Enjoyed the delicious eats and cool service @automat.mnl in Makati (Manila) where we imbibed on a few soulful wines, not for deep, geeky contemplation, but for the simple enjoyment of the moment.
2022 Finca Viñoa Treixadura Ribeiro
I’ve been in the lookout for Ribeiro whites ever since I trekked Northern Spain in 2023 and this rare local find in, of all places, a BGC (Manila) neighborhood supermarket, showed fine fruit, ample acidity and fun complexity conjuring cool-climate citrus and hints of exotic notes. Versatile good.
2023 La Soeur Cadette Bourgogne Chardonnay Vézelay
I wouldn’t pass up on any wine from Vézelay, a town that is near-and-dear for wife and I, and this bottle was a pleasant find in the restaurant’s wine list. Steely and evoking clean, terroir-driven, all-Burgundian characters.
2017 Alain Voge Cornas Les Chailles
No regrets drinking this still youthful, but serious syrah. Even with its tannic grip, the meaty, savory and peppery fruitiness clearly outlines its fine Northern Rhone pedigree. Good now, but expect will get better with further cellar aging.
2016 Pertimali (Livio Sassetti) Brunello di Montalcino
Just read that JS gave this 100 points, not that I give a flying hoorang about points!
This is a solid Brunello, creeping into some secondary complexity, herb scented black cherries, with a firmish finish. Needs a bit more time and was far less compelling on the night than 2010 Oddero Rocche di Castiglione.
Well this 2001 Pavie is a delightful surprise. An explosive nose that is hard to pin down and a beautifully classic right bank palate. Seriously lovely wine.
Soyard Acte 2 (Solera 2017-2020) - crazy color, all guessed 10+ years older. Amazing depth, complexity, developed all the time in new phases. Simply stunning
Koji 2022 Marsannay - guessed this one, so light but still intense, umami and strawberries in perfect marriage. Pure candy in a good way.
Arlaud CSD 2002. Pure silk, but still a young profile. All guessed 10 years younger. One actually guessed CSD… Love it - in a perfect spot.
Hi Charles, I cannot give you detailed descriptors but the bottle was tasty and enjoyable and we polished it off the same night. If a bottle is just an “eh” we would have saved some to try again the next day. This bottle was part of an experimental Wine Bid purchase of a bunch of inexpensive older bottles of Oregon producers I did not know. So far the experiment has been a success as most showed well
Just got my 2022s physically and though I always made it a point to not open anything straight from delivery I couldn’t resist trying it with pretty much the same dish Otto & Co. Had in the Jura #10 thread. Pretty outstanding blanc as usual, will only get better from here.
