Pélican and friends

Dinner at Fumée in Shenzhen.

Christophe Mignon ADN de Meunier Brut Nature, dégorgée le 20 Mai 2020 - initially this was served much too cold, a common mistake, so there wasn't much showing on the nose except for a little minerals. Got a little better once it warmed up with a little more depth on the palate.

2018 Domaine du Pélican Arbois Grand Curoulet Chardonnay - really big toast on the nose. Also got some notes of coffee. This was soooo nice, so fragrant and beautiful.

2022 Mamaruta Constellations - definitely smelling like bongwater, a little reductive, definitely kinda savory. Later on the toasty notes come out but also kinda like German weißbier on the nose.

2017 Pieropan Recioto di Soave Classico Le Colombare - notes of marmalade, and a little bitter on the palate.

Full post on dinner is here.

French, Italian, and Taiwanese

Dinner at Maoyuan Restaurant in Taipei.

2002 Bruno Paillard Nec Plus Ultra, dégorgée en Septembre 2014 - the nose was nice and caramelized as one would expect, and was also a little savory and mineral on the nose. Lovely complexity.

2015 Domaine Ganevat Les Gryphées Vieilles Vignes - showing a really big nose of toast, like a strong punch in the face. Good acidity on the palate but with a nice level of ripeness for balance. Jean-François showing why he's got so many fans.

2021 Quintarelli Bianco Secco - very easy to drink, with sweet vanilla, some minerality like pear, and a light sweetness. As my cousin would say, this was lolly water.

2000 Antinori Solaia - drank almost 2½ hours after decanting. Nice ripe fruits, some smoke and grilled meats. Drinking well.

1998 Kinmen Distillery First Quality Kao Liang (民國87年金門特級高粱) - this bottle of 白金龍 was... interesting for me. More interesting than Maotai at least. Nice aromatics that didn't feel artificial. Such a rare treat from a friend.

Full post on dinner is here.

Italian whites for lunch

Lunch at 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana in Macau.

2011 Gini Soave Classico - pretty flat on the palate, a little bit of oak.

2014 Ceretto Langhe Arneis Blangé - very fragrant and floral, almost perfume-like, with tropical stone fruits, some oak, and flint.

Full post on lunch is here.

Massandra or bust

Dinner at West Villa in Hong Kong, at Bonham's invitation featuring wines from Massandra.

1955 Massandra Collection Sherry - nutty, raisins, plum, toasty and dates.  Beautiful nose.  Dry on mid-palate, with 4% residual sugar.  Made with a solera system and a blend of Sercial, Verdelho and Albariño.

1945 Massandra Collection South Coast Red Port - savory nose of preserved plums (話梅), mineral, medjool dates, apricot.  The last few drops in the glass even showed a little sweet potato notes.  Sweet on the palate and slightly tart on the finish, with 10% residual sugar.  A blend of grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Saperavi and Mourvedre.

2010 Pieropan Calvarino - white peach, very floral with white flowers, a hint of flint.  Very refreshing.

2008 Vietti Barolo Castiglione - a little bit of pine, forest.  Really tannic on the palate and not enjoyable.

2006 Argentiera Giorgio Bartholomäus - very ripe, a bit cooked, stewed prunes and a little smoky.  Not bad.

1989 Massandra Collection South Coast White Muscat - literally smells and tastes like honey, almost like dissolving manuka honey in water.  A little bit nutty with tangerine.  VERY sweet, with 20% residual sugar.

Full post on dinner is here.