Cornelissen Munjebel VA

Drinking at home.

2016 Frank Cornelissen Munjebel VA - kinda sharp on the nose, a little pungent and sulfuric. Still grippy on the palate thanks to the tannins, kinda savory and mineral, maybe thanks to the volcanic soil? Lots of sous bois and forest in the nose, very ripe, like those thick skins of Kyoho grapes with the plastic notes.

2019 Susucaru Rosato

Drinking at home.

2019 Frank Cornelissen Susucaru Rosato - definitely a little pungent, almost sulfur-like, some flint, with red currants. Acidity was high and it was a little lean on the palate, with a slight grippy finish. Second pour was more fragrant.

Italians for Italian

Dinner at Otto e Mezzo Bombana.

Vilmart Grande Réserve, dégorgée le Janvier 2019 - very toasty.

2017 Cantina Mesa Opale - very floral and fragrant, light-ish on the palate and balanced, nose turned sweet later, very tropical and fruity.  Actually really nice.

2018 Costaripa Valtènesi Rosamara - flinty, pungent, lots of red fruits.  Later some honey.

2017 Girolamo Russo Etna 'a Rina - very minty and fragrant, pretty sweet on the nose, potpourri, oaky.  Really nice once it opened up.

2014 Aldo Conterno Barolo Bussia - nice and sweet, almost like bubblegum.  Also oaky notes, and later a little smoky.  Still kinda tannic but balanced with acidity.

2014 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino - minty and metallic, nice and toasty, ripe fruit... almost orange marmalade.

2016 Tasca d'Almerita Capofaro Malvasia di Salina - pear, mineral, botrytis, acetone notes.  Kinda sweet on the palate.

Full post on dinner is here.

2017 Pietradolce

Dinner at Old Bailey.

2017 Pietradolce Etna Rosato - flinty with lots of red fruits.

Full post on dinner is here.

Gohgan 7 wines

Dinner at Gaggan in Bangkok, for the 7th edition of Gohgan.

Charles Ellner Grande Réserve Brut, en methuselah - yeasty with good acidity.

Senkin Snowman unfiltered sake (千禽 雪だるま しぼりたて活性にごり酒), 2017 - with seimaibuai (精米歩合) of 50%.  Sweet with fermented rice flavors, but dry and spicy mid-palate.

2014 Sebastien Riffault Sancerre Les Quarterons - really ripe and sweet, with crisp acidity that was just right.  Lovely floral notes. 

2014 Christian Binner Muscat - very aromatic and floral.

2015 Frank Cornelissen Contadino - a little pungent on the nose.  Stemmy and slightly bitter, with lots of ripe fruit.

2011 François de Nicolay Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Fontenys - slightly pungent, a little stemmy and bitter, with good amount of sweet fruit.  Slightly chewy tannins.

Marguet Shaman 14 Rosé - ripe with lots of strawberries.

Full post on dinner is here.

German-French-Italian

Dinner at Casa Don Alfonso in Macau.

2012 Dr. Bürklin-Wolf Forster Kirchenstück Riesling Trocken GC - lots of petrol, plenty of polyurethane, a hint of white flowers on the nose.  A hint of ripeness on the palate, with a little bit of acidity on the finish that seemed a little bitter.  A lovely wine.

2009 Henri Boillot Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrières - pop-and-pour and beautiful right off the bat.  Huge, open nose with lots of toast, a little popcorn, and lemon citrus.  Beautiful, ripe, and buttery on the palate, although a little bit hot and alcoholic given the vintage.  Drinking incredibly well right now.

Frank Cornelissen Magma 6VA - a natural wine from a maker recommended by Vladimir Kojic at Gaggan, this limited production (500 bottles in this 2007 vintage) wine was made with grapes grown on Mount Etna and come from vines that are more than 100 years old.  I was surprised to see this bottle of "bongwater" on the list, and was dying to try it.

Opened and decanted for 1½ hours prior to serving.  Really sweet and jammy on the palate, very alcoholic... enough to clear one's sinuses.  Almost herbal notes, like putting one's nose near Brin d'Amour.  I didn't mind this, although I don't think there were many fans at the table.  Oh and I don't buy the 14.5% alcohol for one bit... It's gotta be at least a point or two above.

Full post on dinner is here.

3-star wine pairing

Dinner at the Hertog Jan pop-up in the Landmark Mandarin Oriental.

R and L Legras Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs

2013 Terre Nere Rosato - a rosé from Mount Etna on Sicily.  Nice and fresh, with honey, peach, a little flint and a little bit of oak in the nose.

2009 Tement Sauvignon Blanc Grassnitzberg - very rich, thick and viscous on the palate.  Nose was a little pungent, with definite notes of polyurethane and plastic, along with a little pipi de chat.  Some lemon and muscat grapes, too.  Very full on the palate, and a pretty nice wine overall.

2011 Joh. Jos. Prüm Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett - nose was more pungent and in-your-face than expected.  Reasonably sweet on the palate for a kabinett.  Heck, I'll never get tired of drinking German Riesling...

2012 Jean-Marc Pillot Puligny Montrachet Les Noyers Bret - buttery, ripe, and oaky nose.

2011 Leflaive et Associés Monthélie 1er Cru Sur la Velle - very prominent nose of toasty corn, which obscured the fruit a little.  Not bad.

2005 Señorio de San Vicente from magnum - double-decanted 4½ hours prior to serving, and I can definitely see why.  Really ripe and sweet on the nose, with a little pencil lead, vanilla, oak, and later on that exotic coconut butter I love.   Nice and rounded on the palate, very smooth.

Lheraud Pineau des Charentes Collection Perle Rose - wonderful sweet nose, with a little straw and definitely sugarcane.  Minty, too.  Slightly medicinal on the palate, but very sweet and alluring.

Full post on dinner is here.