Las Vegas Locals Dinner at Lotus of Siam

Met up with some Las Vegas locals at Lotus of Siam for dinner. It was great meeting Eric and Brian for the first time and seeing Joe again. Another great dinner at Lotus.

Started off with a selection of whites paired with Sum Tum salad and Tom Ka Kai. Food was great as always and the whites all drank well.

• 2007 Nigl Riesling Privat 89 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Kremstal

  Bought off the list at Lotus of Siam and popped and poured. Nose was beautifully composed of lychee, fresh herbs, white florals and peaches. The palate was intensely mineral with beautiful florals and fresh peach. This will last a long time and definitely benefitted from exposure to air. Wasn't as shutdown as I thought it might be, so that was good!

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1998 Gunderloch Nackenheim Rothenberg Riesling Spätlese 92 Points

  Germany, Rheinhessen

  Beautiful dark yellow color with tones of fresh linen, lychee, petrol and peach on the nose. The palate had a beautiful elegance with white florals, white peach and lychee. Nice weight to the palate I think this has a number of more years before it starts any type of decline.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2008 Domaine Huet Vouvray Demi-Sec Le Haut-Lieu 92 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray

  Showing incredibly well. Beautiful melon and floral tones with fresh herbs. Palate was so elegant and silky - with subtle sweetness. What a value and a shining example why Huet may be the best French white wine producer for the money. Compelling wine.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2008 Vineyard 29 Sauvignon Blanc Estate 82 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  If tasted blind, I have trouble imagining anyone pegging this as Sauvignon Blanc. The nose was incredibly tropical and floral. Explosions of mango, papaya, peach, passion fruit, honeyed pears and subtle grassiness on the nose are almost comical in their density and vibrancy. The palate had the weight of a Chardonnay or Chenin Blanc and displayed more heavyweight tropical fruit. I found this to be a caricature of Sauvignon Blanc and at $125 a bottle not the type of wine I'd ever pursue.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Had my usual pork stew that was actually a touch hot for these wines. Luckily, we had enough whites to go with the spicy cuisine!

• 2001 Chateau Musar 91 Points

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  Bought off the list at Lotus of Siam and was decanted as soon as I got to the restaurant. In retrospect, I should have asked them to start decanting it around lunchtime. At first this wasn't interested in showing us much. By the end of dinner, it had blossomed into a beautiful wine. The nose had the expected Musar-funk to it combined with beautiful red fruit, subtle tobacco and spices. After some air, the palate had incredibly elegant red fruit with minerals, leather and tobacco. Should be a great Musar with time...definitely decant this if you're planning on drinking it soon.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2006 Rhys Pinot Noir Alpine Hillside 93 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  This was decanted for about one hour prior to consumption. General consensus was that this was still too young. Luckily, I was thoroughly impressed with its balance, elegance and focused flavors. Great red florals, cranberry, mineral and spices on the palate - has the elegance of a Chambolle. The palate was silky and elegant with tobacco, spicy red cranberry fruit and dried red florals. Probably another 5-7 years before this enters its peak.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2007 Jonata Winery El Desafio de Jonata 87 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley

  A bruiser of a wine with intense dark fruit, florals and spices on the nose. The palate was surprisingly balanced and despite its weight, was drinking nicely. If I had tasted this blind I would have guessed syrah due to the meatiness on the palate - nice minerality and dense florals round out the palate. Could see this being wildly popular, just was a bit heavier and more viscous that I typically enjoy.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

The TBA was served with a selection of Thai deserts; fried bananas, coconut ice cream, and mangos with sticky rice. Great end to the evening!

• 1989 Dr. Bürklin-Wolf Wachenheimer Mandelgarten Scheurebe Trockenbeerenauslese 96 Points

  Germany, Pfalz

  Purchased on release at the winery by Eric and stored professionally since then. The color was as Eric put it, "frightfully dark", it resembled an aged Burgundy - light brown, showing no sign that it comes from a white wine grape. The nose had dense dark florals, sweet plums, fresh herbs and spices and white peach. The palate was incredible. Despite its color and age, this was fresh as a daisy. Beautifully expressive florals, peach and mineral tones. So vivid, so balanced, so elegant. Thanks Eric for bringing this!

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue