Cali and white Burg

Drinks at a friend's home.

2009 Ramonet Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Champs Canet - reasonably ripe, some flinty minerals, toasty but not explosive. Pretty fragrant about 30 minutes after openng.

2003 Kistler Pinot Noir Cuvée Catherine - drank 1 hour after decanting. Very, very fragrant and elegant, with notes of sweet cherries. Tannins were now silky but the wine still had body and wasn't light by any means. After 2½ hours in the decanter the wine was still very nice and fragrant, but now had some toasty notes along with some leather.

1996 Shafer Hillside Select - drank 1½ hours after decanting. Pretty open and fragrant, smoky, with some green pepper, grilled meats, graphite, and also sweet fruit. Soft tannins. Really nice after 2 hours in the decanter, with a little savory minerals, and very complex now. Really opened up after 2½ hours in the decanter and much more oaky.