Casual night @ PMC's

Up in the Boston area this weekend. PMC extended the invite to come over to his place to have some vino and watch his Pitts Penguins get their asses handed to them by the Red Wings. At least the wines showed better. Burgers and andouille sausage were the foil for the wines

• 1998 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Viña Gravonia 86 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  A gorgeous pale gold colored wine. On the nose; pretty almond, honeyed wax and floral notes. Unfortunately found it to be a little muted in the mouth with light nutty and faint spiced notes. It had the traditional sherried Heredia notes that their whites are known for but on a much more toned down volume. It improved slightly throughout the night, but, at this point, offers more on the nose than on the palate. Needs time.

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• 2007 Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  Beautifully dark in the glass. This CdR shows attractive and polished notes of black fruits, smoke, dried leaves and roast meat. In the mouth it shows considerable heft with smooth tannins and concentrated flavors of sweet plums, black cherry and peppery spice. Very nice.....I still prefer the Garrigue Romaine though.

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• 2007 Carlisle Syrah Russian River Valley 86 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  This bottle was a conundrum in a glass. Deep, dark, blood red in color. Huge aromas of sweet red fruit, vanilla, savory spices and toasty oak. Sadly, in th mouth it was shy and one-noted. Medium-bodied but ripe. It simply fades after gulping it down. Very little aftertaste. Had been opened for about 8 hours. May have been going through a "dumb" phase. Would try again in the future.

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• 1995 Edmunds St. John Les Côtes Sauvages Flawed

  USA, California

  Cloudy brick reddish-brown in the glass. Funky aromas and, frankly, tired, pruny flavors. Dead. Sorry Tyler.

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• 1999 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Tondonia 88 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  A baby still. Garnet colored. This was tight and unyielding at first. After an hour of two of air, pretty, yet reserved, notes of raspberry, red cherries, leather and sweet spices were coaxed out of the glass. Some vanilla and spice lingers in the end. This needs quite a few more years to start showing something interesting.

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The night ended with a partial screening of Tropic Thunder. Hilarious movie. Need to get the DVD and watch it again with subtitles though.......could only understand every third word of Robert Downey Jr.'s character. Guess I went "full retard". Fun night. Thanks Peter.