TNs: Charles Ellner Brut, Hanzell chard, Grivot NSG, Kosta Browne, Heitz cab

[Blake Brown]

A recent quality dinner out with good friends included these wines:

1999 CHARLES ELLNER BRUT PRESTIGE- 60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir; when the sommelier poured a taste for me, I did the usual nose and then taste for approval, but since the pour was more than a taste, I took more of a gulp; mistake; this is sipping bubbly; it`s a mouthful of robust flavors including honeyed orange, lemon, peach and red cherry delivered in a creamy palate coating medium; great acidity, complexity and length; I SIPPED with delight thereafter.

2007 HANZELL CHARDONNAY SONOMA VALLEY- 14.3% alc; I`ve had and enjoyed many fine Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from this producer in the 70s and 80s, but little since; this is a treat; the nose has some vanilla, butter and light toasty notes followed by some citrus, nectarine and apple with a palate pleasing smooth texture and long finish; good acidity.

2005 DOMAINE JEAN GRIVOT LES CHARMOIS NUITS-SAINT-GEORGES- this bottle was muted and understated and compared to others I`ve had in the past year, it suggests a major bottle variation; there some nice fruit in the mid palate, but the nose is of slight mushroom and earth and the finish is somewhat abrupt and dry; this may have been better decanted.

2008 KOSTA BROWNE KOPLEN VINEYARD RRV PINOT NOIR- this seemed to discombobulated and disjointed and never did come together; a previous bottle was much more enjoyable, but this one may have been in the funk zone awaiting another opening stage; no question it`s big in every way and offers lots of spicy black cherry/ berry flavors with a complexity and depth that suggests this will be a winner down the road, probably 8-10 years; the 14.8% alc. seemed to be on the low end.

2004 HEITZ CABERNET SAUVIGNON- [reg. bottling]; when I first glanced at the label, I was hoping it was from Martha`s, but when I recognized it wasn`t, I doubted the experience; to my surprise and delight, it was wonderful; really nicely balanced with full on chocolate, black currant and cherry and easy on the palate; worthy of a 2nd pour.

Cheers

[Jeff Leve]

It's nice to see a note on young vintage of Heitz. I stopped buying them after the 1985 vintage, so it's good to see what they are doing these days.

[Blake Brown]

It's nice to see a note on young vintage of Heitz. I stopped buying them after the 1985 vintage, so it's good to see what they are doing these days.

Jeff, I agree. It was refreshing to re-visit a producer I have not experienced for many years that I reverend in the past.