Tokyo wines

Tasted Friday, September 29, 2023 - Monday, October 2, 2023 by melvinyeowq with 90 views

Flight 1 - Two magical wines (2 Notes)

Putting these two blockbusters side-by-side, both encapsulated what I love in wines - weightless and textural red fruit. Also thankful for pristine storage by these Japanese restaurants.

  • 2001 René Balthazar Cornas 96 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas

    (9/29/2023)

    I don't think I will taste a Verset or Juge in my lifetime but god if this is what they are like then I’ll be missing out. Floral, meaty nose, but the palate surprised me with its gorgeous red fruit and ethereal texture. Incredibly fresh and structured for its age but tannins were resolved and softened. Brilliant and vibrant, had the deep red fruit that I adored. I have tried a few old-school aged northern Rhones this year and they truly can be as captivating as Burgundies. What a wine.

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  • 2008 Domaine Dujac Clos de la Roche 95 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru

    (9/30/2023)

    Dujac GCs have been on my bucket list - wanted to take the 06 CSD but unfortunately it wasn’t available, so I took this instead. Thankfully it was showing brilliantly, surprisingly approachable and firmly was in its drinking window. Despite not being as Dujac as expected, it was a stunning wine. Glorious red-fruited notes, instead of the blue that I expected. Very attractive and integrated at this stage, not tannic and stemmy at all. Fresh pour had more overt fruit but tightened up and ‘08 acidity showed a little with time in the glass. Incredibly seamless wine, supremely balanced without anything out of place.

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Flight 2 - Luonto by-the-glass (6 Notes)

Flight 3 - Mugneret-Gibourg by-the-glass (3 Notes)

Fortuitously walked past some M-G by the glass at Mitsukoshi Ginza, met a couple who asked the staff to open the Echezeaux since I finished the other two that they had tried the previous day. My first M-G and very impressed, not sure if it is worth the market price nowadays though.

Flight 4 - Gout de Jaune (2 Notes)

  • 2011 O2Y L’Originel 90 Points

    France, Jura, Arbois

    (9/30/2023)

    Savagnin made three different barrels that were topped up for three years, then transferred to one large vessel and kind of forgotten about, so no more topping up and a light voile developed. VJ-lite. - Info courtesy of Russell Faulkner.

    Powerful wine with high acidity, honey, mushroom and bruised apple notes. Clean and not too over-the-top, liked this but wouldn't be able to drink too much of this.

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  • 2008 Jean-François Ganevat Les Grands Teppes Vieilles Vignes

    France, Jura, Côtes du Jura

    (9/30/2023)

    Dark golden in colour, dominant sherry and honey notes but still had very high acid. Not sure if this could be considered as premox since it wasn't flabby, but don't have enough experience with old Jura whites to tell the ageing curve.

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Flight 5 - Birthday lunch at L'écrin Ginza (2 Notes)

  • 2008 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses 91 Points

    France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

    (10/2/2023)

    White capsule. Always a roulette regarding premox - hint of baked apple here but thankfully wasn’t too distracting. High acid which I liked but a little thin on the fruit. Texturally seamless with a saline, driven finish. Some cider notes with air. Individual components checked the boxes but didn’t come across as fully coherent on the whole.

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  • 2005 Thierry Allemand Cornas Reynard 94 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas

    (10/2/2023)

    Another Rhône that had a strong Burgundian character. Unlike the younger Allemands that I’ve tried, this was surprisingly red-fruited instead of blue, and did not have any natural notes. Previous notes mentioned jammy fruit but I didn’t get that here, though I preferred the ‘01 Balthazar a couple of days back which was more elegant and integrated. With air it became even more powerful, as the Syrah typicity of smoked meat notes began to show. Still excellent despite not being transcendental, don’t think I’ll have many opportunities to try an Allemand with age.

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