2018 Les Clans

Drinking at home.

2018 Château d'Esclans Les Clans - pretty flinty and tropical stone fruit, like candy, but like on the palate. A little bitter on the palate when warmer.

2019 Rock Angel

Drinking at home.

2019 Caves d'Esclans Rock Angel - a little flinty with some red fruits.

Rock Angel and Clos Badon

Dinner at home.

2019 Caves d'Esclans Rock Angel - a little flinty with some red fruits. Meh.

2000 Clos Badon - drank 30 minutes after decanting. Nose of animal, leather, a little bretty, smoky, not a lot of fruit, a little more savory mineral. Around 1½ hours after decanting this was minty and more open.

Yattarna and d'Esclans

Lunch at Sushi Saito.

2015 Penfolds Yattarna - nice and toasty, flinty, really beautiful nose. A little ripe on the palate but the finish was a little flinty.

Full post on lunch is here.

Drinking at home.

2018 Château d'Esclans - red fruits, more fruity, more sweet on the nose, and a little flint. Slightly better on the palate than Rock Angel.

Krug and rosé

Drinking at home.

2019 Caves d'Esclans Rock Angel - a little flinty on the nose, some red fruits. Boring on the palate with a short finish.

Krug Grande Cuvée - very oxidized, caramelized, sugar cane, savory Chinese salted plum. Beautiful.

2020 By.Ott

Drinking at home.

2015 Puchang Cabernet Sauvignon - corked. Too grassy.

2020 Domaines Ott Côtes de Provence By.Ott - really fragrant, perfumed, so floral, with peaches. Lovely. 

2020 Whispering Angel

Drinking at home.

2020 Caves d'Esclans Whispering Angel - strawberries, tropical stone fruits, flinty.

2017 Le Caprice de Clémentine

Drinks at The Continental.

2017 Les Valentines Le Caprice de Clémentine Rosé - nice and fruity, red fruits, a hint of flintiness, and reductive nose.

Pouilly-Fuissé and more

Lunch at Quai des Artistes in Monte-Carlo.

2017 Pascal Renaud Pouilly-Fuissé - flinty, tropical stone fruit, bright and refreshing.

Dinner at a friend's house.

2017 de Berne Grande Recolte Blanc - tropical stone fruit, light-bodied nice summer white.

2016 Léo de la Gaffelière - ripe and sweet.

Full post on the day is here.

Louis Roederer dinner

Dinner at Golden Leaf.  Michel Janneau, Executive Vice President of Champagne Louis Roederer, presided over dinner.

Louis Roederer Brut Premier - the first whiff was very yeasty, to the point I thought I was drinking bread!  Mineral, flint, toasty oak and a little sweet on the nose.  Turned very acidic together with the vegetable roll in my mouth.

2004 Louis Roederer Blanc de Blancs - very acidic on the nose, with minerals and toast.  Surprisingly not that acidic on the palate, and very drinkable.  Made from the "leftover" Chardonnay after deciding the blend for Cristal...

2004 Louis Roederer Cristal - Michel talked a little about the history behind this famed cuvée, and elaborated on the origin of the shape and appearance of the bottle.  It's always been one of my favorite Champagnes, and the bottle of 1990 I drank last month blew me away.  The current vintage showed toast, minerals, was a little sweet and caramelized.  Actually this was very well-balanced on the palate, and I was pretty surprised to find that in a wine this young.  This was the wine of the evening for the Specialist.

1997 Louis Roederer Cristal - this may not be the best vintage around, but I have a soft spot for older Champagnes...  The age difference is obvious and I just loved that caramelized nose, with prominent notes of sugar cane, straw and a bit of citrus.

2000 Pichon Lalande - purchased in 2006 by Champagne Louis Roederer from the iconic Madame de Lencquesaing.  The Specialist and I were very surprised to see Sylvie Cazes manning the Pichon table at the UGC 2008 tasting a couple of months ago, and even more surprised to see her handing out her new business card.  I was curious enough to ask Michel regarding how they came about recruiting her, and Michel very kindly shed some light on the backdrop.  Very interesting indeed.  The nose was very alcoholic, with lots of oak, a little sweet, coconut and smoke.  Very hot and spicy on the palate.  Actually I was a little disappointed as I found the palate a little flat afterwards.  After spending more time in the glass, the wine died horribly and tasted like bleach.

2009 Domaine Ott Rosé Cœur de Grain Château de Selle - I have always liked the wines from Domaine Ott, and this was an easy-drinking wine.  Loads of floral notes, with white flowers, a hint of toast, a little white pepper.  Slightly bitter finish.  Michel, ever the ladies' man, charmed the Specialist by quoting her remarks ("I feel like I walked into a garden") in front of the entire room.

2006 Louis Roederer Brut Rosé - nice, lovely mousse with lots of red fruits.

1982 Ramos-Pinto Port - very nutty, a little sharp, a bit herbal, sweet, exotic Asian spices, a little mineral and savory on the nose.

Full post on dinner is here.

2009 Whispering Angel

2009 Château d'Esclans Whispering Angel - drank a glass at Azure.  Floral, flinty, with a hint of tartness and bitter on the finish.  Very light.