Some randome wine notes from past few days...
With a couple of friends, we had lovely whites.
2002 Vincent Dauvissat, Chablis...Even this "village" AC, Dauvissat makes the most Chablis-like Chablis. And, this 8-year wine was showing so beautiful with the flint-stone and minerality. I was so impressed! The vineyard is approximately just 1 ha, so the production is quite small.
2003 Jean-Marc Boillot, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru, "Champ-Canet"...We had a fun geeky time talking about the family trees of Sauzet and Boillot families over this wine. So, Jean-Marc is Etienne Sauzet's grand son and he inherited part of Champ-Canet along with other very notable vineyards (like, his entire holding of La Truffiere!). Jean-Marc's style is quite different from Sauzet's. Very lush texture with a lot of minerals and ripe tropical fruits (03!), popcorn, caramel on the nose. Champ-Canet is right next to Meursault Perrieres, so it had the natural richness, too.
Then, back to Palate in Glendale for dinner with friends...
2001 Weingut Muller-Catoir, Haardter Herrenletten, Riesling - Spatlese...Among the very top producers from Pfaltz. The estate has been owned by the same family since 1744. Very vibrant aroma of honey and apricot. Little fuzz of first attack on the palate. Rich nectar. High acid. Long finish.
2004 Domaine Denis Bachelet, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru, "Les Corbeaux"...Only 200 cases are made from small 1 ha parcel, right next to Mazis-Chambertin. It was so balanced and the wine was just ready and beautiful (yay for 2004!). Average 80-year-0ld vine. Spice, dry berry, dust, brown sugar. Very silky palate, earthy, raspberry. It felt like I was in the forest smelling the nature. Very complex with long finish.
1996 Drappier, Champagne Brut, Carte d'Or (Reims)...This is their vintage version of Carte d'Or. It's almost 90% Pinot Noir, so it's like Blanc de Noir! Brioche, white pepper, yeast. Very elegant soft mousse, acid, long finish. The fine has the depth and so beautiful. Their dosage right after disgorging is average 25-year-0ld reserved wine.
2001 Chateau Doisy-Vedrines, Sauternes...They own the largest vineyard in the commune of Barsac. About 80% Semillon + Sauvignon Blanc and tiny amount of Muscadelle. Very intense honey/ custard on the nose. Bitter orange, white chocolate, luscious palate.
The following night, I was at Kiwami Restaurant in Studio City. Jason and I sat at the sushi bar and ate so much. We had, kampachi tataki salad, oyster shooters, nigiri sushi (scallop, blue fin tuna, shima aji, jumbo clam, aji, ama ebi, tai snapper, ika, maguro toro, tako), some rolls, negitoro temaki, negihama temaki, crab temaki, and hotate temaki. Yes, we ate so much! We brought Champagne to the dinner.
2004 Jose Dhondt, Champagne Brut, Blanc de Blancs "Mes Vieilles Vignes" Grand Cru...It's from average 55-year-old vine from vineyards in Oger (Grand Cru in Cote des Blancs). It was especially nice with the fried ama-ebi (sweet shrimp) head. Milky aroma, toasty mineral. Very soft and creamy. Elegant long finish.
Sunday night was at Barbrix in Silverlake. We love Barbrix!
2006 Domaine Henri Delagrange, Aloxe-Corton, "Les Caillettes"...Average 55-year-old vines. Fresh cherry, blueberry, spice, and earthy character. Very smooth palate. Very charming.
2006 Durigutti, Durigutti Reserva, Marbec (Mendoza, Argentina)...The wine is from the owner, Claudio's home country, Argentina. We had it with their prime skirt steak "tagliata" and it was like a match made in heaven. Modern-style Marbec with very juicy palate. Nice structure.
So much fun.
