“Balloon”?
How did the ‘98s show?
Ha! It’s the smell of rubber latex balloon, I suppose it falls into the broad category of VA. Something about that scent, I don’t know what. I get it from some wines and saison/farmhouse beers.
Is this the sole 2020 in all of burgundy that’s drinking well? 
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Where is this?
Antibes, France. In the old town right next to the Picasso museum, which is an old castle.
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Dujac MSD Village, the Cal Ripken Jr. of wines: always there, always on.
Unfortunately getting Dujac in Quebec is like drafting a starting shortstop in the 20th round of the draft. Once in a blue moon baby!
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Good to hear considering it’s my largest holding in my small collection!
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A burgundy night, went with a fish dish and a terrine de foie gras starter, so this beauty..,
Young. Gorgeous. A bit chewy. But no premox!
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I think it’s diam so it’s unlikely to be premox
Pretty epic wine night with the LA WB gang on Sat with @Jboonsook @DrewN @Eric_Michels @Wilson_Teo and a few others.
@Jboonsook was kind enough to open up his 1979 Duckhorn Merlot from Napa and I think we were all pretty impressed with how good it was still! Sure, you can taste the age on it, but it still was kicking with its acid finish - a lot of complex liveliness!
Kobayashi Cab Franc was very nice, lots of green freshness and comes across as a whole cluster wine, but it’s not. A wine nerds wine.
Musar was also excellent, tiny bit of barnyard on it, but really nice.
The Tidings were also great and we did a vertical of the 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023. Hard to say which one was a favorite, but I think the 2022 for its immediacy and fruit, but the 2023 had the complex end and will be epic with a few more years, no doubt.
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I just love is grape… Goes with most food, everyone enjoys drinking, well balanced, a touch of complexity, can age a bit, and not a second thought about buying by the case.
It’s Nebbiolo’s oddball cousin - don’t be stingy grinding that white pepper on my strawberry roses!
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@Peter_Chiu was talking about Les Astrelles so I decided to open an Aligoté tonight:
Les Astrelles Bourgogne Aligoté Les Lares 2022
My first bottle of this was a little disjointed but still prompted me to buy more. The wood was a little obtrusive and the finish was clipped. Well this was absolutely lovely! Still a little hit of sesame reduction but the oak is now part of the wine. Citrus, unripe pear, some oak spices all wrapped in a playful and bright frame. Enough texture to let this age. Very fun.
We had a big plate of “North American” lasagna and Chianti to follow:
Fattoria Carpineta Fontalpino Dofana Chianti Classico 2016
Strawberry, cherry, worn leather, some VA, earth and florals on the nose but all in proportion. Tanins hit from the get-go but not overtaking the mouthfeel, it just gives it grip and presence. Medium+ acidity on red berries and a decent fruity vinish. Very nice with the tomato sauce. Good bottle.
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Don’t deny Peter!
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This wine is nothing special, except that it’s from the exceptional 2016 vintage, and drinking perfectly now. Oh, and only 20 euros at the Bordeaux Lac Auchan. Beautiful balance, red and black fruit (plums and strawberries) accompanied by tobacco, mushroom, thyme and forest floor, much longer finish than I deserved at this price. Made myself a plate of pasta fruits de mer and this paired beautifully.
Man, it’s great to finally be in my Bordeaux apartment!
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It was my birthday on Saturday and my wife threw a dinner party for 10. I opened:
Magnum of Mousse Champagne Les Vignes de mon Village
2x 2020 Clos Cibonne Cuvée Spéciale des Vignettes Rosé
Magnum of 2001 LdH Tondonia Gran Reserva
2x 2016 Jean Foillard Morgon Côte du Py
Nothing sucked.
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Dinner tonight at Naga Bistro, a local Lao/Khmer/Thai spot, with @Dennis_Atick, @bradkaplan, @RKatz, and @Billbell. The food was excellent and some of the wines were standouts. The Goodfellow Durant has filled out a bit since I last had it a year or so ago. The 2013 C.A.I. was nice, but the 2010 Ellergrub was on another level. Both rosés were very good, though the Tondonia needed a good bit of air to show its stuff. I liked both Dirty & Rowdys but I don’t know that age is helping them. The Trimbach was incredible, sweet but with plenty of acid. I didn’t get a picture of an enjoyable 1989 Chorey-Les-Beaunes (it was a Chenu-Lefebvre Les Beaumonts, thanks to Brad for the assist) but it showed much younger than it was. All in all, a really fun night!
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Conterno CF with heat issue; Giacosa was great!