Very short notes from lunch at Toki.
Max Fred Richter Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Spatlese 2007 - Rather light. Orange rind. Grapey sweet. Crisp fruit. Very easy to drink and a real nice match with sushi and unagi.
Miguel Torres Ribera del Duero Celeste 2005 - Lightish and rather acidic finish. Good but nothing special.
After lunch I had a late afternoon appointment to meet up with Jojo and Ramon at Jojo's shop. Arriving at the shop, Jojo led me upstairs to check out the new wine lockers for rent and particularly, the largest locker for 4000 bottles which was filled with Jojo's impressive personal collection. It was probably around 15 degrees C in that room - chilly but perfect cellar temp and so we cracked open a few bottles there.
William Fevre Montee de Tonnere Chablis 1er Cru 2004 - Exotic, very sweet, honeyed nose like a late harvest wine. If this were served to me blind I would have guessed this as a dessert wine from the nose alone. Weighty, a little smoky with a nutty finish. Very good.
Chateau Figeac 1990 - Sweet tobacco. A little damp earth. Quite rich. Very dry but sweet on the very long finish. This wine is still a baby with some firm tannin still in evidence. Just starting to come around after about an hour in the glass. Good complexity and balance. Bittersweet chocolate and pencil shavings. After 2 hours, espresso as well. Excellent wine now but I have a feeling this will get even better in a couple of years.
Henri Bonneau Reserve des Celestins Chateauneuf du Pape 1995 - Ramon brought this fantastic bottle to share. The aroma just leaps out of the glass. Dried herbs, blackberry jam. Very fragrant. On the palate. Very spicy. Just a touch of barnyard to add complexity. Coffee. Rich and full of sweet, ripe fruit. After an hour in the glass, bacon and leather. Complex and many-layered. The wine is so expressive now but it seems like it can give even more with a little more time. A real beauty. Simply outstanding.
