70 Mouton

Dinner at Molino de Urdániz in Taipei.

2019 Gramona Imperial, disgorged June 2025 - this was kinda bland, to be honest. It was easy drinking but not particularly interesting.

1970 Mouton-Rothschild - decanted 10 minutes after opening, and served after 30 minutes in decanter. This was still fragrant and really woodsy, and still got cassis and black fruits. About an hour after opening we got some coffee, and after an hour and a half lots of tobacco smoke came, which was just classic Pauillac. So soft on the palate now at this age, and this bottle drank better than the last 2 or 3 I've opened.

Bought from Sotheby's for HKD 3,075.

Full post on dinner is here.

Palacios and Cañas

Dinner at Leela.

2023 Alvaro Palacios Camins del Priorat - very ripe and very oaky, with forest and potpourri notes.

2018 Luis Cañas Rioja Reserva - the nose was a little sharp at first, and riper, more intense. Later on the wine got softer on the palate.

Full post on dinner is here.

Sake, rum, and Matacuy

Dinner at MONO for their Unplugged XIV, a collaboration to MAZ Tokyo.

Miolo Cuvée Tradition Brut - this is always easy to drink, with light acidity on the palate.

Kokuryu Daiginjo Ryu (黒龍 大吟醸 龍), 2024 - such a classic, with lovely, sweet and starchy rice on the nose, a little sharp with acetone and alcohol, and showing slightly fermented notes. Lovely.

2021 Jean Leon Nativa Xarel・lo - very ripe on the nose but very light on the palate.

Mater Iniciativa O Tuber - made of oxalis tuberosa or oca. This actually tasted like white wine to me. The alcohol level was not high. Slightly grippy on the palate with a short finish. Not very complex. Not particularly delicious on its own, but very interesting nevertheless.

2022 Lucien Muzard Santenay 1er Cru Beauregard - nice and oaky on the nose with plenty of coconut butter. Red currants. Rich and interesting, and a bit smoky.

2019 Zuccardi Malbec Concreto - ripe fruit and smoke on the nose. Got the concentration on the palate, but a little chalky. Not great.

Montelobos Mezcal Espadín - very classic. Got that medicinal flavor but still a little sweet on the palate and also on the finish.

Santa Teresa 1796 - so fragrant, with lovely vanilla notes and a long finish.

Distinería Andina Matacuy - really fragrant and herbal. Almost reminds of chartreuse.

Full post on dinner is here.

Riesling and Rhone

Lunch at Luk Yu Tea House.

2021 Rappenhof Riesling E² - a little flinty on the nose with some lemon. Good acidity on the palate.

2004 Pax Venus - nose was very much oxidized but others felt it was simply natural aging. Notes of pineapple, Chinese angelica, and a little metallic rust.

2014 Gramona Corpinnat III Lustros, disgorged July 2022 - really nice on the palate and nicely balanced. A little acidity here but very smooth, without being too sweet or ripe.

2019 Château-Grillet Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc - the nose was very fragrant and floral, with stone fruits and some flint.

2022 Ogier Condrieu La Combe de Malleval - the nose was really floral and fragrant, with tropical fruits.

2016 Gangloff Condrieu - very alcoholic on the nose with notes of acetone.

1990 Maximin Grünhäuser Herrenberg Kabinett - this was really nice, with plenty of lemon and polyurethane on the nose. Good acidity on the palate, almost bordering on being sharp, with a very long finish. The wine was much more viscous on the palate than expected, and just drinking beautifully.

Bought from Mayfair as part of a mixed lot for HKD 316.

2018 Keller Westhofen Kirchspiel Riesling Großes Gewächs - very big nose of polyurethane. Good amount of acidity on the palate.

2020 Ogier Syrah La Rosine - drunk much too young. Notes of blueberries as well as metallic nose.

2011 Ogier Côte-Rôtie Lancement - this was pretty elegant, very smooth on the palate, with notes of leather on the nose.

Full post on lunch is here.

Wine pairing at Jungsik

Dinner at Jungsik in Seoul.

Le Brun de Neuville Double Autolyse, dégorgée en Février 2021 - good complexity here.

Guccione 1920 - a blend of 2019 and 2020. Nose was pretty fragrant with notes of apricot and peach, as well as honey. Very ripe on the nose and kinda ripe on the palate, too.

2019 Els Jelipins Vi de Taula Rosat - a little sulfuric on the nose. Savory, toasty, and definitely bongwater.

2019 Serene Chardonnay Evenstad Reserve - this was really oaky and buttery, with vanilla and flinty notes.

2016 Luis Cañas Gran Reserva - nose came with lots of vanilla and coconut butter, really sweet fruit.

Full post on dinner is here.

Dofi and La Rogerie

Dinner at Hotpot San.

La Rogerie Lieux de Vie N° 02, dégorgée en janvier 2023 - nose was perhaps a little floral. Decent depth on the palate.

2009 Finca Dofi, from magnum - lots of vanilla and coconut on the nose. Very ripe and sweet. Reasonably smooth now.

2019 Weinbach Riesling Cuvée Théo - slightly sweet on the palate. Pretty floral on the nose.

Whites with Spanish

Dinner at Molino de Urdániz in Taipei.

2019 S.A. Prüm Riesling Blue Trocken - pretty standard flavors with classic petrol on the nose.

2019 Jean Leon 3055 Chardonnay - Ok la...

Full post on dinner is here.

98 Clos Erasmus

Drinking at home.

1998 Clos Erasmus - drank 45 minutes after decanting. Definitely woodsy, a little smoked meats, potpourri, plum, reasonably fragrant. Plenty of acidity.

1998 Clos Erasmus

Drinking at home.

1998 Clos Erasmus - pretty ripe on the nose with stewed prunes. Acidity was on the high side but tannins were still present on the palate. Nose was very fragrant with lovely spices and woodsy notes. Still very tannic even after decanting for 1½ hours.

Lucia and Les Terrasses

Drinking at a friend's home.

2009 Lucia, en magnum - served too warm, and seemed a little flat.

2005 Alvaro Palacios Les Terrasses, from magnum - served too warm, but tannins obviously still there.  Also more exotic spices in the nose.

1998 Clos Erasmus

Drinking at home.

1998 Clos Erasmus - still concentrated, with notes of grilled meats and good, ripe fruit.  Slightly ripe and sweet on the palate.

2005 Palacios Terrasses

Dinner at Celestial Court.

2005 Alvaro Palacios Les Terrasses, from magnum - minty, fragrant, grilled meats, sweet fruit, cigar smoke.  Kinda alcoholic on the nose and burns going down the back of my throat.

Full post on dinner is here.