Valle Reale and Feyles

Dinner at Estro.

Pierre Péters Cuvée de Réserve, dégorgée le 31 Octobre 2023 - good depth on the palate here along with a good balance, as it was neither too ripe nor too acidic, with a hint of bitterness and a decently long finish. Nice nose of marmalade.

2018 Valle Reale Vigna del Convento di Capestrano - a little toast with some lemon on the nose at first. The palate was more ripe than I had expected, a little too round and soft compared to what I was looking for. Definitely felt the alcohol on the palate... but there was an elegant fragrance here. Later on when the wine opened up more, the palate became more acidic.

2014 Feyles Barbaresco Riserva Bordini Vigna di Montesommo - smoky, gamey, a little bretty and medical, along with forest and potpourri notes.

Full post on dinner is here.

Ganevat and Vilmart

Dinner at Amber.

Vilmart Grande Réserve, dégorgée en Juin 2018 - the nose was a little yeasty. Pretty good acidity here, especially on the back end. Turns more ripe and actually a little bitter after a bite of the soy burrata.

2016 Anne et Jean-François Ganevat Montferrand - started drinking about 30 minutes after opening. The acidity was definitely front and center, and it was actually a little tannic. The nose, though, was pretty ripe and sweet, and very aromatic.

2009 Coutet - fragrance of orange blossom water and marmalade here. Good amount of sweetness on the palate.

Full post on dinner is here.

Bongwater with Italian

Dinner at Sagrantino.

2018 Jean François Ganevat Savagnin En Billat - a little toast on the nose, plus a little ripeness on the nose, but good acidity level.

2009 Chacra Pinot Noir Cincuenta y Cinco - double-decanted but stoppered for 30 minutes, then started drinking 1 hour after decanting. There was good amount of ripe fruits on the nose, but it was served a little warm at first. Very smooth now, and improved once the wine was chilled down a little.

Bought from IWM for HKD 590.

2019 Le Clos des Treilles La Décente Aux Amphores - the nose was nice and fragrant, with a little flint. Somewhat reductive, with a hint of savory, fermented notes as well as sulfur that is unmistakably bongwater. The palate was not really sweet but a bit more ripe and rounded.

Bought from Winetastic for HKD 351.

2020 Hirakawa Notre Siècle - some toasty notes on the nose, and definitely soft on the palate. Fairly easy to drink.

2003 BOND Matriarch - stoppered for 45 minutes after double-decanting, and started drinking almost 2 hours after decanting. Smoky nose with some meaty notes. Very ripe and sweet on the palate. Later on there was unmistakable nose of coconut butter as well as vanilla oak.

Bought from the winery for USD 85 plus tax.

2004 Williams Selyem

Drinking at home.

2004 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Russian River Valley - started drinking 30 minutes after decanting. Reasonably fragrant and open nose, with stewed black fruits, a little juicy blackcurrant, a little leather and potpourri. Acidity was prominent on the palate but the wine is smooth and silky. About an hour in the wine started to show sweet vanilla and black cherries. A third pour 1½ hours in was really fresh and lively, showing fruity and woodsy notes. Last pour was 1 hour and 45 minutes after decanting and there were notes of mint and eucalyptus. Drinking well.

La Turque vertical

Dinner at Nine One.

2019 Georges Vernay Condrieu Coteau de Vernon - very floral and pretty ripe on the nose, plenty of lychees just like viognier. A little flinty, too.

2018 Clos Saint-Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc - started out pretty soft and ripe on the palate, but later the palate became really ripe.

First pair:

2000 Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Turque - started drinking about 1 hour after opening without decanting. Pretty soft on the palate now. This was pretty muted, so while it was OK it wasn't the classic La Turque I would have wanted.

2001 Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Turque - started drinking about 30 minutes after opening without decanting. A little smoke on the nose, and the acidity was higher than the 2000. About 1½ hours after opening some savory notes started to appear on the nose.

Second pair:

1998 Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Turque - started drinking almost 2½ hours after opening without decanting. Some grilled meats.

2006 Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Turque - started drinking nearly 2 hours after opening without decanting. The nose showed a little smoke and grilled meats, a hint of savory notes, and ripe fruits like cassis. Some half hour later the wine was showing a nice level of ripeness, but also started to reveal some stewed fruits.

Third pair:

1991 Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Turque - started drinking a little more than 2 hours after opening without decanting. Very smooth on the palate now. Finally, a beautiful bottle of wine showing the classic floral notes along with bacon fat, and lovely sweet fruit.

1999 Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Turque - started drinking around 3 hours after opening without decanting. The nose was a little smoky with a hint of chalk, along with some ripe fruits, which was nice.

Bought from Bordeaux Index for GBP 300.

Full post on dinner is here.

Chartogne-Taillet Sainte Anne

Lunch at Louise.

Chartogne-Taillet Sainte Anne - toasty and mineral on the nose.

Full post on lunch is here.

Chave and Stephan

Lunch at Flower Drum.

1989 Maximin Grünhaüser Herrenberg Riesling Spätlese - right away we have nose of white flowers. The palate was initially soft and gentle, but with good amount of acidity on the back. There was also a little bit of caramelized sugar as the wine opened up. Delicious.

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

2008 Jean-Michel Stephan Côte-Rôtie - decanted 30 minutes after opening and started drinking 45 minutes after opening. On the nose there were some sweet fruits, a bit of leather, with a lovely floral nose showing violets. The nose was almost Burgundian and alluring. Around 1½ hours after opening, the wine was drinking really nicely.

Bought from Midfield for HKD 850.

2013 Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage - decanted around 2 hours after opening and started drinking around 2½ hours after opening. This was a much bigger wine, with much more concentration. Notes of grilled meats, and definitely a little bretty. Showing earthy notes some 3½ hours after opening.

2020 Marthe Henry Boillot Bourgogne Aligoté - toasty notes on the nose. Definitely tart and grippy on the palate, with acidity on the high side but not too sharp. Definitely an aligoté.

Full post on dinner is here.

Kokuryu Daiginjo

Dinner at Sugidama.

Kokuryu Daiginjo (黒龍 大吟醸), 2024, from isshobin - medium dry on the palate.