WTN: Champagne Sec, Japanese wine and Sea Smoke

Notes from Chaine des Rotisseurs Kaiseki dinner at Umu.

Philipponat Sublime Reserve 2002 Champagne Sec - A little sweeter than I expected. Leesy, apple skin, red apples. Not really a fan of the style but it does grow on you. Very good.

Grace Koshu 2010 - Very light, almost watery. Lemon rind bitterness on the finish. Fairly simple but pleasant enough.

Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir 2005 - Rich and highly extracted. Overripe fruit and some asphalt notes. Good wine but not what I look for when I want pinot. Good match for the wagyu teppanyaki.

[David M. Bueker]

Yeah, Sea Smoke is a big style Pinot for sure.

As far as Champagne with some sweetness, Margaine makes a very nice version.

[Jenise]

Jay, would you believe I've had the Grace Koshu? A friend brought me a bottle from Japan, and I took it to one of Bill Spohn's lunches to "stump the chumps". Japan might have been second to the last, last being something like Antarctica, of places they thought it might be from.

I've also had the 05 Sea Smoke Southing. Long time ago, but in youth it did not show as severely extracted. Interesting that its put on so much weight with time.