June 30, 2001
1995 Etude
Drinking at home.
1995 Etude Cabernet Sauvignon - totally not ready! Parker had said this may be ready in 2001... Well I think it needs a few more years. Loads of sweet raspberries and strawberries - typical Californian. Also nose of coffee, hint of minerals, acetone/glycerin. Close to a fruit bomb but slightly more complex. Double decanted and the color was really like black ink - amazing! This would be awesome in another 5 years.
Bought from Latour for TWD 3,000.
June 27, 2001
1988 Peter Michael Les Pavots
Drinking at home.
1988 Peter Michael Les Pavots - double decanted but this didn't open up more at least 1½ hours. This was still very concentrated and dark despite having 12 years on it. There was fruit of course, plus a bit of coffee, green peppers. A bit disappointing to me, but again this was the first vintage.
June 25, 2001
June 23, 2001
93 Ramonet and 70 Chasse-Spleen
Dinner at Con Fusion.
1993 Ramonet Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de la Boudriotte Rouge - this gradually opened up after 45 minutes or so. Not bad. Good concentration, although my memories of the '95 seem better. Typically full of black cherries, mushrooms, and "cotton candy".
Bought from Eslite for TWD 1,720.
1970 Chasse-Spleen - opened and double-decanted at home. At first the wine seemed really sweet. A friend remarked that it's almost like a Californian instead of French. This was pretty good stuff. Still lots of fruit left. Very smooth now after 30 years.
Bought from Fine and Rare Wines for GBP 35.
June 22, 2001
1970 BV Georges de Latour
Dinner at Brasserie on the Eighth.
1970 Beaulieu Vineyard George de Latour Private Reserve - decanted before dinner started. Hmmm... very good stuff. Very French and unCalifornian. Very smooth. Acidity a little on the high side. Still has lots of fruit, a bit spicy on the after palate. Really like an old Bordeaux. Gave a sample to the restaurant manager and ended up not getting charged corkage. Hit the peak around 2½ hours after opening.
Bought from the winery for USD 250.
June 19, 2001
1982 syrah vs shiraz
Dinner at Fook Lam Moon.
1982 Guigal La Mouline - opened and decanted more than 1 hour before serving. Wow! What a wine! Color was fairly light with amber edges, but the nose was incredible. Lots of red fruits, game meat, earth, spice, green pepper, and maybe some salted plum. The wine kept getting better until 2½ - 3 hours after opening. We finally got a Rhone wine one of my friend likes, and my other friends love it. Everyone detected the classic floral notes from the viognier, of roses and lavender. My "soap" comment was not appreciated...
Bought from Vinum for SGD 400.
1982 Penfolds Grange - opened a little later than the La Mouline but drank side by side. Also a great wine, but in an entirely different style. Classic Australian shiraz, packed with all the raspberry fruit, toffee, some spice. My "marshmallow". This wine is still youthful and shows no sign of aging. Very in-your-face. Color still very dark ink-like. This wine can easily go another 10 years or more.
June 14, 2001
1996 Laurus Gigondas
Dinner at Sorabol.
1996 Laurus Gigondas - light-bodied and kind of disappointing, not like what I remembered about this wine.
June 12, 2001
1983 Montrose
Drinking at home but fell asleep before drinking much of it.
1983 Montrose - not very interesting. Smoky, a bit of berries, a touch of green peppers. Classic Bordeaux.
A gift from a friend.
June 11, 2001
1996 d'Arenberg The Noble
Drinking at home.
1996 d'Arenberg Riesling The Noble, from half-bottle - really good stuff! Lots of honey, caramel, orange rind, black dates, pecan. Very complex and great, and lots of toffee, coffee, chocolate.
Bought from Watson's for HKD 112.
June 7, 2001
1994 Yalumba Signature
Dinner at a friend's home.
1994 Yalumba The Signature - very good stuff, nose of prunes, black cherries, toffee, chocolate, capsicums, black pepper, a touch of spicy after palate. Nose very sweet after opening up for an hour and a half. Great value.
Bought from Manly for HKD 266.
June 5, 2001
1996 Geyser Peak
Dinner at Teca.
1996 Geyser Peak Alexander Valley Merlot Reserve - amazing... this didn't smell or taste like a Californian, but rather like a Bordeaux, with veggy and mineral overtones. After airing out it got pretty good, and sweeter.
Bought from Remy for HKD 340.
June 3, 2001
June 2, 2001
94 Vogüé and 91 DRC
Burgundy tasting at Manly Wine City.
1993 Angelus - pretty powerful nose of cassis but dominated by minerals and cigar smoke.
1994 Vogüé Musigny Cuvée Vielles Vignes - this was the first to be opened but the wine did not have enough time to air out, so appeared much lighter-bodied than they actually were. This was not well-liked, even though we knew it came from a diluted vintage. After 1½ to 2 hours the nose improved and berries, a bit of earth, animal, game meats came out, and I liked it much better.
Bought from Vinum for SGD 160.
1996 Michel Gros Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru - very powerful nose of game meats and "horse sweat". Flavors were more concentrated.
1994 Hubert Lignier Morey-Saint-Denis - this was the best from the three bottles, clearly above the rest with the nose.
1991 DRC Richebourg - I initially didn't want to open this bottle, but it seemed my friend really wanted to tasted it. Unfortunately the bottle was wasted as it was drunk by the crowd 30 minutes after opening. By one hour it was already gone, and I really couldn't enjoy it too much. It was definitely the best of the lot, with sweet, concentrated flavors and nice bouquet.
Bought from Tatung Atherton for TWD 6,450.
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