Big bottles for birthdays

Dinner at Kiu's Kitchen.

2008 Dom Pérignon, en magnum - this was pretty classic, and already kinda ripe and rounded given some years of aging.

Krug Grande Cuvée, 170ème Édition, ID 221034 - surprisingly the nose was not too tasty, and given I haven't tasted thie edition for a couple of years, I was surprised that acidity here was higher than that from the Dom, although thankfully not to a level that felt sharp.

2021 Catena Zapata Chardonnay White Stones Adrianna Vineyard - crisp with good acidity on the palate and a long finish. Pretty nice.

2008 Bergström Pinot Noir de Lancellotti Vineyard, from magnum - the nose was very open and fragrant, with good hit of fruit like dark blueberries, along with some sweet vanilla oak. Very enjoyable.

2005 Marqués de Riscal Gran Reserva - lots of mint and eucalyptus on the nose, almost menthol, and very sweet and ripe on the nose. There was also tons of oak as well as some smoke.

2004 Peter Michael Les Pavots, from magnum - this was very ripe with lots of nice fruit, also minty and very fragrant with cedar notes. Still got some tannins on the palate after more than 20 years. Drinking well.

1996 Silver Oak Alexander Valley, from magnum - this was more smoky than Les Pavots, and also riper with more fruit and got that coconut butter. Drinking very nicely.

Bought as part of a mixed lot from Christie's for HKD 1,608.

2016 Pahlmeyer - still a little young and slightly punchy.

2022 Louis Latour Chassagne-Montrachet

1990 Climens - tons of saffron on the nose along with acetone, classic marmalade, apricot, and pretty nutty. Very sweet on the palate.

Full post on dinner is here.

Whites and Chinese bongwater

Dinner at Shanghai Fraternity Association.

2022 00 Wines Chardonnay VGW - very toasty nose, and kinda buttery.

2008 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese - big nose of petroleum, with a little bit of white flower. There was definitely some sweetness on the palate along with the acidity.

Bought from Sotheby's for HKD 517.

Xiaopu perdue.J - this was soooo bongwater, unfiltered and very cloudy appearance. Pretty sweet and fruity, with notes of forest, leather, strawberries, and raspberries.

Full post on dinner is here.

90 Fleury and Jacquesson

Dinner at Song in Guangzhou.

1990 Fleury, dégorgée en Septembre 2020 - this had plenty of age on it, so it was very nice and smooth, with marmalade, red plums, and salty plum on the nose.

Drinks at Park Hyatt Guangzhou Roof Bar.

Jacquesson Cuvée N°745 - yeasty nose with brioche, flinty and mineral. The acidity was a bit higher as this is extra-brut, but there was still a bit of ripeness on the palate. I could smell the caramelized sugar on the nose, and maybe a little bit of pear thanks to the minerals.

2015 Résonance Pinot Noir Résonance Vineyard - drank about 30 minutes after decanting. Nose showed smoke, leather, vanilla, black cherries. After a few more minutes there was smoke on the nose, too. Reasonably soft on the palate after 10 years. Second pour was another 20 minutes later, and was now less sweet on the nose. Body also got a bit bigger.

Full post on the evening is here.

Pinot for mushroom

Dinner at Man Ho Chinese Restaurant.

2013 Dom Pérignon - really lovely and toasty nose, so fragrant, and this was so nice on the palate with such a wonderful balance. Quelle surprise!

Devo MV02, disgorged April 7, 2021 - the nose was much more yeasty. This was very fresh and lively, with slightly higher acidity, and not as fat and rounded on the palate. Also showed some pineapple on the nose after some 45 minutes.

2010 Domaine de la Pousse d'Or Clos de la Roche, en magnum - decanted about 15 minutes after opening and served another 15 minutes later. I brought this to pair with mushrooms and we weren't disappointed. This was really fucking awesome with the ganbajun, as the flavors of the fungus just exploded in the mouth after a sip of this wine. The nose showed nice notes of leather and, not surprisingly, mushrooms. More than 1½ hours after opening this was beginning to show some toasty oak on the nose, and the acidity was now getting higher.

