Grange des Pères and more

Dinner at Caprice.

Leclerc Briant Rosé de Saignée, dégorgée en Juin 2024 - the nose was a little caramelized, but otherwise it was kind of bland... Not very forward, although there were some minerals on the nose.

2021 Knewitz Chardonnay Reserve - this was more muted on the nose, not very buttery, and with some toasty oak. Leaner and more flinty. Waited a few more minutes and the butter side showed just a tiny little bit, but the palate was still lean and more acidic.

1998 Grange des Pères Rouge - first pour was about 20 minutes after opening. Big nose of leather and animal notes, bretty and medicinal, and definitely savory. After more than an hour in glass, the wine has now finally opened up and showed more fruit on top of the original profile. Second pour more than 1½ hours after opening, and this was even more open and fragrant. Drinking very nicely.

Bought from Sotheby's for USD 208.

2021 Grange des Pères Rouge - served more than 8 hours after opening. Very lively, so fresh and minty with fragrant pine needles. So sweet, so fragrant, so beautiful!

Full post on dinner is here.

Champagne, Valentini, Grange

Dinner at Andō.

Krug Grande Cuvée, 171ème Édition, ID 322022 - very toasty nose, and also pretty yeasty.

2002 Bollinger Grande Année, dégorgée en mars 2011 - the nose was much bigger and much more open, pretty ripe now as the wine has aged nicely. Notes of Chinese licorice, caramelized sugar, and marmalade. Drinking well.

2017 Valentini Trebbiano d'Abruzzo - drank after decanting for more than 45 minutes. The nose was so nice and open, with big toasty notes, along with some flint. In fact, we all felt that the nose could have been mistaken for a Meursault from Coche-Dury.

1998 Grange des Pères Rouge - served about 1½ hours after opening. Very nice and elegant, with plenty of leather along with a little medicinal and savory minerals on the nose. Just so smooth and drinking beautifully.

Full post on dinner is here.

Grange des Pères and Sabon

Lunch at One Harbour Road.

2016 Tellier Les Massales, dégorgée en mai 2022 - pretty lean with acidity on the high side.

2009 Hospices de Beaune Corton-Vergennes Cuvée Paul Chanson, elevé et mis en bouteille par Lucien Le Moine pour El Bulli, en magnum - nice lemon citrus notes, with the typical flint and a slight hint of toast. Later on this showed more buttery notes.

2009 Roger Sabon Le Secret de Sabon - a little savory, still a little tannic and somewhat tight. A little sweetness showed on the palate.

2014 Grange des Pères Rouge - this was beautiful! Fragrant and floral.

Full post on lunch is here.

Schiopetto and Moulin de Gassac

Dinner at Amber.

2013 Schiopetto Collio Friulano - much riper and sweeter on the palate than expected, very rounded, but perhaps a little overripe.  Some minerality here.

2017 Moulin de Gassac Syrah - lots of dried herbs and potpourri, eucalyptus.  A little bitter on the palate.

Full post on dinner is here.

Ganevat, Huet, Grange des Pères

Late snacks and drinks at Caprice.

1999 Jean-François Ganevat Les Vignes de mon Père - beautiful nose.  Definite oxidation here and maturity, with pain grillé, marmalade, a bit of straw, and some sweetness on the nose.  Kinda like a dry Sherry or a Boal.  Definitely acidity on the palate here.

1998 Grange des Pères - almost like a Bordeaux, smoky with ripe fruits, woodsy, oaky, and tobacco notes.  Drinking beautifully now.

1997 Huet Vouvray Cuvée Constance, en demi-bouteille - tons of honey, raisins, some botrytis, and a bit of acetone.  Very dark amber in color... kinda brown, actually.

1990 Pierre-Bise Coteaux du Layon Rochefort Les Rayelles - big nose with lots of plastic.  Not sure that I like it.

Full post on the evening is here.

Ganevat and Grange des Pères

Lunch at Caprice Bar.

2015 Anne et Jean-François Ganevat Le p'tiot Roukin, en magnum - very fragrant and fruity.  After 25 minutes floral notes came out, with leather, a little metallic and iron rust, also toasty.  Beautiful wine!

2004 Grange des Pères Rouge - animal, a hint of savory notes, a little honey, some herbs, and pollen.  Very smooth on the palate.

Full post on lunch is here.

1998 Mas de Daumas Gassac

Dinner at Liu Yuan.

1998 Mas de Daumas Gassac Rouge - this was pretty decent. Smooth and easy to drink. Classic Bordeaux cepages, but not terribly exciting to drink.

Bought from Remy.