Les Dégustations Ugo

Le saké , c’est du riz qui a fait un rêve. Un rêve humide, chaud, presque charnel. Un rêve de cave obscure et de vapeur blanche. Un rêve où les grains se mettent à parler. J’étais assis à une table bancale, quelque part entre le brouhaha d’un bar et mes propres pensées. Pas au Japon, juste ici. Le serveur a posé la coupelle sans discours, comme on dépose une bougie dans une église vide. On ne s’est rien expliqué. On a laissé faire. Le liquide était clair. Presque timide. J’ai bu. Et, chose étrange, le monde a baissé le volume. Les conversations sont devenues du velours. Les néons, des lucioles.Ça sentait la poire blanche, le riz chaud.  La texture ? Une caresse. Le goût ? Une phrase qu’on comprend sans connaître la langue. Je n’étais plus dans un bar. J’étais dans une sensation. J’ai compris ce soir-là que ce qu’on m’avait servi toute ma vie sous le nom de “saké” dans les restos chinois… c’était comme appeler une cassette VHS un film de Terrence Malick. Le s...

🍷Eng And Fr Description of the Domain in the first comment  .  This wine is like that quiet friend who doesn't talk much but always comes out with THE perfect line at just the right moment . Saint Joseph Blanc from Domaine Olivier Dumaine .  Vintage: 2023 .  🍇: Roussanne, Marsanne .  👀: In the glass, it's pale gold with lemony highlights. It shines brightly, crystal clear. You can already tell it's going to be precise .  👃: Notes of white flowers, fresh almond, juicy pear. Then it gently slides towards something more indulgent: light honey, candied lemon zest, a touch of butter, like Sunday morning brioche. It's as if the Roussanne brought the flowers and the Marsanne the fruit basket. Together, they create an aromatic picnic . 👄: A fresh, direct, almost shy attack… then BAM: the texture takes hold. It's round without being mushy, ample without being heavy. A satiny sensation that coats the mouth like a corduroy jacket. The balance is sexy:...

🍷Eng And Fr Description of the Domain in the first comment  .  This Sec de Rayne Vigneau proves that an estate known for its sweet wines can also produce a crisp, dry wine . Bordeaux Blanc Cuvée Le Sec de Rayne Vigneau @raynevigneau .  Vintage: 2019 .  🍇: Sauvignon Blanc .  👀: Pale yellow, lemony brightness. It shines brightly, limpidly, with reflections reminiscent of freshly peeled grapefruit . 👃: First whiff: bam, citrus fruits doing the moonwalk, lemon, grapefruit, lime zest. Then come herbaceous notes like cut grass + tomato leaf + bush after the rain And then, a little twist: a touch of white fruit (crisp pear) and a hint of white flowers .  👄: Lively, direct attack, no preliminaries. Invigorating acidity, but not aggressive, more like a friendly pat on the shoulder saying, "Wake up, champ!" Fine, elegant, almost crystalline texture. The Sauvignon Blanc plays its part: citrus, fresh herbs, a touch of salinity reminiscent of sea air. C...

Il y a des cocktails qui racontent une époque. Et puis il y a l’Old Fashioned , qui raconte le temps lui-même. Hier soir, j’ai regardé un glaçon fondre. Pas un petit cube pressé, non, un gros bloc lent. Aristocratique. Dans ce verre, l’ambre vibrait doucement. J’ai pris une gorgée. Et là, silence intérieur. Tu vois ce moment où un goût te regarde droit dans les yeux ?. C’est ça, un Old Fashioned. D’où il vient ? (spoiler : pas d’un bar branché): L’histoire commence avant les néons, avant les shakers chromés, avant les bars à cocktails avec carte en cuir. Dans les années 1800, un “cocktail” voulait dire quelque chose de simple : spiritueux + sucre + bitters + eau. Point. Puis les barmen ont commencé à ajouter des trucs. Des liqueurs, des fruits, des sirops, des fioritures. Les clients ont râlé. Ils voulaient leur cocktail comme avant. À l’ancienne. Old fashioned. La légende raconte que le fameux bourbon distiller James E. Pepper aurait popularisé la recette au bar privé d...

🍷Eng And Fr Description of the Domain in the first comment  .  If Cupid made wine, he'd aim for a bottle like this . Cahors red Cuvée de l'Amour from Domaine Les Roques de Cana @lesroquesdecana .  Vintage: 2020 .  🍇: Malbec .  👀: In the glass: a deep, almost black red, like an Armani suit in a grape color. The violet reflections wink like a speakeasy neon sign . 👃: First sniff: BAM. Black cherry, blackberry, prune, cocoa, and a hint of blond tobacco whispering, "Come and see." Second nose: it becomes downright black fruit jam that's spent the night with a square of 80% dark chocolate . 👄: Attack: direct but tender, like a handshake that lasts a little too long. Mid-palate: pure velvet. The tannins are present, but polished. Structure: perfectly balanced, power + lusciousness = a winning combinaison. Finish: long, fruity, slightly spicy, with a lingering mineral note. Si Cupidon faisait du vin, il viserait ce genre de bouteille. ....

