kokuryu junmai ginjo
"black dragon"
junmai minerality
and clean purity
but strong and deep flavors
caramel and sea salt
apples ripened to the edge
underlying notes of cherry
beautiful experience at slightly below room temperature

justin obtuse californian port with cabernet sauvignon - 2010
blackberry jam and cassis nose
follows right onto palate
not too syrupy
clean fruit
softer than standard ruby ports
but lacks the burnt caramel and savory components of tawny
pleasant but too simple

Koshi no Kanbai "Tokusen" vanishing point

ginjo sake

at chilled temperatures - subdued - like pure mineral spring water

opens up dramatically at room temperature

elegant white fruit nose

on the tongue, the liquid seems to separate into two layers

one, effervescent and slightly oily, rendering everything

extremely smooth like swallowing a thick cloud

which hides the other layer of liquid

 crisp, clean

with a slight savory character

and vegetable bitterness

the alcoholic effect enters twice

amazing

2012 yohan Lardy Beaujolais cru moulin a vent

Strong nose of fresh cherries, roses and violets

Plum arrival

Luscious 

Almonds 

Smoke

Hazelnut

Some chalk

Mostly pure 

Anthithilia 2012 - cattaratto _ Ansonica

high acidity

immense old world complexity

dried soil

sherry savoriness

long finish

remarkable white wine from sicily
Astoundingly low price

Ben Rye 2011

darker cousin of Sauternes

not too heavy or sticky

just layers of clear fruits

pure

acidity not strongly apparent

good with pineapple dessert 

Cheron Crozes-Hermitage la couteau de la baume 2011
white pepper
cloves
potpourri
sweet vanilla

after one day,
much greater complexity
strong olive notes
the old world emerges from its debris

Churchill's 20 year old tawny port
Red orange
Almonds and light citrus nose
Tart cherries in a subtle herbal syrup
Some more almonds
Savory and a bit creamy like sherry

A party drink with all that cherry

Castel Giocondo Brunello di Montalcino 2007
decanted roughly
sweet raspberry and vanilla nose
with hints of hazelnuts
arrival filled with rich chocolate covered blueberries
with a few candied red fruit
held by undercurrent of acidity
leading to
smooth minerality
with bits of pepper
that is covered with more bitter chocolates
strong tannic structure
finishing with incense smoke

Such a high quality alcohol.
Drank an entire bottle in one sitting
with minimal effects.

B cellars sangiovese 2008
rich raspberry aroma like zinfandel
cherry jam arrival, cloves, cinnamon
sweetened citrus and velvet chocolate finish
but this shape shifter
it gains herbal notes
mint
and some cocoa
and the finish transforms to lemoned red tea
before it sweetens again with soft splashes of vanilla
a cotton candied aroma
tipsy at a childhood festival

Hamilton Russell Vineyards Pinot Noir 2012
rich red fruit nose
edged with minerality
cluster of strawberries on arrival
rolling down garnet silk
both deeply sour and elegantly rich
hazelnuts that are washed down
by soft lemons and raspberries
sweet fruit chocolate structure
bright finish
echoing with light jam

English picnic by the river

Rioja Faustino 2001
musty, mushroom nose
animal embalmed in salt
wild game hanging in the attic
eastern spices
cloves cinnamon
moist body of a belabored horse
bleeding
sickly sweet vanilla
and savage chocolates


--------

glendronach 15 year old
easily drowned by water
needs to be opened and kept for 3+ months
otherwise strong solvent
but properly aged
rich nose
cream sherried raisins
rum confectionary
sour citrus arrival
complex blend
of bright coffee
and dark chocolate
alternating with figs
rock salt
bits of smoke
enveloping
black dessert finish.

Domaine Faiveley Nuits-Saint Georges 2009
faint cassis, cinnamon and sweet plum nose
watery cherries held in lines of vanilla
high wave of bitter herbs
then sour strawberries
lingering
echoing at times
more vanilla and herbs
and jam confectionary
A deep  purple boundary
between the lake and the woods
At least one hour decanting required

papantonis 2010
greek varietal agiorgitiko
cloudy red
strong nose of cherries at first
then to cassis and pepper
soft arrival of red fruits and vanilla
at times a bit watery
undercurrent of acidity emerges after aeration
very gentle tannins leading to bits of chocolate
similar to montepulciano or cheap chianti
pleasant but indistinct like its vague red cloud
greece during roman occupation

house lustau san emilio pedro ximenez
brown red syrup
burnt caramel and raisin nose
full strong arrival of raisins
sweetening entire palate and then lingering for minutes
acidity allows some complexity in shades of raisins
and medicinal herbs
as if my mouth were embalmed with essence of raisins
dry, luxuriant
a flashy pharaoh in the deserts

2011 vin de bourgougne pinot noir domaine jean fournier
faded scent of red strawberries
a watery arrival of tart cherries submerged in a clear spring
slow cascade of strawberries until
sudden
rich
chocolate
red fruit
then tart cherries again
set in bits of chocolate
and water
like a shy girl who turns around suddenly
but then dissolves
in the spring

fonseca guimaraens 1991
second label vintage port
decanted for 3-6 hours
thick, black purple
restrained nose of raisins and blueberry
until after 6 hours, a fountain of cassis
soft vanilla and dark fruit
balanced mid palate by balsamic
long, wavering finish of chocolate and jam

clos les lunelles 2005

at dim steakhouse

decanted carefully for 1 hour

purple and black ink

with enticing cassis and blueberry nose

well balanced wine

with prominent ridges of tannin

held by creamy vanilla fog

drifting smoothly on a glassy, dark fruit and citrus sea

long finish with bits of chocolate

and strong sweet-sour-bitter

like south pacific fare

all more elegant between bits of steak.

