Krug, Trimbach and more

Dinner at VEA for the VEA x Gaggan collaboration.

Krug Grande Cuvée, 172ème Édition, ID 123005 - initially this was served too cold, but after warming up a little using my hands, the nose opened up to show the classic toasty brioche notes that I love so much from Grande Cuvée. The acidity was fairly high, and we had a little tartness and tannins on the finish.

2020 Trimbach Riesling Réserve - very big nose of petrol, much more powerful than "white truffle", although it almost seemed like there was a little sugar on the nose, too. Good, lean acidity as expected. Reliable as always.

2022 Marco de Bartoli Pietranera - the nose was very aromatic and floral, with a little flint and a bit metallic like pears such as La France. This was sooo fragrant with fruity sweetness.

2020 Mark Haisma Saint-Romain Blanc - this was buttery on the nose, but also showing flinty notes. On the palate this was more dry and lean than I had expected, which was nice.

2020 Rolet L'Étoile En Novalet - I had expected this to be oxidized and caramelized, and we've certainly got vanilla, too, along with some flint. The palate was a little bit sweet, although the acidity was still prominent for a good balance.

2019 Philippe Jouan Coteaux Bourguignons Cuvée Thomas - earthy, eucalyptus, leather, and animal notes on the nose. Drinking pretty nicely.

2019 Decugnano dei Barbi Pourriture Noble Muffa Nobile d'Umbria, from half bottle - some acetone and honeydew melon on the nose.

Full post on dinner is here.

Kistler and friends

Dinner at Seventh Son.

1990 Bruno Paillard Le Mesnil, dégorgée en Mars 2014 - nice balance here.  Dry-ish but not too acidic, and not overripe, although definitely kinda lean.  With the second pour came salted/preserved lemons, with a bigger palate and longer finish.

2004 Domaine Leflaive Meursault 1er Cru Sous Le Dos d'Ane - very ripe and buttery.

2010 Castello della Sala Cervaro della Sala - big, toasty nose.  Ripe and very big on the palate.

2009 Joseph Drouhin Bâtard-Montrachet, en magnum - very ripe.

2006 Kistler Pinot Noir Kistler Vineyard - eucalyptus notes.  Sweet-ish on the palate.  Still fairly concentrated.

2005 Kistler Pinot Noir Kistler Vineyard - more open than the 2006, but seemed a little subtle.

2003 Kistler Pinot Noir Kistler Vineyard - a bit gamey, stinky barnyard, leather.  Still kinda sweet on the palate.

1989 von Schubert Maximin Grünhäuser Herrenberg Kabinett - good acidity balance, not too acidic, some ripeness.  Lemon citrus notes.

Full post on dinner is here.

Mix bag for Cantonese

Dinner at a private dining facility.

2011 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese - a little sweetner than I expected, with a little white pepper and flint in the nose.

2002 L'Evangile en magnum - nice and fragrant, with cedar notes.  Sweet on the nose as well as ripe and sweet on the palate.  A little more forest notes on the nose later.

2012 Castello della Sala Cervaro della Sala - very ripe on the nose, very buttery and nutty.  Overripe and a little bitter on the palate.

2007 Olivier Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Referts - a little ripe and oaky, with lemon citrus notes.  A little bitter on the palate.

2009 Le Puy - pretty young, ripe and sweet, with oaky and cedar notes.

Full post on dinner is here.

'85 and '97 Italians

Dinner at Otto e Mezzo.

Jacques Selosse V.O. - there isn't anything that Anselme Selosse makes that I don't like.  This had a yeasty, sweet caramel nose.  A lively and lovely wine.  I could drink this all day...

2007 Clos des Papes - nose was very alcoholic and sharp, metallic, sweet with tropical fruits like lychee.  Really hot and sweet on the palate.  A little too much for me.  Probably needs another 10 years to soften up.

1985 Gaja Darmagi - classic Bordeaux-blend nose, with lots of grass, smoke, a little brett, mint and green peppers.  Medium acidity.

1985 Giuseppe Quintarelli Valpolicella Classico Superiore - this was not decanted, and smelled a little "dusty".  Huge toasty and smoky nose with grilled corn, black pepper, green and vegetal.  There was sweet fruit underneath but took some time to reveal itself.