🍷Eng And Fr Description of the Domain in the first comment  .  A Syrah that grooves, spicy, juicy, and full-bodied . IGP Drôme Cuvée Les Belles des Clos red from winemaker Jérôme Vincent @cavevincent.domainedemagord .  Vintage: 2024 .  🍇: 100% Syrah aged 12 months in oak barrels .  👀: In the glass, it's a deep purple velvet. Violet reflections, a clear shine. You can already tell the wine wants to tell a story . 👃: First whiff: boom, a basket of crushed blackberries + freshly ground black pepper. Then it drifts towards violet, black olive, and a subtle smokiness that whispers "well-aged barrel." It smells like a black fruit jam that's taken a road trip with a Provençal barbecue . 👄: A bold, direct attack, a solid handshake. The fruit arrives first, juicy and ripe, followed by tannins like well-mannered bodyguards: present but polished. A velvety texture, with a fine grain that tickles the palate without ever being harsh. The balance is perfect:...

🍷Eng And Fr Description of the Domain in the first comment  .  Maison Laferté has crafted a peated whisky in the French style: thoughtful, nuanced, and never heavy-handed French Peated Whisky from Maison Laferté .  👀: Deep gold color, tending towards old light amber. This already promises texture and substance. Not a shy whisky: it makes its presence known . 👃: First nose: gentle, not aggressive smoke. An elegant, almost powdery peat. Then come toasted vanilla, dried orange zest, and a hint of baked apple. Behind this, something more earthy: damp earth, moss, and cold wood . 👄: Smooth, almost caressing attack. Far from a peaty punch. The texture is round and slightly oily. The smoke returns, but well-integrated, accompanied by dark honey, sweet spices, and a touch of licorice. The balance is perfect: no overpowering sweetness, no unnecessary heat from the alcohol . The finish lingers gently with notes of smoky wood and dry cocoa, with a touch of saltiness...

Le Chardonnay, ce caméléon en chemise blanche.  Le Chardonnay, c’est ce pote discret qui finit toujours par voler la soirée. Pas le plus bavard. Pas le plus tatoué. Mais quand tu rentres chez toi, c’est de lui que tu te souviens. J’écris cette note parce que le Chardonnay est mal compris. Trop vu, trop bu, trop caricaturé. “Ah non, moi j’aime pas le Chardonnay, c’est trop boisé.” Phrase entendue mille fois, souvent entre deux gorgées de rosé tiède. Sauf que non. Le Chardonnay, ce n’est pas un goût. C’est une matière, un terrain de jeu. Une toile blanche qui prend la couleur de ce qu’on lui donne. Le climat, la main du vigneron. Le silence ou le bruit du bois. Un Chardonnay peut sentir : le beurre noisette qui chante dans la poêle, une pomme coupée en deux sur la table de la cuisine, la craie humide sous les baskets, la brioche encore tiède du dimanche matin ou le citron pressé sur des huîtres, un soir de vent.  En bouche, il peut être : tendu comme un fil de funamb...

🍷Eng And Fr Description of the Domain in the first comment  .  A wine that doesn't try to impress, but lingers in the memory, like a good film you can watch again and again . AOC Luberon red, Cuvée Il Était une fois dans le Luberon, from Vignobles Amédée .  Vintage: 2021 .  🍇: Syrah, Grenache .  👀: The color is a deep red, but not dark. It shines like a freshly waxed car under the Provençal sun. Medium-plus intensity, not opaque, just enough to make you want to bury your nose in it without hesitation . 👃: First nose: ripe black fruit, blackcurrant, blackberry crushed between your fingers. Then it opens up, it breathes. A touch of garrigue, freshly ground pepper, a hint of dried thyme .  👄: The attack is supple, almost caressing. Then the Syrah arrives with its grain, its subtle spicy tension, while the Grenache brings sunshine and a smile. Fluid texture, polished tannins, nothing sticks. It's balanced, luscious, but not simplistic. The fini...

