Trip to Germany: to the Harz area and then Berlin, not for wine-tasting as such, but some were sampled during convivial evenings (see).

2002 Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Spätlese, Dr. Fischer, M-S-R

Sweetness at the boundary of Kabinett and Spätlese, bracing acidity, and some of the Saar steeliness makes it a very appealing wine. Moderate intensity and length, nice riesling aroma and taste. This is the Dr. Fischer that I recall from the past. Close-out price $11, regular price $16.
Rating: Very Good -

2001 Peregrine Pinot Noir, Central Otago, New Zealand

Warm blackberry/cherry fruit, but with a bit of structure and some depth. Nice intensity and fairly long taste. Not as aromatic as a California nor as firm as a burgundy, but no fruit bomb either. A very enjoyable wine from a premier PN region in New Zealand, Central Otago. Close-out price $17, regular price $24.
Rating: Very Good -

2002 Rully 1er Cru "La Pucelle", Vincent Girardin, France

Golden color, classic burgundy balance with perhaps just a trace of residual sugar. Flavorful, with good intensity and length. Close-out price $17, regular price $24.
Rating: Very Good -

2004 Saintsbury Vin Gris of Pinot Noir, Carneros

Light pinkish color, dry with a bit of firmness, good acidity, but not much pinot noir aroma or taste. Good with grilled sausages. Close-out price $8, regular price $11.
Rating: Good

2004 Sancerre, Hippolyte Revérdy, France

Textbook old-style Sancerre: refreshingly acidic and uncomplicated. Lighter than medium-bodied, very dry, moderate intensity and length. The taste may show the gooseberries that wine writers so often associate with NZ SBs, but without any grassiness. Close-out price $13, regular price $18.
Rating: Good +

2003 Wild Horse Pinot Noir, Central Coast

Good plum-like fruit, with noticeable tannin and a touch of wood, dry. Nice PN aroma, medium-bodied, fairly dark color. Moderately long taste. Close-out price for a half-bottle $8, regular price $12.
Rating: Good ++

1999 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir, Freedom Hill Vineyard, Willamette Valley, Oregon

A single-vineyard PN that's well-vinified: ample cherry/raspberry fruit has a touch of tannin and just enough wood for structure and balance. Moderate perfume in the aroma, dark red color, it's French-style with a touch of California. The taste is fairly long and offers some complexity. Close-out price $29, regular price $40.
Rating: Very Good

2002 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett, Selbach-Oster, M-S-R

Light golden color and Kabinett sweetness. Appears a bit low on acidity and intensity, resembling the Niersteiner Hipping (just below) but without its depth and flavor. The taste is moderately long, with good riesling aroma. Close-out price $13, regular price $20.
Rating: Good +

2001 Niersteiner Hipping Riesling Spätlese, Franz Karl Schmitt, Rheinhessen

Golden color and Spätlese sweetness. Characteristic of a Rheinhessen riesling, the acidity is somewhat low, and there is a complex spiciness to the taste, with hints of honeyed apricot. Lovely riesling aroma and taste, although the latter is not too long. Close-out price $9, regular price $14.
Rating: Good ++

2001 Meursault, Faiveley, France

Wonderful balance of fruit, acidity and wood, dry, with depth and complexity, as well as a buttery component. Deep golden color indicates that it's probably at its peak. Long taste. Close-out price $25, regular price $45.
Rating: Excellent

But see notes of March 2006 (just two months ago) for an impression of a totally different wine! Bottle variation??

2000 Château Recougne, Bordeaux Supérieur, France

Sufficient sour-cherry fruit, good acidity, some hard tannin and noticeable wood. Not much aroma, moderate intensity and length, no particular complexity. Not flawed, but basically a charmless wine. Price unknown.
Rating: Good

Red-tag close-out sales this month:

Whites:

2001	Meursault, Faiveley, France	($25, orig. $45)
2001	Pernand-Vergelesses, Domaine Marius Delarche, France	($18, orig. $30)
2002	Rully 1er Cru, La Pucelle, Vincent Girardin, France	($17, orig. $24)
2004	Sancerre, Hippolyte Revérdy, France	($13, orig. $18)
2001	Niersteiner Hipping Spätlese, Franz Karl Schmitt, Rheinhessen	($9, orig. $14)
2002	Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Spätlese, Dr. Fischer, M-S-R	($11, orig. $16)
2002	Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Spätlese, St. Urbans-Hof, M-S-R	($17, orig. $24)
2004	Pinot Grigio, Alois Lageder, Vigneti delle Dolomiti, Italy	($10, orig. $15)
2003	Pinot Grigio, Plozner, Friuli, Italy	($11, orig. $16)
2003	Hogue Fumé Blanc, Columbia Valley	($6, orig. $9)
2002	Rutherford Ranch Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley	($9, orig. $12)

Reds:

2001	Gloria Ferrer Pinot Noir, Carneros	($15, orig. $20)
2003	Wild Horse Pinot Noir, Central Coast [Half-bottle]	($8, orig. $12)
2002	Wild Horse Pinot Noir, Central Coast	($17, orig. $25)
2001	Peregrine Pinot Noir, Central Otago, New Zealand	($17, orig. $24)
2001	d'Arenberg Pinot Noir, The Feral Fox, Adelaide Hills, Australia	($19, orig. $??)
2000	Gevrey-Chambertin, Faiveley, France	($23, orig. $33)
2001	Chianti Classico Riserva, Lilliano, Ruspoli, Italy	($19, orig. $27)
2004	Saintsbury Vin Gris of Pinot Noir, Carneros	($8, orig. $11)