the end of a voyage

Jason Stephens 2009 estate zinfandel
promising santa clara zinfandel complexity
dark red with slender purpled edges
thick aroma of vanilla
wrapped around clusters of spicy tobacco
wood and candied strawberry arrival
balanced by herbal tartness
a bit awkward at first
but then softens with time
peppery jam finish
with bits of chocolate tannins
and wood throughout
overpowering at times
but together with acidity
holds back the high alcohol shock

what a playboy youth!
sportive, brunette
handsome but
hollow

Chateau d'Aqueria Tavel 2012
served chilled
limpid watermelon juice
tiny bubbles along its glassy wake
nose of bright champagnes
and tart cherries
gentle arrival of thin sauvignon blanc
immediate intensification
of red fruits wrapped in refreshing brightness
rich tannins unfold midpalate
with long multidimensional finish
of strawberries and melon candy

it is like kissing her again
after a winter of separation
a fantasy of lost promises

Lustau amontillado los arcos
tawny brown
luscious scent of walnuts, almond and aged balsamic
some forest duff
rich arrival of roasted nuts
balanced well with acidity
just peeking from under layers of savory
like aged yellow wine from old china
dusted with truffles
just the right brightness compared to amontillado escuadrilla from same house
delicious creamed mushroom soup near the end
extending into the finish
leaving dry notes

late autumn harvest

smokiness and oak when paired with savory vegetable broth

Tranco Monastrell+Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Decanted for 3+ hours
strawberry icecream aroma in decanter
but in glass
rich, ferocious nose of cassis and cherry
grasping vanilla that stretches out
thinly into drops of gasoline
refreshing herb arrival coupled with currant and black berries
brief as flash of lightening
then heavy, almost, painful tannic grip
above coffee acidity
transforms into dark chocolate
a dry finish
mud ruins

Bird's big barrel pinot noir 2012
screw capped
transparent purple
slightly pale edges
beautiful aroma
of fresh cherries
and strawberry patch
refreshing nose!
arrival of very tart strawberries
enveloped in bitter herbs
a touch of chocolate
long, bright finish
with lingering echoes of red fruit
opened too soon? a few more years?
overnight, notes of old fashioned candies
a picture book of nursery rhymes
blue skies
green fields
little girls in bonnets
picking small strawberries

Graham's 20 year old tawny port
bottled 2013
orange amber crystal
creamy raisins and sweet herbs on nose
syrupy figs and sour apricots on arrival
that dissolve into rich almonds
memory of oloroso sherry
then bright citrus oil
like madeira
but lingering as almonds again
and honeyed cocoa nibs
quiet mineral note

i imagine crepuscule in warm climes
an orange line across dark blue waters
unfolding on a chalky balcony
wrought with baroque arabesques
sicilian rococo
balanced with triangles
i see shadows of serrated fronds
over dry sandscapes
the guests are just arriving
old friends
and a past lover

hegarty chamans no. 1
syrah cargnan 2009
lipstick legs
sweet vanilla wood
hint of rosin
sitting among the violins
bowing a childhood etude
heavy cream
smooth tannins
chewy
chocolate
like fresh port
cola at moments
then cherry
delicious
sprigs of dark red herbs
sudden fig sweetness
after bite of lemon turkey
on rosemary bread
needs such savory companions

tasty drink
though wood too forward at start
artificial sweetener if overnight

dined at shirahama

presented 酔楽天（熟成大吟醸)

crafted from tiny kernel of highest quality rice

bottle aged for two years

ethereal drunken joy

slightly chilled in small glass goblet

muted scent

clean - like purest vodka

floral arrival

gently oiled the tongue

hundred white flowers

spring garden after rain

soft notes of pear and melon

lingering for long finish

velvet smooth

zero hint of spice

surprisingly did not diminish taste of fish

paired first with horse mackerel

enhanced briny notes

then with yellow jack

adorned the meat with elegant sweetness

finally with rock salted sea eel

warm, crunchy textured

with rice wine

almost as if touched by a few flowers

lunch at mille fleurs

began with celery soup with almonds
subtle sweetness and celery flavor
nuts provided interesting texture

jadot pouilly-fuisse
vintage unknown
decanted
medium gold
a few unappetizing particles
how long had it been opened?
weak nose
paired with lobster salad.
lobster meat full of deep briny flavors.
went well with soft, rich avocado and bright sweet papaya
enhancing the slight buttery notes of this chardonnay

santa barbara pinot
vintner and vintage unknown
likely Carr's
decanted
pale garnet - but not translucent
light fruity nose
heavy in wood
vanillas
palate overpowered with wood
gentle tannins
lacks pinot character
paired with duck confit
potatoes had strong earthy taste
wine brought out spots of smokiness in fatty meat

-------

meiomi pinot 2012
screw cap
dark red but translucent
began with awkward nose
after a minute revealed strong cherry aroma
a bit overpowering
artificial scent of cheap sweets
american candy shop
light red fruit arrival
medium tannins - turns chocolatey

stored under vacuum for one night
- next morning - tannins are almost gone
cherry candy much more subdued
mouthfeel thin, like water
brighter acidity
faint chocolate
tiny note of strawberry emerges
but drowned and numb
like town turned to driftwood after hurricane