Dinner with good friends

Dinner was suggested and put-together by our good friends from "Nippon Electric"... 9 of us gathered at Ubin Seafood. Its boss and one of our friends went back a long-way - he was his unit's S3... We were also offered the boss' "special brew" - "LP" jiu (looks/taste like fermented apple in Vodka). Anyway, it was fun and swell meeting each other again!

• 2007 Schloss Lieser Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  This had a very slight nose of sulphur that quickly blew over, displaying a very nice scent of flowers and tropical fruits. One can almost anticipate the palate that follows, and indeed, it didn't disappoint... Peaches, lime, ripe-pineapples, balanced with superb freshness/acidity and a fine streak of minerality, all delivered with good length that lingered on the palate. SL definitely scored this one in 07 without over-doing it...

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• 2007 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese #14

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  This was PnP'ed after the SL. Again, nose of tropical fruits. This had slightly more fruit intensity than the SL - this was broader whereas the SL had more tension. Green apple, citrus, grapefruit; again balanced by wonderful freshness. Stylistically, I prefer the SL but I think this Schaefer will last longer. All-in-all, another great 07 Spatlese...

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• 2007 Dönnhoff Hermannshöhle Riesling Großes Gewächs

  Germany, Nahe

  PnP'ed as well. Might've been a mistake as this should've been decanted to give it a whiff of air... Appeared closed (probably too cold) at first, the nose took a while to open up in the glass - lemon, tropical fruits... On the palate, it came across as a bit flabby. Hrmm, mebbe it's just this particular juncture in its development cycle? Anyway, grapefruits, peaches are what one can still taste, but sorely lacking that finesse and tension although finish was still quite lengthy... Try again in a few yrs...

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• 2007 Château de Beaucastel Côtes du Rhône Coudoulet de Beaucastel

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  This was slow-ox'ed for around 45mins to an hour or so... Deep dark purple colored. Brooding nose of dark fruits, some herbs(?)... On the palate - earth, meaty notes and fine tannins with lots of structure (still tight). Will be interesting to see how this (the 07s) develops furthur...

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• 2007 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  This was also slow-ox'ed for ~an hour or so... Deep dark purple. This showed more nose than the Coudoulet - dark berries, garrigue. Together with the dark fruits, it felt rich and spicy on the palate too, with just a slight tinge of heat... At this juncture, I certainly enjoyed it more than the Coudoulet. Perhaps it was the food that went along as well - we were having a fabulous meal of "high-end" zi-char at Ubin Seafood...

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