Well, this is a first. Two posts in one night. But I just noticed my previous post on the 91 Chave Hermitage. Tried another a few nights ago with a few not-so-great lamb chops. But the wine was a vast improvement over the previous bottle. Much better balance, just a touch of VA, still earthy with a little of the animal fur thing but much more nuanced and very enjoyable.

I have a few more bottles of this stuff and I'll never know what to expect when I open one. Ah, the mysteries of wine. Frankly, this is one of the mysteries I could live without.

Yeegads! Time flies, doesn't it? My other blog's a time hog. Lame excuse, but it's really the truth.

OK, I need to post on the double mini-vertical tasting I hosted last night (well, Thursday night . . . it's still Friday somewhere). But my writing skills are hampered right now by the lateness of the hour and, yeah, a touch too much alcohol. We cracked a 94 San Vincente Rioja tonight, among other things. Last time I tried it, it was all overblown American oak and no fruit. Well, the fruit woke up and the oak toned down and it's quite a nice drink at the moment. Especially with a nicely grilled rabbit marinated in dijon mustard and fresh rosemary. It went well with the eggplant (also grilled), too.

Mini-vert: four "off" vintages of Anderson's Conn Valley Cab (dyn-o-mite!) and four "on" vintages of Ruffino Chianti Classico Gold Label (I'll post notes -- soon).