Anything but SQN

Dinner at a friend's home with Julia and Nik Krankl as guests of honor. Theme was "Anything but Sine Qua Non (and Fingers Crossed)". Magnums were requested.

2018 Robert Faivre L'Experte - light on the palate, acidity level was OK.

2023 Agnès Paquet Chassagne-Montrachet Les Battaudes - nose was very oak-oaked with tons of vanilla.

1966 Gruaud-Larose, en double magnum - definitely got that sweet grass on the nose, with smoke and leather, too. So classic.

1994 L'Evangile, en magnum - this had a much bigger nose than the '66 Gruaud-Larose, and it was nice and smoky, with pepper and green capsicum.

2018 Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett, from double magnum - there was a nice bit of sweetness on the palate balanced by the acidity. Huge nose of petrol and white flowers. So nice.

2002 Torbreck RunRig, from magnum - this was showing so beautifully, with lots of coconut butter, leather, and smoke on the nose.

1983 Auguste Clape Cornas, en magnum - tasted right after opening and decanting. Toasty nose with leather. Very smooth on the palate now, but a little less lively than expected. Not so much juicy fruit.

1995 Lafleur-Petrus, en magnum - nice and smoky on the nose, with more sweet fruit. A bit savory on the palate.

2006 Torbreck The Laird - tasted a couple of hours after opening. Very ripe and jammy on the nose, really big and so sweet on the palate. Just an amazing fruit bomb that has aged for 20 years. So nice.

1996 Cos d'Estournel, en magnum - still got the sweet fruit on the nose, as well as smoke and fragrant woodsy notes.

2006 Napa Valley Reserve, from magnum - very fragrant on the nose, without too much vanilla, but still got the lovely oak. Still so tannic after almost 20 years.

2006 Dal Forno Amarone della Valpolicella, from double magnum - this was double-decanted at 3pm yesterday... and showing lots of coconut and plenty of ripe fruit. This was such a big wine.

2014 FX Pichler Riesling Smaragd Dürnsteiner Kellerberg, from magnum - definitely got the white flowers and polyurethane, and also some flint.

2010 Alain Voge Cornas, en magnum - obviously fresher than the '83 Clape.

2011 Antinori Tignanello, from magnum - this was OK la...

2015 Eisele Vineyard Syrah - still really young after 10 years, a bit sharp and tannic.

Gobelsburg Zweigelt

Drinks at The Baker and the Bottleman.

2021 Domæne Gobelsburg Zweigelt - nose was initially not very open and just showing a bit of spices, kinda similar to amarone in that the grapes felt like they were dried and more concentrated. Some herbs and some leather on the nose.

French and Spanish

Dinner at Roganic.

Jacques Lassaignes Les Vignes de Montgueux - there was good level of acidity, pretty lean on the palate but still got a little ripeness. However, this is just not the type of Champagne I prefer.

2022 Hiedler Grüner Veltliner Thal - a little green on the nose, and you know it's not a riesling, and in fact smells more like muscat.

2021 Robert-Denogent Pouilly-Fuissé Climat Vieilles Vignes - good acidity on the palate, and more on the lean side, with some lemon citrus on the nose.

2020 Rafael Palacios Val do Bibei As Sortes - this has a nice and toasty nose, with good acidity on the palate.

2012 López de Heredia Reserva Viña Tondonia - this was very fragrant on the nose, with some blueberries that almost started to border on rubber. Nice and ripe on the palate, still got the tannins but there was enough acidity to balance it out. The nose also showed a little bit of savory minerals in the midst of potpourri fragrance.

Domaine des Marnes Blanches Macvin du Jura - this was a little tea-like with notes of jasmine flowers, and also pretty fruity. Very nice and alluring. So happy with this.

Full post on dinner is here.

Arbois and Austrians

Dinner at Roganic.

Drappier Carte d'Or, en magnum - I could smell the acidity on the nose. The palate was rather soft.

2022 Hiedler Grüner Veltliner Thal - pretty fragrant nose with some stone fruits. Very pleasant and easy to drink.

2015 Michel Brégeon Les Vigneaux Gorges - the nose was nice and flinty, and there was a little fruit on the nose. Got the acidity and was reasonably grippy on the palate.

2019 Coursodon Etincelle - flinty nose, ripe and alcoholic on the palate, and alcoholic on the finish, too.

1986 Rolet Trousseau Arbois, en magnum - the nose was very fragrant, toasty, and a little funky. This was really nice, with lovely, juicy fruit together with that toasty nose.

2022 Kracher Cuvée Auslese - honey and floral notes, with orange blossoms.

Full post on dinner is here.

Seoul pairing

Dinner in Vinho in Seoul.

2022 Txomin Etxaniz Getariako Txakolina - very floral nose, flinty and mineral. Lots of tropical stone fruit like a good lolly water. Still got the acidity on the palate, though.

André Beaufort Polisy Réserve, dégorgée en Mai 2023 - a bit toasty on the nose, more lean with some metallic notes, and perhaps a bit of sulfur? Acidity was on the higher side with a long finish. Later on with aeration this started to show more caramel on the nose.

2021 Stadt Krems Ried Wachtberg Grüner Veltliner - refreshing, a little ripe on the nose. The palate was slightly grippy and clears the fishy flavors of the caviar, and the acidity made its presence felt.

Paul Prieur Sancerre Rosé Perpétuel - lots of juicy red fruits like cranberries. Acidity was high but at the same time, this could get grippy on the palate.

2020 Trimbach Riesling Vieilles Vignes - lots of petrol and polyurethane, or "white truffle". A bit more sharp with acetone, with a surprising resemblance to insecticide...

Rodenbach Alexander - obviously very fruity with cherries. Good acidity and not bitter.

2021 Histoire d'Enfer Petite Arvine Réserve - a little bit of toast on the nose, some buckwheat, almost a little savory. Very dry and grippy on the palate, with a long and sharp finish.

2020 Ravaut Ladoix 1er Cru Le Bois Roussot - very fruity and jammy, like a cassis or blackberry jam. Very fragrant.

1995 da Silva Presidential Colheita - nutty, honey, medjool dates, and orange blossom water. So lovely.

Full post on dinner is here.

Riesling for Cantonese

Dinner at The Chairman.

2012 Michel Niellon Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chenevottes - pretty ripe and soft on the palate, with marmalade notes.  Some acidity here.   

2007 Joh.Jos. Prüm Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Spätlese - tons of petrol, white flowers, and polyurethane in the nose.  Classic.  Loved the sweetness on the palate.

2007 Pichler Riesling Smaragd Loibner Steinertal - also polyurethane notes, with white flowers, a little flint.  More elegant than the Prüm and also more dry on the palate.

2009 Lascombes - popped and poured.  Smoky and minty.  Pretty ripe and sweet.

Full post on dinner is here.

Hiedler and Kistler

Lunch at Ta Vie.

2018 Hiedler Grüner Veltliner 1ÖTW Reserve Schenkenbichl - flinty, petrol, nice fragrance with white flowers.  Kinda soft and flat on the palate, dry but with some ripeness.

Full post on dinner is here.

Drinking at home.

2005 Kistler Pinot Noir Kistler Vineyard - pretty tropical nose, with lots of vanilla and coconut butter on top of the fruit.