🍷Eng And Fr Description of the Domain in the first comment  . A taut, sincere, vibrant champagne, with no added sugar or unnecessary embellishment . Champagne Cuvée Homage to the Village of Baslieux-sous-Châtillon from @champagnesaintphilibert .  🍇: 100% Meunier, aged 50% in stainless steel, 50% in oak barrels .  👀: In the glass, the color is pale gold with hints of ripe wheat. The bubbles? Fine, but not shy. They rise confidently, in a tight, continuous stream . 👃: First nose: freshly bitten apple. Then it opens up: juicy pear, lemon zest, and then, gently, the oak arrives, evoking still-warm brioche, fresh hazelnut, a hint of light smoke, as if someone were toasting bread nearby . 👄: The attack is direct, frank, almost mouthwatering. Zero dosage is key. The substance is there: creamy texture, fine grain, a fleshy quality that coats the mouth without heaviness . The balance is beautiful: tension and indulgence equal immediate pleasure. The finish linger...

🍷Eng And Fr Description of the Domain in the first comment  .  Château de Rayne Vigneau 2015 is a Sauternes that takes you by the hand and gently leads you to where sweetness becomes emotion . Sauternes 1er Grand Cru Classé from Château de Rayne Vigneau @raynevigneau .  Vintage: 2015 .  🍇: 80% Sémillon, 20% Sauvignon Blanc .  👀: In the glass, it's molten gold, like a sunset over the Garonne. A dense yet luminous color, somewhere between acacia honey and candied apricot. The legs are slow, thick, almost sensual. It clearly sets the tone . 👃: First nose: a festival. Dried apricot, ripe mango, roasted pineapple, then the botrytis arrives with its shoes full of saffron, beeswax, and orange peel. In the background, a touch of vanilla, a hint of gingerbread, and that incredibly addictive scent of yellow fruit jam left to cool on the windowsill . 👄: The attack is ample, enveloping. This is where Rayne Vigneau winks at you: the sweetness is there, yes,...

Le Pornstar Martini , ou l’élégance en talons hauts. Il y a des cocktails qui entrent dans une pièce avant toi. Le Pornstar Martini fait partie de ceux-là. Je l’ai revu l’autre soir, posé sur un comptoir collant de fin de service, dans un verre trop froid pour être honnête. Jaune solaire. Mousseux comme une promesse. À côté, son éternel acolyte: un shot de prosecco, servi à part, comme un clin d’œil coquin. Le Pornstar Martini, c’est un cocktail qui divise. Pour certains, c’est le symbole des années 2000 : soirées vodka-redbull, talons trop hauts, playlists douteuses, sucre à tous les étages. Pour d’autres, dont moi, aujourd’hui, c’est un vrai marqueur culturel. Un cocktail qui raconte une époque, une ville, une envie très précise : le plaisir sans excuse. L’histoire (promis, sans costume trois-pièces): Retour à Londres. Début des années 2000. Un type s’agite derrière les bars les plus cools de la ville : Douglas Ankrah. Douglas, c’est le genre de mec qui pense le cocktail ...

🍷Eng And Fr Description of the Domain in the first comment  .  AOC Grès de Montpellier red wine, Cuvée Ultreïa from Domaine Mas de Martin .  Vintage: 2018 .  🍇: Grenache, Syrah .  👀: In the glass, it's a deep red, almost dark garnet . 👃: First nose: the garrigue arrives unexpectedly. Thyme, rosemary, tapenade—we're clearly in the South, not on a postcard, but in the real world. Then come the black fruits: crushed blackberry, ripe plum, and that little peppery touch typical of Syrah that tickles your nose. With aeration, it becomes softer, deeper: a hint of cocoa, a black olive . 👄: The attack is direct but warm. No harshness, more like a firm handshake. The substance is there: round, enveloping, almost velvety, the Grenache brings the sunshine, the Syrah the backbone. Beautiful balance of alcohol and freshness, nothing overpowering. The tannins are present but polished. The finish is long, spicy, slightly saline, with that little something extra that makes...

🍷Eng And Fr Description of the Domain in the first comment  .  Dame Blanche 2024 is a luminous, tactile, and vibrant white wine. A wine for the present moment . IGP Vin de Pays d'Oc white wine, Cuvée Dame Blanche, from Domaine Terre des Dames .  Vintage: 2024 .  🍇: 100% Grenache Blanc aged in amphora .  👀: In the glass, it's a luminous pale yellow, almost pearly. The color is delicate, elegant, and unadorned: natural yet stunning . 👃: Initial aromas: fresh pear, white flowers, lemon zest. Then it opens up gently, revealing notes of almond, wild fennel, and a touch of minerality… A bit like a spring flowing through a field of dry grass at sunrise . 👄: The attack is direct and clean. The texture is fluid and almost caressing. The Grenache Blanc expresses itself with elegance rather than brute force. It's saline, with a touch of bitterness on the finish (the good kind of bitterness, reminiscent of grapefruit peel). The amphora does its job perfect...