1961 Pichon Baron

Lunch at Forum Restaurant.

1961 Pichon Baron - level mid- to low shoulder. Served immediately after decanting. The nose was kinda sharp and alcoholic, like those paint thinners that smell of bananas. At 65 years' of age this wine was surprisingly ripe and jammy, and the nose was a bit oxidized and showed stewed fruits, very plummy, like Chinese sour plum soup. Still full-bodied. Still not doing too badly after 1½ hours in the decanter, but the wine was clearly no longer at its peak.

Full post on lunch is here.

2005 Grand-Puy-Lacoste

Dinner at GYU+bar by miyoshi.

2005 Grand-Puy-Lacoste - classic Pauillac nose with smoky and earthy notes, and still got the core of sweet fruit like cassis without being too ripe and jammy. Some 40 minutes after decanting the wine was working so well with the char shu. the aromatics were so lovely with notes of cedar. This wine was just drinking beautifully.

Bought from Christies for HKD 3,646.

Full post on dinner is here.

SQN and Pietradolce

Dinner at Estro.

2023 Pietradolce Archineri - the nose was very fragrant and tropical, showing stone fruits along with floral and flinty notes. The crisp acidity shone through.

2016 Sine Qua Non Deux Grenouilles - 36% roussanne, 29% chardonnay, 23% viognier, 9% petit manseng, 3% marsanne. Started drinking around 15 minutes after opening. Nose of apricot, a hint of honey, definitely very ripe, oxidized, and alcoholic. Showing notes like Chinese licorice, and almost reminds me of Chartreuse.

Bought from the winery for USD 137.

Full post on dinner is here.

Nice pair of 1979s

Dinner at Ta Vie.

1979 Ramonet Montrachet - took the first sip a few minutes after opening, and some 15 minutes in the wine was showing beautifully. The nose was savory like salty lemon, marmalade, or vin jaune, with mineral, flinty, toasty, and nutty notes. This was so sweet, so floral, and so alluring some 45 minutes after opening. There was bitterness on the finish, but that wasn't a surprise. Honestly, the nose was just so fucking beautiful.

1979 Rayas Rouge - first tasted some 45 minutes after opening, which was probably a little later than we should have. Lots of savory soy sauce on the nose, with minerals and some sweet fruit underneath. Some smokiness, too. Surprisingly sweet on the palate. Pretty nice, but I had hoped for a little better.

Full post on dinner is here.

Fèvre Chablis

Drinking at home.

2022 Nathalie et Gilles Fèvre Chablis Vieilles Vignes - there was decent acidity on the palate, but overall still very ripe and a bit alcoholic. There was a slight bitter finish.

Bought from Altaya for HKD 196.

2020 Ginkgo

Dinner at Roucou.

2019 Le Puy Marie-Cécile - this was riper than expected on the palate, and pretty soft and round. The nose was still kinda on the mineral and flinty side, but we also had tropical fruits and it was a little reductive.

2020 Ginkgo - minty, earthy, mineral and leather nose, with nice notes of black figs, cedar, and oak when it opened up.

Full post on dinner is here.

Rinaldi and Trevallon

Drinking at a friend's home.

2019 Rinaldi Barolo Brunate - there was a hint of dust on the nose, but there was sweet fruit undereneath and overall it was pleasant. It opened up in the same glass after an hour and got a lot more fragrant.

2012 Trévallon Rouge - this was intense with a big nose, at first was a bit sharp. After 40 minutes in the decanter this was so fragrant, with a big toasty nose and notes of coffee, mint, and eucalyptus.

Bought from Ginsberg+Chan for HKD 900.

1969 Unico

Dinner at A Cut in Taipei.

Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru Vieillissement Prolongé, dégorgée en Octobre 2023 - thanks to spending 87 months on yeast, this was pretty smooth and there was very little mousse. Nose was showing lemon, straw, and a little bit of yeast. Also some nutty notes. With a second pour, the nose was definitely more floral and elegant.

1969 Vega Sicilia Unico - initially the nose was showing sweet grass and woodsy notes, already pretty fragrant. About 1 hour in the nose was dominated by stewed prunes. A few minutes later this turned more fragrant with lovely wood. Given another few minutes we had beautiful coconut butter show up, and then a bit more acidity on the palate. Still a lovely wine and drinking pretty well.

Bought from Sotheby's for GBP 339.

Full post on dinner is here.