Notes from lunch today at Sushi Kappo Kobikicho. One of the finest Japanese restaurants in Manila but unfortunately you have to pay Tokyo prices. A little more affordable at lunch due to the lunch sets. We started with 2 excellent sakes, one rather sweet, the other more dry and quite full. I forgot to take note of the the names of the sakes, though.
Champagne Comte Audoin de Dampierre Family Reserve 2000 - Sea breeze and a touch of sweet caramel on the nose. Quite rich, toasty, caramel, cafe au lait. Very slightly oxidative. Christmas spices (cinnamon, cloves etc). Very complex and deep flavors. Quite fresh and crisp on the very long finish. Already great to drink now but suspect there may still be some marginal improvement possible in the short term. Outstanding.
Jean Noel Gagnard Chassagne Montrachet Maltroie 1er Cru 1999 - Buttery nose. Rich but extremely dry. Stony and rather austere. Toasty. Didn't really appeal to me but could possibly have been better with some fish in a cream sauce rather than sushi. Also suffered after the great Champagne.
Chateau Le Bon Pasteur 2000 - Jojo detected some corkiness. I couldn't detect it but on tasting it was certainly flat. Too bad.
Chateau Larcis Ducasse 2000 - A bit of wet rag. Dried fruit and herbs with some bittersweet chocolate. Very soft and dry. Rather sour finish.
Red Car Pinot Noir Sonoma 2008 - A barrel sample. Chocolate dipped strawberry. Good fruit. A little smoky. Not too sweet, with a dryish finish. Very nice.