Not for love, nor money, nor the promise of trophies and fame, did I participate in the South Philly Costume Criterion over the weekend. And, mission accomplished, as I came home with none of the preceding.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Hallowe'en
Not for love, nor money, nor the promise of trophies and fame, did I participate in the South Philly Costume Criterion over the weekend. And, mission accomplished, as I came home with none of the preceding.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Kyoto Wrap, Part II
Odd or not, it took about a week of being back in the U.S. before I felt the need to open a bottle of sake again. More on that, soon.
Labels:
Aruten,
Ginjo-shu,
Junmai-shu,
Travel
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Kyoto Wrap, Part I
On the right, Chikusen Chokarakuchi Junmai Genshu from Hyogo, 100% Yamada Nishiki, SMV +14, and 20% abv! Not for the faint of heart!
More GNG, please!
Labels:
Aruten,
Ginjo-shu,
Junmai-shu,
Mukune,
Travel
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Kyoto Protocol VII
1993 R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia Rosado - oddly, this is a touch less savoury than previous bottles. I'm wondering... could it possibly be on the downslope? I've proposed to Tinto that I bring my last bottle of this to the Heredia winemaker dinner, but I think they're declining. Hope that means they have too much wine already!
1995 Chateau Musar Rouge - J. called me mid-day after extraction, very concerned... "off?" he said. I suggested a decant, but J. declined. Well, when came over, I poured off a bit and thought... oh yeah! It might have been off in JUST the right way - yes, the '95 is usually very delicious, but in a clean sort of way. This had just a bit more of a funk-soul-brother edge to it, that just kept picking up. A super bottle, and I think it was pretty much unanimously the wine of the night. At least for myself and M.
2001/2002 Cornelissen Munjebel - if I've understood quickly, this is the first Munjebel release, right? Visually unsettled - cloudy, with a definite gray tinge (which kept turning - hello oxygen!), distinctly Musarian aromatics, but so much more tannic and ashy - as J. says, ETNA!
2006 F.X. Pichler Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Dürnsteiner Kellerberg - I was a bit worried about this. Yes, this is F.X., yes, this is DK, the top of the pops, as it were. But it's also '06, I went in too heavy, I shoulda held out for '07 (colder, more classical). Well, step back, I've had really great '06s so far, maybe I've chosen exceptionally wisely? But after tasting '07 vs '08, very worried. No need to worry here! Superb Smaragd, superb fruit concentration, balanced against superb minerality, balanced against superb acidity. It brought to mind Roland Velich (Moric's) comments about triangularity - this was equilaterally balanced. Co-WOTN, for me.
2000 Produttori del Barbaresco Pora - I'm sure it's a very nice wine and all, but what a wallflower this was in this room full of extroverts.
Labels:
Fancy Grub,
Hors catégorie,
Junmai-shu,
Protocol,
Travel,
Wine
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Kyoto Protocol VI
Labels:
Fancy Grub,
Protocol,
Travel,
Wine
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Kyoto Protocol V
2004 Movia Pinot Nero - not as exuberant as the last bottle. Variation? Age? Earth and fruit, dry, light, good acidity, just missing that edge. Tasty though.
Cornelissen Contadino 4 – almost what the Movia PN should have been – vibrant, pine, juniper, like a St. Laurent. Delicious until about 11:30, when it had been open for nearly 11.5 hours. Fell apart after that, tannin, rotten fruit.
1988 Chateau d'Arlay Vin Jaune - tastes alsmost as it did 18 months ago. This of course is the bottle we opened... 18 months ago. Must leave some for future tastings, no?
Labels:
Fancy Grub,
Protocol,
Travel,
Wine
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