EWG Riesling and Pinot at Yujean Kang's

Another trip to Yujean's called for Riesling and Pinot Noir. Another tremendous dinner was served showing off some of his traditionally great dishes plus some new items recently added to the menu. I liked all the dishes though I think some of the pairings would have worked better flipped, Pinot to Riesling and vice versa. On the wines, Germany stole the show. All of the German Rieslings were very good while Alsace was silent and the Pinots were mostly just big. I liked the Vouvray but yet again a Chenin failed to step above admiration of its style.

All in all another fun time. I think there was even more laughter than usual. I think I might see what I can do about masking my IP address from now on though.

• 1989 Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile

  France, Alsace

  Tight nose with some wet brown leaves and hints of cheese. Clean, tart and dry but just not showing much on the palate. This didn't seem to want to come out to play unfortunately and was in sharp contrast to the beautiful '83 I had two weeks ago. It showed no signs of flaws.

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• 2001 Schloss Johannisberg Riesling Grünlack Spätlese

  Germany, Rheingau

  Very golden in color for such a young wine. Lovely sweet nose of honey, almost botrytis. Dry in character yet weighty and rich for a spatlese. Some nice flavor of cut apple and though the tart finish is a bit abrupt this was quite good.

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• 2001 Joh. Jos. Prüm Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese Flawed

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  Corked!

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• 2002 Zilliken (Forstmeister Geltz) Saarburger Rausch Riesling Spätlese

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  Nose of fresh squeezed lime with a touch of petrol. Bright pretty complex palate that shows some mineral character with air. Good stuff and probably just starting to come out of its shell.

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• 1989 Zilliken (Forstmeister Geltz) Saarburger Rausch Riesling Spätlese

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  This was AP#6. The nose starts of pretty musty but that fades leaving some petrol and minerals. Big and expressive still with a clean sweet tart character. I was surprised at how big this showed still and it was great to taste it next to the 02. Very similar in flavor though they expressed themselves somewhat differently. Very good.

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• 2005 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Brand

  France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

  Nose is a bit tight letting on some subtlety later in the way of some wet autumn leaves. Very dry on the palate with a bit of a bite on the back end. Alsace isn't showing up to play tonight.

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• 2005 Von Hövel Oberemmeler Hütte Riesling Spätlese

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  Nose of sweet lime. Fat, tart and juicy. This appeared to me to be pretty straight forward though it may need more time. A nice all around example of a young German Riesling.

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• 2007 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  Tight initially on the nose. Tingly on the palate with pretty sweet tart flavors and very good length. This got better and better in the glass as it opened. Pretty good now with a great future ahead of it.

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• 1984 Louis M. Martini Pinot Noir

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Slightly musty nose showing its age clearly with some subtle mushroom aromas later on. Clean and alive this has held up well though not very interesting. Good acids.

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• 2006 Panther Creek Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Big nose of black cherry with slight herbs and vanilla. Big rich palate with plenty of vanilla. Shows some heat next to the tannin. Probably too much oak though it didn't seem overly ripe like many 06's. Lot's of fruit and tannin to see if that can integrate some.

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• 2008 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

  Tight funky nose showing some sweet fruit and caramel. Lovely palate feel and good length supporting some bright crunchy fruit. Some tannin on the back end among the great acidity. Once the fruit unwinds more this should be tremendous. Good wine making on display here. Very good.

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• 2006 Rhys Alesia Pinot Noir San Mateo County

  USA, California, San Francisco Bay, San Mateo County

  Funk and some heat on the nose. Candy cherry flavors on a clean light feeling palate with some bitterness. Not the best showing of this wine.

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• 2006 Chasseur Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Ripe nose showing pretty cranberry and heat. Juicy with a graham cracker flavor and a bitter/tart finish.

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• 2004 Aubert Pinot Noir UV Vineyard

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  A big boy. Very dark in color. Berry candy nose. Sweet Bing cherry flavor with slight tannin and a drying finish. Clearly in the cocktail side of the spectrum.

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• 2004 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Amber Ridge Vineyard

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Nose of berry syrup and baked dark fruits. Big up front with a muddled finish. Drink your KB's before next release.

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• 2008 Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Le Haut-Lieu

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray

  Strong nectarine character on the nose. The palate seems tight but shows great structure. The sugar seems integrated into a clean acidic juicy palate. This should be better in a decade or so. It still didn't excite me though it is admirable.

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