1997 Hubert Lignier Clos de la Roche - I joked that I was "Burg'ed out" and wouldn't be drinking anything from Burgundy this evening, but I got a pour from the waiter anyway...  Sweet, very floral, violet, with ripe fruit, game meat, leather and bacon fat.  Soft and lovely.  What an amazing wine!  Certainly my favorite wine tonight.

1997 Lamborghini Campoleone - I've been waiting to open this bottle for a long, long time, and finally had the occasion to do so.  Initially I thought the nose was very muted while my friends all thought the nose was open and lovely.  There were notes of mint, a bit of smoke and a hint of licorice.  Very concentrated on the palate and surprisingly tannic.  My second pour ended up being spilled on the tablecloth, and my third pour was much better.  Nose was much more open with additional notes of herbs and coffee grounds.  This is an interesting blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese.

1997 Soldera Brunello di Montalcino Riserva - sweet and clean, with a little herbs at first.  Later on overripe honeydew notes emerged, almost turning into turpentine and very alcoholic.  A little more tannic than one would expect from the color of the wine.  Also needs another 10 years of cellaring.

2004 Gaja Camarcanda - sweet and ripe fruit, mint, a bit smoky, honeydew, sharp and alcoholic, herbs and pine needle.  Pretty tannic as the wine is still young.

2005 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Le Rocce del Falletto di Serralunga d'Alba - alcoholic and hot, a hint of medicine, herbs and smoke.  Just a little too young to drink now.

Full post on dinner is here.

An aromatic mix

Dinner at a friend's house.

2006 Muffato della Sala from Antinori - very sweet with lots of honey in the nose.

2004 Pazo Piñero de Lusco Albariño - I wanted an aromatic white. Unfortunately I had waited past the wine's prime, and the nose was flinty, mineral, lemon citrus and very toasty. No more fresh and floral notes. Pretty high acidity on the palate. 

1989 Lou Dumont Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Charmes Léa Sélection - this was opened to match the veal, although my original plan also called for a white wine to match. This was a very beautiful wine, which I decanted about 1½ hours before we got to drink it. Big, sweet and fruity nose, with black dates,sous bois, smoked meats notes. Absolutely lovely and feminine - just what I'd expect from a Chambolle. 

2005 Kongsgaard Viognier/Roussanne - sadly, I had also waited a little too long to pop the cork on this one, so we did not get the floral notes from the Viognier immediately. But the wine was still delicious, with notes of honey, marmalade, marzipan, a hint of chalk. The floral notes came out later - almost like osmanthus.

Bijofu Yuzu Liqueur (美丈夫ゆずリキュール) - still wonderfully fragrant and full of that citrus flavor.

Full notes on dinner is here.

Altaya Annual Tasting

1999 Falesco Vitiano - minty, a bit acidic.  Very drinkable wine, especially for the price.

1998 Falesco Montiano - ripe and fruity, marshmallow nose.  Also a bit minty.  Pretty concentrated and tannic.  Excellent wine and my favorite of the evening.

1999 du Colombier Hermitage - sharp, kerosene-like nose.  Not very pleasant.  Full of animal blood.  Nose actually reminds me of cheap Côtes-du-Rhône from Guigal or Jaboulet.

1999 de Monteillet Côte-Rôtie - open nose and a bit floral.  Not bad.

1999 de Font-Sane Gigondas Cuvée Futée - very solid.  Medium bodied.  Good effort.

1998 Les Cailloux Châteauneuf-du-Pape - nose a bit like grape juice.  Full of red fruits and stewed prunes.  Probably the best Rhône of the evening.

1998 Balestard la Tonnelle - oaky nose with stewed prunes.

1998 La Vieille-Cure - nose of tobacco, bacon, animal, leather and coffee.

1998 Griffe de Cap d'Or - nose of roasted ground coffee, also a bit of "shit" nose, not very good.

1998 de Chambrun - pretty tannic on the palate.  Not pleasant drinking.

1998 Franc-Mayne - very flat and uninteresting.

1998 Haut-Villet Cuvée Pomone - dry, tannic on the palate.  Nose of nuts, oak and some ripe fruit.