29th birthday party

Held a birthday party at brown and pulled out a bunch of nice wines.

1970 Léoville-Las Cases en magnum - first time opening such an old wine...and broke the cork!  The wine was a bit disappointing.  While it has completely shed its tannins due to old age and is now a soft and velvety wine, it retained no hint of fruit and I consider it very faded and less pleasurable to drink.  In this respect Parker got it right.  Probably will not spend more money on this particular vintage in the future.  There were, however, some people who liked it for the softness.  Bought from Berry Bros for HKD 2,188.

1970 Ducru-Beaucaillou - opened 2 bottles and decanted separately.  This was a much better wine, due to the stronger tannins.  It is not as faded as the Las Cases, and still retains enough fruit although clearly it is not a young wine brimming with fruit.  I prefer this to the faded Las Cases which I consider too soft.  

Bought from Ponti for HKD 1,399 each

1997 Chapoutier Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise - opened 2 half-bottles.  Very good indeed.  The strong lychee notes were immediately identifiable.  Yummy.