WTN - Notes from a Recent Dinner

Had a dinner last night to thank a couple of friends for helping me move in to my new place. Had some nice wines, most of which really seemed to shine, although more I am kicking myself for not decanting even more than I did. Stated out with crabcakes with a tasty aged reisling. Next up was a mushroom soup and a fennel salad. I paired this with a still very young chablis. I thought the 2003 vintage would lead to a wine that was readier than normal, but no such luck! Then I knew these guys would love a nice Ozzie shiraz from the Clare, and I was right, as it was one of the wines of the night. Then I opened a cabernet from Coonawarra, which after it had time to open up, really shined. Next, one of the guys poured a 2003 Bordeaux, but I can't remember which one: it was pretty young and still had a fair bit of oak. He also opened up a 2003 Ruiessac, which was an absolutely killer sauturnes, with perfect balance, lots of tropical fruit and tobacco - this was my wine of the night (A). Also popped a Vallado reserve at the end of the night, but it was a pretty tannic beast still.

I attached a couple of notes of other recent tastes as well at the end.

Cellartracker allows you to attach a label image to your notes now - cool!

• 1993 Zilliken (Forstmeister Geltz) Saarburger Rausch Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (9/27/2009)
  I've had this a few times, and this was the best showing yet. Lovely spatlese with still a fair bit of sweetness on the finish, and fairly youthful in general (e.g., no gasoline notes). Lots of tropical fruit, with some lime as well, and a long finish. Very tasty. (A-)
  
• 2003 Domaine Christian Moreau Père et Fils Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru (9/27/2009)
  Didn't take notes, but this was a lot tighter than I had hoped. Only after about 3 hours in a decanter did this this start to fully express itself. No 2003 flabbiness here: it was a chock full of minerals, and tended to the citrus rather than tropical side of the fruit spectrum. Pineapples, peach, slight butterscotch as the wine warmed and opened up. Won't touch my last bottle for many years (A-).
  
• 2002 Annie's Lane Shiraz Copper Trail - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley (9/27/2009)
  This was a great Ozzie shiraz that tasted like it was really in the zone last night. Classic shiraz flavours, not OTT in any way, but very rich and concentrated, with some secondary flavours emerging, and great mouthfeel. One of the top wines of the night. (A-/A)
  
• 2001 Ladbroke Grove Cabernet Sauvignon Killian - Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra (9/27/2009)
  This started out quite reserved and disjointed, with not much midpalate at all. After an hour or two, though, this was starting to sing. Classic cabernet flavours of blackberries, a touch of oak and dark chocolate. Very plush, a mouthfilling wine with both power and elegance. Still on the upswing, I think, but decant this for at least 2 hours before trying! (A-)
• 2003 Quinta do Vallado Douro Reserva - Portugal, Douro (9/27/2009)
  Incredibly tannic when first opened, this needed lots of time to calm down, but it did so eventually. A big wine with lots of structure as well as fruit. Oak was still in evidence as well. Had this at the end of the night, that's about all I remember...
  
  
• 2004 La Croix de Saint Jean Minervois Lo Paire - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Minervois (9/26/2009)
  Hazy notes from last week. Got this on sale, and wasn't expecting all that much, but this was a very flavourful wine, very rich and smooth in texture, and fairly complex on the palate. Very southern rhone, and pretty modern in style. (A-)
• 2003 Domaine Chante Perdrix Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (9/23/2009)
  Deep brick, with a muted nose of cherries, earth and tar. Better on the palate, with ripe flavours of game, iodine, earth, leather, cherries, black licorice and plums. Shows a little over-ripeness, but no heat. A little better on the first night. (B+)