2025 Murgo

Dinner at Ninetta.

2025 Murgo Etna Bianco - really flinty on the nose, with lots of peaches along with vanilla oak. Acidity on the palate was quite high for the first sip, which was what I wanted out of this wine.

Full post on dinner is here.

SQN and Pietradolce

Dinner at Estro.

2023 Pietradolce Archineri - the nose was very fragrant and tropical, showing stone fruits along with floral and flinty notes. The crisp acidity shone through.

2016 Sine Qua Non Deux Grenouilles - 36% roussanne, 29% chardonnay, 23% viognier, 9% petit manseng, 3% marsanne. Started drinking around 15 minutes after opening. Nose of apricot, a hint of honey, definitely very ripe, oxidized, and alcoholic. Showing notes like Chinese licorice, and almost reminds me of Chartreuse.

Bought from the winery for USD 137.

Full post on dinner is here.

Pax and Calcogno

Dinner at Seventh Son.

2003 Pax Syrah Castelli-Knight Ranch - served right after decanting. Floral, smoky, nice and fruity, even two hours later.

2020 Calcogno Ginestra - high acidity on the palate. Flinty and oaky on the nose, and not bad after it opened up.

Full post on dinner is here.

Italian and French

Dinner at Estro.

Chartogne-Taillet Les Couarres, dégorgée septembre 2020 - lots of heady mousse. Acidity was clearly higher because of the low dosage.

2017 Benanti Pietra Marina - pretty aromatic. Some acidity here on the palate.

2017 Charles Van Canneyt Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers - pretty nice fruit like black cherries. Pretty nice and surprisingly accessible.

2007 Gaja Sorì San Lorenzo - nice herbs, smoke, leather, and some plums.

Full post on dinner is here.

Sul Vulcano Bianco

Drinking at home.

2019 Donnafugata Sul Vulcano Bianco - nose was pretty floral and perfumed, with some flint and mineral. Some ripeness here but still got good acidity on the palate. Later on the nose became ripe and alcoholic.

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.