Sake and Italians

Dinner at DEN in Tokyo.

Ca' del Bosco Franciacorta Cuvée Prestige 46a Edizione - decent acidity on the palate. Pretty nice.

Houou Biden Black Phoenix Junmai Ginjoshu Muroka Honnama (鳳凰美田 純米吟醸酒 無濾過本生), 2024, from isshobin - very lovely fragrance, showing sweet rice lees on the nose.

2020 Sturm Andritz Bianco - the sauvignon blanc really shows through, with a little flint on the nose. Good acidity on the palate but not too lean or sharp.

Sara Usukiri Junmai Ginjo Muroka Genshu (彩來 うす霧 純米吟釀 無ろ過原酒), from isshobin - definitely fruity and sweet on the palate. Pretty soft and round on the palate, too.

Tedorigawa Junmai Daiginjo Muroka Genshu Hakusan Yamada Nishiki (手取川 純米大吟醸 無濾過原酒 白山市産山田錦) - nose of melon. Very clean on the palate, with a nice balance between sweet and dry.

Full post on dinner is here.

Schiopetto and Moulin de Gassac

Dinner at Amber.

2013 Schiopetto Collio Friulano - much riper and sweeter on the palate than expected, very rounded, but perhaps a little overripe.  Some minerality here.

2017 Moulin de Gassac Syrah - lots of dried herbs and potpourri, eucalyptus.  A little bitter on the palate.

Full post on dinner is here.

Wines at Gaggan x Den

Four hands dinner with Gaggan Anand and Hasegawa Zaiyu at Gaggan in Bangkok.

Eikun Murasaki no Eikun Junmai Ginjo Muroka Namagenshu (英君 紫の英君 純米吟醸 無濾過生原酒) - seimaibuai (精米歩合) of 50%.  Sweet on the attack but dry mid-palate, and surprisingly dry and spicy on the finish.

Primosic Ribolla de Oslavia Riserva, vintage unknown - nose was oxidated and came with very familiar flavors.

2014 Lapierre Morgon - nose seemed a little stewed prunes?  Nice with just enough acidity here.

2015 Occhipinti SP68 Bianco - oxidized nose with acetone notes, a little dry on the palate, not really sweet.

2012 Albert Mann Pinot Gris Hengst - off dry, with nice ripeness on the palate and a slightly bitter finish.  Good length.

Château Jolys Cuvée Jean, vintage unknown - sweeter on the palate with deeper flavors, more marmalade, and slightly bitter.

Full post on dinner is here.