past the brett, though.
Wine #2
Iron/blood, slightly fading fruit, a little weedy.
Wine #3
Ripe cassis and black plum fruit, mint and eucalyptus notes. A little smoke and tobacco. Tannins seem to have integrated. Very nice
Guesses were centered on CalCab.
#1 1990 Olga Raffault "Les Picasses" Chinon B-
#2 1985 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve B-
#3 1974 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve A-
I had a bottle of the Raffault last winter that only showed a hint of brett, this was much more intense; on the other hand I liked this '74 Mondavi better than a bottle a year or two ago.
Flight Four
With a kind of veal stroganoff with some veggies on side
Wine #1
Wow, maybe my favorite of the night. Powerful yet elegant. Blackcurrant, berries, cedar and leather.
Wine #2
A little leafy, not quite as powerful as #1, but good dark plum fruit with some earth and tobacco.
Guesses were all Bordeaux, but mostly Left Bank,
#1 1989 Ch. Trotanoy (Pomerol) A/A-
#2 1989 Ch. Petit Village (Pomerol) B+
Flight Five
Wine #1
Herbs, sweet red fruit, a little coffee and black pepper. Good length, mature but not fading
Wine #2
Spices, rose petals, sweet red fruit. Very good.
OK, I admit I found these quite similar. Embarrassing.
#1 1980 Guigal "La Landonne" Cote-Rotie A-
#2 1985 G. Conterno "Cascina Francia" Barolo B+
Really great night, this group keeps raising the bar, I'm beginning to worry re my next time hosting!
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.