Notes from yet another lazy Sunday afternoon spent with some friends. Both wines were served blind.
Wine #1 - Slight prune. There's a bit of age showing here. At least mid-90s. Color has a brownish tinge and not too deep. There's still some good fruit but the wine is generally dry with some dried fruit character. The finish is long but slightly bitter. This is just past it's peak and seems to be losing fruit. I guessed Old World. Possibly Spanish. Certainly not Cabernet or Italian. Not enough acid for that. Maybe a Bordeaux blend but I leaned towards Spanish. This was La Dominique 1990, St. Emilion Grand Cru Classe. At least I got the Old World right. Good but I would have liked this a little younger.
Wine #2 - Deep color. Strong coffee, earth, rubber, sulfur. Very slight rootbeer. A very subtle New World wine? California? Baking spices, dry, well-balanced. Dried herbs and smoke. A bit hollow. Still a bit of tannin in this. Needs time. After an hour or so, showing much better. My guess California Cabernet. This was Lagrange 2000. At least I got the Cabernet right. Initially, not too impressive but very good after an hour of air.