Dinner with Ross and Ali

Tonight Ross Mickel and his girlfriend Ali stopped by for dinner. It was fun and lowkey evening of conversation over a few nice wines.

We started out with hummus and potato bread and a 'gag' appetizer of 'pigs in blanket' and deli mustard (not pig actually but kosher beef franks). The wine easily handled these challenges. Finally, after we put our 2-year old son Sid to sleep, we sat down for a very nice salad of roasted red and gold beets atop green leaf salad dressed in a honey and white wine vinaigrette and topped with toasted walnuts. Very nice!

• 2001 Erben von Beulwitz Kaseler Nies'chen Riesling Spätlese #8 90 Points

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  AP# 3 519 004-8-02. Mmm, lovely yet somewhat reticent aromatics of wet stone. The palate is amazing with excellent minerality and that vibrancy I have come to expect from top-tier 2001 Germans. This is barely open yet still delicious and stands up well next to nearly any food thrown at it.

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The main course was a simple plate of grilled Spencer steaks rubbed with provencale herbs; wild mushroom risotto and blanched and shocked haricot verte tossed in EVO. The wines were right at home with this simple and luscious food.

• 2000 Viña Almaviva S.A. Almaviva EPU 88 Points

  Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto

  Wow, this is was unique. The nose shows massive notes of eucalyptus and mint with some cocoa and vegetal elements. The palate is plush and soft, somewhat chocolatey, huge notes of iodine. The tannins are fairly chalky and tough though. Nonetheless, this is a distinct and rewarding wine.

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• 1989 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  The nose screams of minerals with cassis, black fruit and a subtle floral component. Over time this moves to tobacco and cedar. The palate screams of brawny Cabernet, yet the tannins are silky. This is really a mouthful of mineral and tobacco and is still fairly closed. With time this does show more and more sweet fruit and a juicy palate as it finally opens. The finish is dusty, earthy and grippy showing lots of graphite. This is clearly still pretty closed, and even with four hours of air and a big steak, this needs more time to unfold.

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• 1989 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Wow, of 5 bottles, this is clearly one of the best Pichon Lalande 1989's I have had. The cork was nearly pristine. Upon first opening the nose shows loads of spicy cedar, tobacco, and bright, red fruit. The mouthfeel is like pure silk, so smooth and polished, dripping with tobacco and black notes. The finish spreads out with leather and earth and impressive length. This is probably not as fine a wine as the 1989 Pichon Baron, yet for current consumption it currently yields far more pleasure. Mmm, this is in such a great place right now!

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Finally we finished up with some dried figs, Spanish almonds and date-nut bread with a lovely German dessert wine.

• 1989 Freiherr Langwerth von Simmern Hattenheimer Nußbrunnen Riesling Auslese 91 Points

  Germany, Rheingau

  AP# 33045 022 90. Deep, gold color. The aromatics are stunning with huge and complex note of honeyed diesel. However, the palate is far less giving and mainly shows bright, lean acid. Mmm, with some air this is filling out and shows more promise, but it is still somewhat lean for what it it.

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