So Betsy was playing Saturday night, I was planning a quiet night at home. But ended up next to Marc at a traffic light, and with windows down we discovered (a) neither of us was sure we could do rescheduled wine group and (b) neither of us had plans that night. So he would come over (and I rounded up Al too). This was post-dinner on the patio, I had some good brats from the Ukrainian market for my dinner, then we had cheeses when the guys came over. Several wines sampled:
2008 Leitz Ein Zwei Dry Riesling (Rheingau)
My first '08 German I think. Saline minerality, citrus and apple fruit, ample acids, light but with a spine. Good. B
2007 Hexamer "Quartzit" Riesling (Meddersheimer Rheingrafenberg, Nahe)
Nice balance of acidity and fruit, sweet but the acids keep it lively, I quite enjoy this. B/B+
1989 Ch. Soutard (St Emilion)
Still showing quite a bit of tannin, tight but gradually opens in decanter, medium bodied, red fruit (cherries and plum), some cedar and leather. Maybe would have been better with a steak, but pleasant if not compelling. I have one remaining, will wait awhile to see if tannins integrate. B
2008 Commanderie de la Bargemone rose (Coteaux d'Aix en Provence)
Marc brought this opened bottle along, just a couple of pours, sweet strawberries with just a hint of sharper raspberry fruit, a flinty note, nice little wine. B/B-
So no OMG wines but a pleasant night on the patio.
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.