MNSC dinner - Brasserie on the Eighth

MNSC dinner at Brasserie on the Eighth hosted by me, for my birthday.

1985 Krug - this was well-received. Very nice and crisp. Great way to start.

Bought from Farr Vintners for GBP 71.

1970 DRC La Tâche - everyone thought it was a Rhône, a Côte-Rôtie. If I didn't know what I brought, I would have sworn it was a La Turque, except there was no La Turque in 1970! The nose was very sweet, strawberries, leather, roasted game meats, cotton candy. The color was light brown with amber edge. Obviously showing its age. Clarity was low, as if all the sediment couldn't be removed. Acidity was obviously high. Wow! This was an unbelievably sexy wine. Everything great about old Burgundies... soft, supple. Gotta get more of this! My vote for the wine of the evening.

Bought from 易元 for TWD 14,000.

1970 Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve - nice nose of cotton candy and toffee. Palate was very nice and rich, better than last time. But after a while a bit of chalk developed in the nose.

Bought from the winery for USD 250.

1970 Vega Sicilia Unico - this was my first Unico, and I wasn't disappointed. The nose was very sweet and forward, very Californian. Hint of caramel, color was medium ruby, amazing for its age. Still very powerful on the palate. This was really good, my second favorite of the evening.

Bought from Farr Vintners for GBP 208.

1970 Latour - very disappointed. Very typical Bordeaux, nose was full of earth, sweet grass or hay, vegetal. No sweet fruit at all. This is just like Parker said of his recent tastings. Color was very ink-like still. Still powerful, but not ready.

1959 Huët Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Moelleux - nose was full of toasty oak and straw, a bit like vin de paille. Not very sweet on the palate. Elegant. Not bad, but I thought it would a great old "sticky" so I guess I was a little disappointed.

Bought from Fine and Rare Wines for GBP 60.

Full post on dinner is here.

1970 Palmer

Dinner at San San Trois.

1970 Palmer - this took 1 hour to open up. Smooth and silky on the palate. Nose of Asian spices, stewed fruits and prunes. Still disappointing. Maybe it's fading or closed down.

Bought from Vinum for SGD 395.

1970 and more

Dinner at Brown.

Krug Grande Cuvée - very nice. Sharp acidity, refreshing, drunk up quickly.

Bought from Watson's Wine Cellar for HKD 900.

1996 Blanc de Lynch-Bages - not bad. Exactly what I expected. Nice toasted oak, not too heavy.

Bought from Ponti for HKD 450.

1970 Chasse-Spleen - typical Bordeaux. Very smooth and velvety on the palate. Finish was a little short. Some fruit left here but mostly tobacco, smoke, and earth.

Bought from Fine and Rare Wines for GBP 35.

1970 Marques de Murrieta Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial, from magnum - WOW! What a great wine! Nose of coconut and vanilla, surprisingly fruity still, very vibrant. As expected the acidity was a bit high. Very powerful. Glad I bought this.

Bought from Ponti for HKD 2,500.

1955 Romer du Hayot - I've wanted to try this for a long time. Nose of pineapple. Palate was a little bitter like marmalade. Sharp and alcoholic. Sweet but not honey and nectar-like. Not bad.

Bought from Bacchus for SGD 192.

Syrah and Aussie

Dinner at home.

1995 Chapoutier Crozes-Hermitage Les Varonniers - this came highly recommended by Parker at 95 points. Pretty disappointed! At first it was very chalky, not pleasant. With time the fruit core came out, pretty sweet, nose of smoke meats. I think it just needs lots of time to breathe before drinking.

Bought from Farr for GBP 20.

1997 Penfolds RWT - this was the first vintage. Everything I expected from Penfolds for a new-style shiraz - full of coconut and caramel, with smoked meats at the same time. The typical Aussie shiraz nose of strawberry and cotton candy. I liked this.

Bought for HKD 530.

1996 Joseph Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot - very sweet as usual, thanks to the amarone style. Everything as expected.

Bought from Oaks for SGD 66.50.

91 Leroy Beaux Monts

Dinner with a friend.

1991 Domaine Leroy Vosne-Romanée Les Beaux Monts - this was an amazing wine. Very complex, black cherries, a bit of game meats, otherwise intense bouquet of sweet fruits. Wow! And it's pretty cheap, too!

86 Ducru

Dinner at Solstice.

1986 Ducru-Beaucaillou - pretty good. Tannins rounded now although still firm relatively speaking. Classic Ducru. I really liked it.

Bought from Duty Free for HKD 1,000.

96 Julius Koch

Drinking at home.

1996 Julius KochUngsteiner Honigsäckel Riesling Spätlese - pretty good stuff. Refreshing and floral.

2000 Schloss Johannisberg

Drinking at home.

2000 Schloos Johannisberg Riesling Grünlack Spätlese - pretty good. A little sweet, as expected from a spätlese. Wonderful nose of lychee, poire Williams, and a touch of floral bouquet.

Bought from Remy for HKD 238.

Cali pinots and more

Dinner at a friend's home.

1996 Etude Pinot Noir Carneros - this was not bad. A bit light-bodied but nevertheless had a pretty good nose.

1995 David Bruce Pinot Noir Chalone Vineyard - this was pretty powerful as expected. Big nose of black cherries. Very enjoyable.

Bought from 易元 for TWD 900.

1994 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley - not many surprises here. Typical Phelps cab, sweet but not too much oak. More earthy and smoke, kinda like Bordeaux. Good drinking wine.