MNSC dinner - Conrad HK

MNSC dinner at the Conrad Hong Kong Executive Lounge, catered by Brasserie on the Eighth. Hosted by me on my birthday.

1990 Louis Roederer Cristal - this was yummy. Nose was very yeasty and sweet, with hints of straw. Crisp acidity. Good stuff.

Bought from Yamaya for JPY 13,000.

1998 Artadi Grandes Añadas - the nose was very sweet, full of strawberries, cotton candy, marshmallow, with hints of coffee and glycerin. I can certainly understand why this could be a New World shiraz. Tannins still pretty firm on the palate. My favorite of the 4 1998s.

Bought from Oaks for SGD 208.

1998 Clos Erasmus - the nose was very sweet, very New World, with notes of vanilla and coffee. I liked this wine a lot, almost as much as Artadi, though Parker's 99 points is probably not deserved, at least not today.

Bought from Vinum for SGD 151.

1998 Pingus - I never would have guessed this was the Pingus. It started out with the classic "shit" nose, but later the sweet fruit emerged and the wine was delicious. Then it took a strange turn, and the nose was completely Côte-Rôtie! With the classic rose petals! Everyone smelled this and it was amazing! Very good wine.

Bought from Vinum for SGD 480.

1998 Alvaro Palacios L'Ermita - my first pour smelled of wet chalk at first and I thought the wine was off. But it was only my glass. Then sweet fruit core came out after the second pour, Pretty good.

Bought from Vinum for SGD 260.

1970 Marqués de Murrietta Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial - nose of sweet fruit as well as sweet grass. A bit acidic on the finish, typical of an older Rioja. Don't think the others liked this as much as I did.

1998 Lamaione

Dinner at Panevino.

1998 Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo Lamaione - pretty decent with blood and mineral tones.

1970 Mouton

Dinner at Brasserie on the Eighth.

1970 Mouton-Rothschild - double-decanted at home. I was very disappointed at first. The body was silky smooth, but it seemed to be faded. However, the nose developed with time. Instead of just astringent, acidity body, more sweet fruit came out in the nose, on top of leather and a bit of tobacco. At times the glycerin was overpowering. At the end, the wine did not match my high expectations.

Bought from FRW for GBP 120.

1985 Beringer Private Reserve

Dinner at Amigo.

1985 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve - double-decanted at home. The wine was very soft, silky smooth on the palate, but it wasn't fruity. The core fruit had faded, and only improved slightly with airing. Vastly different from the 1983 and 1984 I had in April. This was perhaps a result of double-decanting and breathing it too much.

Bought from Beringer for USD 125 as part of a vertical set.

1975 La Fleur-Petrus

Dinner at a friend's home.

1975 La Fleur-Petrus - the nose was a bit cooked, with stewed prunes, but in general it was pretty good.

1999(?) Santa Anastasia Passomaggio - good fruit concentration and power. A great drinking wine. Yummy and cheap.

BV Tapestry

Dinner at San Marzano.

1996(?) Beaulieu Vineyard Tapestry Reserve - this was pretty good, with good fruit, concentration, and balance. Tannins have been softened slightly by a few years' of aging.

1997 Branaire-Ducru

Dinner at a friend's home.

1997 Branaire-Ducru, en demi-bouteille - not bad. A bit alcoholic at first, but got some nice fruit.

Casa Lapostolle

Dinner at Gaia.

2001(?) Casa Lapostolle Sauvignon Blanc - not bad at all.

1999(?) Casa Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvée Alexandre - pretty good and easy to drink, as expected.