1997 Petit Mouton

Dinner at Nikushou.  After losing Kuma.

1997 Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild - decanted right before serving.  Very smooth on the palate, acidity a little higher than expected, and this was a lighter vintage for sure.  Smoky, woodsy, cassis, and tobacco.

Kubota and Zaku

Drinking at home.

Zaku Junmai Daiginjo Selection N (作  純米大吟醸  セレクションN) - seimaibuai (精米歩合) of 50%.  Banana notes, a little fermented.

Kubota Seppou (久保田  雪峯) - seimaibuai (精米歩合) of 50% for koji (麹) and 33% for mash (かけ米).  More fermented, more depth on the palate.

Burg and Rhone

Dinner at Écriture.

2014 Benoit Ente Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de la Truffière - lovely nose with acidity, a little buttery.  Definitely needed decanting.

2004 Ponsot Clos de la Roche - opened 2 hours prior to serving.  Very fragrant, with good fruit and a bit of leather.  Drinking well now.

1990 Guigal La Mouline - decanted 2½ hours prior to serving.  Really beautiful.  Smoky, minty, with coffee.  Surprisingly didn't get much floral notes from viognier.

Full post on dinner is here.

97 Beringer Merlot

Drinking at home.

1997 Beringer Merlot Private Reserve Howell Mountain - alcoholic, smoky, exotic sweetness, vanilla, and coconut butter.  Very nice and fragrant.

Ganevat Seau-Trou

Drinking at home.

Anne et Jean-François Ganevat Seau-Trou les Corvées - a little pungent, barnyard, leather, bacon fat, smoky, floral, soapy and almost a little savory on the palate.

2006 The Scooter

Drinking at home.

2006 Mollydooker The Scooter - minty, a little smoky, a little hot and alcoholic, medium-bodied.  Later on kinda woodsy and fragrant, with some sweet fruit.

2006 Two Left Feet

Drinking at home.

2006 Mollydooker Two Left Feet - very ripe on the palate, lots of concentration although tannins have softened to balance nicely.  Pretty alcoholic.  Notes of grilled meats, woodsy, minty, and leather.

5 French and Washington

Dinner at Caprice.

Jacques Selosse Version Originale - beautiful nose, with sooo much marmalade, and a little salty plum.  Just delicious.

Unfortunately, the staff didn't realize that the two bottles had different disgorgement dates... so they ended up pouring the second bottle into glasses that hadn't quite emptied.  Victor needs to train them better...

2004 Didier Dagueneau Silex, en magnum - green apple, kinda ripe, a little flinty, pretty nice.  Riper than the the last bottle I opened, but still very lively.  Also worked well with the cheese board later.

1974 Paul Jaboulet Le Chevalier de Sterimberg - very oxidized, very caramelized, lots of beeswax.  Dry and savory on the palate.

2012 Georges Roumier Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Clos de la Bussière, en magnum - eucalyptus, fragrant, sweet fruit, floral, some smoke and a little animal.  Just beautiful.

2003 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon - unfortunately, this bottle was corked.  Surprised that Victor didn't let us know.  Decanted for 1½ hours.  Definitely showing lots of green bell pepper notes along with that wet cardboard.  Still ripe and sweet on the palate, though.  A shame.

1989 Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Émile Sélection de Grains Nobles - really sweet, lots of honey, marmalade, orange blossom water, and acetone.

Full post on dinner is here.

2003 Pax Keltie

Drinking at home.

2003 Pax Syrah Cuvée Keltie - initially nose was fragrant but still restrained due to chilling, with smoke, ripe, black fruits, and woodsy notes, with almost a hint of violet.  Amazing concentration here after more than 16 years, with tannins that have softened to the right level on the palate.  Still going strong after 2 hours in the decanter.