1995 Rancia

Drinking at home.

1995 Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia - thought this wine might be corked. A bit moldy and cardboard-y... but this got better after breathing for a while, and after an hour and a half it was not bad. Fruit had come out, and it was a little spicy on the after palate. Also game meat nose. OK but probably won't buy again. Heavy sediment typical of Italians.

Bought from Ponti.

Masi and Mondavi

Dinner at Basilico.

1996 Masi Osar - not that interesting or good. It was very smooth and flat to begin with, gradually got better when the nose opened up. The acetone disappeared and a bit of fruit came out. Spicy mid- to after palate. Well, this was my entry to oseleta and corvina. Probably won't buy it again.

Bought from Remy for HKD 269.

1992 Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - a consistent performer, it showed rich red fruits and very sweet nose, followed by a touch of game meat and leather. Good concentration. Yummy! Especially good after 3 hours!

89 Vogüé Bonnes-Mares

Dinner at Brasserie on the Eighth.

1989 Comte Georges de Vogüé Bonnes-Mares - it was pretty good, but a bit light-bodied. Good nose of red fruits, fairly sweet perfumed rose, slight nose of leather. Good stuff.

Bought from Vinum.

2 CdPs

Dinner at Victoria Seafood.

1996 Tardieu-Laurent Châteauneuf-du-Pape - did not breathe this for long. Kinda disappointing. Very light-bodied, acidic, a bit of berries. Nose was OK. Rose petal was very pronounced, which was good. Always mistook it for "soap" but in reality it was floral, rose. Wish it had more body.

Bought from Yamaya for JPY 4,380.

1990 Beaucastel - my third bottle. Hoping for better results since the previous two kinda sucked. Thankfully this one was much better, much more concentrated. Good balance between tannin and acidity. Nose of chocolate, leather, grilled meats, plus fruit. Very smooth. Lots of sediment and needs to be decanted.

Bought from Manly for HKD 790.

1985 Bahans

Dinner at Brown.

1985 Bahans Haut-Brion - decanted before serving. Really not bad. Typical Bordeaux with the heavy smoke when opened. Later it was clearing and minerals, earth, black cherry nose showed up. Tannins have shed and a smooth wine remained. Finish was not bad. All in all a good purchase, not as good as the '89, but good enough.

Bought from Eslite for TWD 2,500.

88 Pensêes Lafleur

Dinner at East Ocean.

1988 Pensées de Lafleur - this wasn't bad. Opened up real well. Medium body, tannins had started to shed. Minerals, black cherry. Good drinking wine but not a great wine.

95 Fontalloro

Dinner at BOCA.

1995 Fèlsina Berardenga Fontalloro - actually a bit disappointing. Medium body, a bit acidic. there was some fruit but tannins were still there, despite heavy sediment. Maybe this bottle has been standing upright too long...

Bought from Ponti for HKD 324.

97 Cono Sur 20 Barrel

Dinner at East Ocean.

1997 Cono Sur 20 Barrel Cabernet Sauvignon - not bad. Very forward and "commercial". Good amount of sweet fruit, and marshmallows. A bit spicy on the palate. Good quaffing wine.