Rock Angel and Clos Badon

Dinner at home.

2019 Caves d'Esclans Rock Angel - a little flinty with some red fruits. Meh.

2000 Clos Badon - drank 30 minutes after decanting. Nose of animal, leather, a little bretty, smoky, not a lot of fruit, a little more savory mineral. Around 1½ hours after decanting this was minty and more open.

2006 Chacra Treinta y Dos

Drinking at home.

2006 Chacra Pinot Noir Treinta y Dos - very plummy, some oak on the nose, more woodsy, mature and downbeat. Even a little nutty. More acidity on the palate but not quite lean.

Yattarna and d'Esclans

Lunch at Sushi Saito.

2015 Penfolds Yattarna - nice and toasty, flinty, really beautiful nose. A little ripe on the palate but the finish was a little flinty.

Full post on lunch is here.

Drinking at home.

2018 Château d'Esclans - red fruits, more fruity, more sweet on the nose, and a little flint. Slightly better on the palate than Rock Angel.

Krug and rosé

Drinking at home.

2019 Caves d'Esclans Rock Angel - a little flinty on the nose, some red fruits. Boring on the palate with a short finish.

Krug Grande Cuvée - very oxidized, caramelized, sugar cane, savory Chinese salted plum. Beautiful.

Celebration drinks

Drinks at a friend's home.

2009 Roses de Jeanne Côte de Béchalin, dégorgêe avril 2016 - nice and toasty nose. Good ripeness on the palate but still got some acidity.

2014 L'If - served 1 hour after decanting. First whiff was very fruit forward with exotic vanilla, but closed down 30 minutes later, and opened up again after 2 hours in decanter, with more smoke.

1996 Yquem, en demi-bouteille - the color was much darker than expected. Nose showing marmalade, a little nutty, and a little acetone. Not as sweet on the palate as expected.

Avani twin

Lunch at a friend's home.

2020 Avani Amrit Pinot Gris - reductive nose. Definitely a little flinty.

2018 Sylvain Pataille Marsannay Rosé Fleur de Pinot - flinty with minerals, with nice red fruits.

2017 Avani Syrah The Earth - really fragrant and floral, lots of violets and eucalyptus. Not your box standard Aussie shiraz and reminds me of Giaconda's syrah. Beautiful.

Full post on dinner is here.

2007 Biserno

Lunner at Estro.

2007 Biserno - served 30 minutes after decanting. Good sweetness on the nose, with vanilla, smoke, and cedar. Very fragrant 15 minutes later, with lots of mint and more smoke. About 1 hour after first pour the nose turned mostly to smoke and woodsy notes. Still pretty tannic.

Full post on lunner is here.

Burgs and old Grange

Dinner at a friend's home.

2014 Nicolas Joly Clos de la Coulée Serrant - nose was pretty typical of this wine, reductive and slightly pungent, with honey and pollen notes. Pretty ripe and rounded on the palate.

1983 Taupenot-Merme Charmes-Chambertin - served 1 hour after decanting. Mushroom, leather, and some eucalyptus on the nose. Nice and mature with good sweetness on the palate.

2004 Ponsot Clos de la Roche Cuvée Vielles Vignes - decanted 40 minutes after opening and served 1½ hours after decanting. Initially very open and fragrant, lots of leather, not too sweet and fruity. Pretty fragrant 2 hours after decanting and got better, showing toasty and woodsy notes.

1981 Penfolds Grange - decanted just before serving almost 2 hours after opening. Tons of exotic coconut, lots of sweet vanilla and mint. Somehow died 30 minutes after decanting, and additional pours were much leaner, more smoky leather and not a lot of fruit. Need to note for future reference that 2½ is the limit for this wine.