Bought from Links for HKD 1,880.

2005 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve, from magnum - this was showing much sweeter fruit on the nose along with some eucalyptus. Definitely fresher and more vibrant compared to the Clos de la Roche, despite being 5 years older.

Full post on dinner is here.

Howard Park and more

Dinner at Forum.

1997 Kistler Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard - very ripe as expected, but not totally oxidized to the point it becomes unpleasant. Caramelized nose with lots of vanilla. The palate was sweet but not over, as it's still got some acidity for balance.

Bought from Winebid for USD 68.

1988 Maximin Grünhaüser Abtsberg Riesling Auslese Fuder 67 - nose of white flowers and petrol. Palate was rounded but while there's some residual sugar, the acidity was quite high. Drinking very nicely.

ought from Mayfair as part of a mixed lot for HKD 316.

2021 00 Chardonnay VGW - the nose was really buttery, flinty, while the palate was nice and lean with good acidity.

2020 Howard Park Riesling Great Southern - nose of petrol and polyurethane. The palate was still relatively dry but it's also got some ripeness.

2023 Howard Park Pinot Noir Flint Rock - really sweet on the nose, like bubblegum.

2007 Howard Park Cabernet Sauvignon Leston - the nose was minty, earthy, smoky, with grilled meats. There was good sweetness on the palate.

Full post on dinner is here.

Wine pairing at Jungsik

Dinner at Jungsik in Seoul.

Le Brun de Neuville Double Autolyse, dégorgée en Février 2021 - good complexity here.

Guccione 1920 - a blend of 2019 and 2020. Nose was pretty fragrant with notes of apricot and peach, as well as honey. Very ripe on the nose and kinda ripe on the palate, too.

2019 Els Jelipins Vi de Taula Rosat - a little sulfuric on the nose. Savory, toasty, and definitely bongwater.

2019 Serene Chardonnay Evenstad Reserve - this was really oaky and buttery, with vanilla and flinty notes.

2016 Luis Cañas Gran Reserva - nose came with lots of vanilla and coconut butter, really sweet fruit.

Full post on dinner is here.

Super Bowl Monday morning

Drinking at a friend's home while watching Super Bowl LVIII.

2007 Colgin Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb Vineyard - double-decanted back in bottle after 15 minutes, and drank 1 hour after opening. Nose was really fragrant, with really ripe fruit, but alcohol was a little sharp and hot on the nose. Lots of wood here, and this was so nice. About 1½ hours after opening this was even better, and the wine was just so alluring. Alcohol was really sharp on the nose now around 2 hours and 45 minutes after opening, and the wine has clearly peaked, but started to show a little coffee on the nose.

André Clouet Un jour de 1911..., dégorgée le 18 novembre 2021 - good balance, slightly sweet and ripe but the acidity comes up at the finish. Nice caramelized sugar on the nose with a little note of straw.

2005 Comte Georges de Vogüé Bonnes-Mares - drank around 45 minutes after opening. Showing beautifully with lovely notes of leather, dried herbs, potpourri, and some toasty oak. Still pretty nice some 2 hours after opening.

2012 Comte Georges de Vogüé Bonnes-Mares - drank around 1 hour and 15 minutes after opening. Lots of eucalyptus on the nose, more ripe and jammy, with lots of blueberries. More concentrated compared to the 2005, and also showing leather notes. Some 4 hours after opening there was still plenty of dried herbs and sous bois on the nose.

2013 Beaucastel Roussanne Vieilles Vignes - classic nose with wax and paraffin. Very, very ripe.

2005 Domaine des Chezeaux Chambertin - nose of leather hits first. Acidity was clearly higher on the palate, and this was leaner, not so lush. About an hour after opening this opened up nicely.

2019 Arnot-Roberts Cabernet Sauvignon Clajeux Vineyard - babykilling here. Really big and ripe as this wine is very young. Tons of potpourri on the nose.

2015 Lingua Franca Pinot Noir Mimi's Mind - nice nose of leather, and pretty sweet on the nose.