In what has become a very fun tradition, Paul Hiyake and his wife Sandee again generously opened their home to a few of us for a Sunday night. We were joined by Paul’s and my friend Rob Bastuba and by their (and now definitely my) friend Chris Ham. Rob Berry with his wife Fely and son Tim rounded out our cabal. Around various piano and guitar playing and singing, we sort of went Brazilian steakhouse style with 3 different cuts and yummy potatoes and kale salad to go with. All the wines are from Paul’s cellar except for the Champagne which I brought. The theme we chose was to look at SQN, Next of Kyn and Fingers Crossed
NV Thienot Brut Rose
I grabbed this from the K&L store in LA, as I continue to expand on producers I’ve never had before. This was yummylicious. Grapefruit and tangy apple peel are in the bouquet, palate is forceful yet smooth, rather sparkly in feel with citrus and berry going back and forth. Very good
2018 Fingers Crossed White
In the aromatics, I got lemon custard and a bit of sweet truffle. To taste, this shows some sweetness but balances that with a real mustard component. Butterscotch a bit at the back, this does have a creamy texture. 72% Roussanne, 24% Chard, 4% VIognier. Idiosyncratic and unique, which is in a way what I’d look for from a wine from this family.
2019 Next of Kyn
Very intense nose, plums and other purple fruit. In the mouth, joined by molasses and some prunes. it’s chock full of stuff but it’s so much of those flavours and, later, sarsaparilla all the way. Just not my preference.
2018 Fingers Crossed Syrah
Deep cherry and plum sniffs, backed by meats. Happy wine here, aromatic replays with fascinating glints of cured tobacco and charcoal at the back. Guessed 15.9%, right on the button. I enjoyed this.
2017 SQN Hated Hunter Syrah
Really nice with a very complex nose–cocoa nuance, strawberry, deep cherry, mocha, sweetmeats…wow. All the replays are there—powerful but harmonized within its context, to a really special degree. Easily my WOTN.
A special evening, so much thanks Paul!