Avani and Yokel

Drinking at home.

2020 Dormilona Yokel Grenache - fruity nose with lots of berries and red fruits. This was lighter on the palate, with decent levels of acidity.

Bought from Oz Terroirs for HKD 150.

2019 Avani Syrah The Earth - started drinking after 1 hour in the decanter. The nose was very ripe and jammy, so sweet, with vanilla and also definitely coconut butter, and some blueberries. The palate was more acidic, though. Surprised that this tasted more Aussie compared to the 2017 I tasted a couple of years ago. The nose was also smoky, with bacon and game meats.

Bought from Oz Terroirs for HKD 398.

2022 Avani Amrit

Drinking at home.

2022 Avani Amrit Pinot Noir - started drinking 40 minutes after opening. Fruity nose with a little leather, almost a hint of sugary bubblegum. A little animal and smoke, and the nose became more open after 10 minutes in glass... showing more blueberries. The alcohol was still a bit sharp at this young age. After 3½ hours, the nose was still pretty fragrant, but this was more acidic on the palate now.

Bought from Oz Terroirs for HKD 225.

Avani twin

Lunch at a friend's home.

2020 Avani Amrit Pinot Gris - reductive nose. Definitely a little flinty.

2018 Sylvain Pataille Marsannay Rosé Fleur de Pinot - flinty with minerals, with nice red fruits.

2017 Avani Syrah The Earth - really fragrant and floral, lots of violets and eucalyptus. Not your box standard Aussie shiraz and reminds me of Giaconda's syrah. Beautiful.

Full post on dinner is here.

Ten Minutes by Tractor Blanc de Blancs

Dinner at home.

2011 Ten Minutes by Tractor Blanc de Blancs - definitely showing some maturity on the palate, good depth with marmalade and some bitterness.

Full post on dinner is here.

Wines for New Year's Day

Dinner at a friend's home.

2010 Anne Gros et Jean-Paul Tollot Minervois Les Carrétals - minty, peppery, potpourri, a little smoky.  Not too tannic but still pretty young, obviously.

2009 Torbreck Juveniles - very ripe and sweet, with leather and animal notes. Very sweet on the palate with noticeable tannins.  Not as classic Rhône as this wine was a decade ago.

2007 Merricks Estate Pinot Noir - sweet nose with cherries.

1995 Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde - nose of grilled meats, animal, a little stinky, but there's definitely the fragrance from the Viognier.