Mix bag of not-so-cheap

Dinner at a private dining facility.

2004 Krug, ID 214041 - drinking very nicely, with good maturity now and also good acidity balance.

Laherte Rosé de Meunier, dégorgée Juillet 2021 - so easy to drink, so smooth. Love the vibrant red fruits.

2001 Kracher Scheurebe Trockenbeerenauslese No. 9 Zwischen den Seen, from half-bottle - really viscous, grapey and raisins. So rich and unctuous. Like honey and dates.

Henri Guiraud PR90-18, dégorgée 14 Janvier 2022 - decent acidity balance here.

2018 Rougeot Bourgogne Blanc Clos des Six Ouvrées - decent acidity but there is also ripeness. Lots of vanilla oak on the nose.

2018 Domaine du Bel-Air Bourgueil "Grand-Mont" - nose of animal and leather. Nice and oaky.

Full post on dinner is here.

Kracher and Extra Old Veuve

Drinks at a friend's home.

1999 Alois Kracher Nummer 10 Welschriesling Trockenbeerenauslese Nouvelle Vague, from half bottle - very, very sweet, with honey, orange blossom, medjool dates. Sooo unctuous, sooo viscous. Lovely but wondering whether it was too simple on the finish. After more aeration the complexity improved.

Dinner at Raw Bar No. 8.

Veuve Clicquot Extra Brut Extra Old, dégorgée fevrier 2021 - slightly dry but not too bad. Some ripeness here when it warmed up. With more air this got a little grippy, and got a little bitter on the finish.

Champagne and Burg

Dinner at Wing.

Pierre Baillette Le Village Premier Cru, dégorgée en novembre 2020 - very moussy, toasty, and a little caramelized. Compliments of the chef.

2002 Egly-Ouriet, dégorgée en mai 2013 - toasty, caramelized with a little sugar cane on the nose. Good acidity and lovely on the palate.

2014 William Fevre Chablis Les Clos, en magnum - definitely on the lean side as expected, and worked well with the dishes.

2017 J. Cacheux Vosne-Romanée Les Genaivrières - lovely and floral nose with leather, animal notes. Beautiful with plenty of toast, and some eucalyptus. I was surprised that such a young wine was drinking so well. Compliments of the chef.

2001 Kracher Scheurebe Trockenbeerenauslese No. 9 Zwischen den Seen, from half-bottle - classic honey, raisins, marmalade, and medjool dates. Rich and unctuous.

Full post on dinner is here.

Umeshu and more

Dinner at Tatler Dining Kitchen for the UZA by Nikushou pop-up.

Homamade umeshu highball - made with Nikushou's house umeshu.  Rich and intense plum flavors.

2018 Planeta Carricante Eruzione 1614 - a little ripeness on the palate, and flinty.

Tsubo Hassen Junmai Daiginjo (壷八仙  純米大吟醸) - seimaibuai (精米歩合) of 50%.  HUGE nose of bananas, sweet and soft on the palate.

2017 Kracher Beerenauslese Cuvée - not as sweet as expected, kinda mild. Nose of pollen.

Takashimizu Kaonjukusei Gedatsushu Junmai Ginjo (高清水  加温熟成解脱酒) - seimaibuai of 50%. Sake meter value of -30. Oxidized nose but not over the line. Lighter on the palate.

Full post on dinner is here.

2000 Bahans and more

Drinking at home.

1996 Moët et Chandon Cuvée Dom Pérignon - nice and a little floral, a little cotton candy.  Mellow, rounded, nice ripeness but not too much.  Very elegant and easy to drink.  More toasty with caramel notes 30 minutes later, with more depth on the palate.

2006 Cloudy Bay Te Koko - still flinty on the nose, not too ripe and caramelized, but finish was kinda short.

2000 Bahans Haut-Brion, en magnum - decanted 1 hour and 15 minutes prior to serving.  A little corked perhaps, definitely bretty, very chalky and dusty with the first pour.  Pretty savory but OK on the palate.  Three hours after decanting, the bretty notes kinda faded and graphite showed up.  Much better after extended aeration.

2001 Kracher Scheurebe Trockenbeerenauslese No. 9 Zwischen den Seen, from half-bottle - really ripe, honey, concentrated grape nectar, marmalade.  This seemed a little one-dimensional tonight.

Calon Segur, Kistler, and more

Drinking at home.

2014 Gut Oggau Joschuari - lots of forest, potpourri, a little pungent, mineral.

Drinking at a friend's home.

2003 Calon Segur, en magnum - lots of vanilla, smoky, sweetish on the palate.  Really fragrant.  Awesome tasted together with Saint-Marcellin.

2003 Kistler Pinot Noir Kistler Vineyard - a little rubbery on the nose, with leather and black cherry notes.

Wines for Goh

Dinner at Neighborhood.

2007 Mugnier Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Clos de la Maréchale, en magnum - cool fruit, a little on the lean side.

1990 von Schubert Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Riesling Spätlese - very ripe and mature but still fresh, with good acidity.  Sweetish on the palate, and a little round and almost viscous.

2012 Olivier Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières, en magnum - nice and toasty, with mineral notes.  Some ripeness on the palate.

2014 Jean-François Ganevat Grusse en Billat - beautiful wine, with mineral and pear notes.  Good acidity here.

2001 Kracher Scheurebe Trockenbeerenauslese No. 9 Zwischen den Seen, from half-bottle - fragrant with honey, orange blossom, and marmalade notes.  Very rich and sweet, but there's some acidity here.

Full post on dinner is here.

94 DRC Echzeaux and friends

Dinner at Xin Rong Ji.

Henri Guiraud Fût de Chêne MV10, dégorgée le 18 Novembre 2016 - yeasty, ripe, somewhat floral.  Nice.

Jacques Selosse Rosé, dégorgée le 11 Mai 2010 - very ripe and more oxidized as expected, yeasty.  Good depth on the palate and long finish.

2014 Josmeyer Fleur de Lotus - very floral and tropical nose with sweet lychee, elegant on the nose.  But a little hot on the palate, and also overripe with a slight bitter finish.

2010 Hospices de Beaune Corton-Vergennes Cuvée Paul Chanson elevé et mis en bouteille par Lucien Le Moine pour El Bulli - tons of toasty oak with mineral notes.  Drinking beautifully.

1990 von Schubert Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Riesling Spätlese - unfortunately the first bottle I brought was very slightly corked, but tasted OK on the palate if too oxidized.  Thankfully the second bottle was very fresh and youthful, especially considering that it had been aerated for 2 hours prior to serving.  Showed lemon and polyurethane notes.  Beautiful and smooth.

1994 DRC Echezeaux - two bottles courtesy of the restaurant owner.  Aerated more than 1 hour prior to serving.  Still some sweet fruit in the nose, with a whiff of floral notes.  Pretty dry and somewhat grippy.  OK considering the vintage.

2005 Marchesi di Barolo Barolo Cannubi - exotic herbs and sharp alcohol in the nose.  A little rich, and very tannic.

2005 Paolo Scavino Barolo Cannubi - aromatic and much more elegant compared to the Marchesi di Barolo.  Also softer and less tannic.

2000 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion, en magnum - aerated for more than 2½ hours prior to serving.  Very nice with smoky notes.  Smooth on the palate.  Classic claret.

2014 Gut Oggau Joshuari - minty, peppery, pimenton, pine needle notes.  Showing cool fruit.  Reminds of Loire reds like Chinon but also a little of Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage.

Full post on dinner is here.