Muted Cali

Dinner at Hong Kong Cuisine 1983.

2022 Sine Qua Non Distenta IV White - 32.0% Roussanne, 30.0% Gelber Muskateller, 15.0% Chardonnay, 13.0% Petit Manseng and 10.0% Viognier. The nose was really ripe and sweet, with tons of lychees and very floral. Also really ripe on the palate, too. Showed some acetone notes, and about an hour after opening the nose also brought some vanilla and almond notes. Incredibly aromatic wine, but I wasn't expecting this level of ripeness so young.

Bought from the winery for USD 142 plus shipping.

2004 Kistler Pinot Noir Bodega Headlands Vineyard Cuvée Elizabeth - incredibly disappointing bottle. First problem was that the restaurant staff poured the entire bottle into the decanter - including all the sediment. Well... that pretty much fucking defeats the whole point of decanting a 20-year-old bottle! The wine also was pretty muted on the nose. Yes, there were notes of plum and leather, but it was not singing as I expected it would. There was a little more wood coming out after about an hour, but the wine remained disappointing.

Bought from the winery for USD 90 plus tax and shipping.

1993 Colgin Herb Lamb Vineyard - decanted about 2 hours after opening, and started drinking after 1½ hours in the decanter. Nose was showing mint, some smoke, and some black fruits. Pretty smooth on palate after more than 30 years, with a good acidity balance. After half an hour this was showing more fragrant, woodsy notes, then the nose turned a little savory and started to veer off course with a hint of brett. Nice, but I had hoped for better.

1998 Dominus - started drinking after 2 hours in the decanter. There was a hint of dust to start, with a bit of smoke, and pencil lead. Yes, there were still cassis and plum on the nose, but the style is surely not the typical Napa cab... but showing cooler fruit instead.

Full post on dinner is here.