Tasting Notes: Last Night's Party

[Hal]

Went to a friend's birthday party last night. Not particularly a wine crowd, but there are always one or two. It's interesting to see
what shows up in peoples' hands. It wasn't a big bash, so there wasn't a lot to taste.

1997 Il Valore Chiant Classico Riserva
I guess you can't go wrong with a '97 Tuscan. This one was quite oaky on the nose, and appropriately tannic on the tongue. Modest
with the fruit. This wine would have gone better with a meal than in the party environment.

1999 Talus California Cabernet Sauvignon
I guess this is sort of a jug wine. Despite the overly oak nose and palate, there was very little tannin, and although it was smooth on
the palate, there was little in the way of any fruit flavor.

1999 Mommesin Oak Aged Pinot Noir Bourgogne 'Eleve en Fute de Chene'
Pleasantly light bodied, a hint of barnyard on the nose, not much else to this wine. The guy who
brought this bottle was Brett. I kid you not.

1995 Tenuta Chianti Classico Riserva Borgo Scarpeto Bindella
Here's a pretty big wine. The oak surprised me but it was well balanced with the acidity. Distinctively drying tannins. This one too
would be great with a meal. It had good backbone, but little fruit to think it might last in the cellar.

2000 San Guiseppe Veneti Merlot
Hmmmm. This one stumped me. Light body, not much fruit, a little off flavor, like something almost sour. I think wine is no bargain even though it probably came cheap.

1996 Domaine de la Cour D'ardennay Anjou Village
This was the pleasant surprise. Fruity nose, light body, mild berry flavors with a little complexity. Very drinkable and a good choice
(IMO) for a light party wine.

Later in the evening someone brought a generic 2000 Bordeaux (appellation Bordeaux). I was a bit wasted by then and wasn't
impressed, so I let the name go. The people were all great, the food was nice and the conversation was about Brooklyn real estate.

[Innkeeper]

Chianti, with a few recent cabernet laden exceptions, always goes better with food.