Dow's Port and then some

Dinner at George's in Parkview Hong Kong.

Dow's Fine White Port - initially served with tonic water on ice.  The combination was interesting and refreshing, as the bitter flavors of the tonic were tempered by the sweetness from the Port.  Later on I asked for a glass of the White Port on ice, as it is traditionally drunk in Portugal.  Nose of orange marmalade, honey, nutty, a little bit floral and fragrant.  Finish is slightly bitter.

1988 Dow's Quinta do Bomfim - the single vineyard wines are made in years when vintage is not declared.  Nutty, dried figs and generally sweet on the nose.  Very smooth on the palate, and can't really feel the tannins anymore.

1985 Dow's Vintage Port - more herbs and spices on the nose, with nutty, sweet and plummy notes.  This is definitely a bigger wine with much more concentration.  A deeper color despite being 3 years older than the '88.

1994 Dow's Vintage Port - this was the much-touted stellar vintage when I started to read Wine Spectator years ago as I began drinking.  Much fresher and younger, with the acidity plainly evident in the nose along with herbs and spices.

2007 Dow's Vintage Port - another stellar vintage.  Interestingly the nose was very metallic with lots of iron, like a concentrated, young American Syrah.  Notes of toasty oak and mint.  Soo sweet on the palate.

Dow's 40 Year Old Tawny Port - honey, nutty and figs.  Lovely, rich, soo plummy and complex with layers of caramel.  Tawny is still my favorite style of Port, especially since it's virtually indestructible. 

2008 Blanc de Lynch-Bages - plenty of pipi de chat upfront in the nose, with minerals and a bit of Muscat.  Definitely a food wine, as it's a little lighter than I expected. 

2008 Bachelet-Monnot Chassagne-Montrachet - grassy, minerals with the acidity slightly on the high side.  Kinda light-bodied.

2006 Prieure Roch Vosne-Romanée Le Clos Goillotte - nose of spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, fruity, preserved plums (青梅), Chinese liquorice (甘草), a little bit of Chinese rubbing medicine (鐵打酒) as well as some floral notes.

2003 Torbreck RunRig - one of my favorite Aussie wines.  Sooo ripe and sweet, with a bit of rubber and plastic, as well as lots of tropical coconut butter.  Very New World.

2007 Kapcsándy Vino del Sol - this Californian estate has been getting a lot of attention for making some great wines.  We tasted this fortified wine made from 100% Merlot blind, and I thought it was a Cali Syrah.  It's got that very metallic and iron nose, along with lots of honeydew melon, herbs and forest notes.  Very good stuff.

1970 Haut-Brion - our host generously pulled this out of the cellar.  Smoky, herbs, dried fruits, coffee, minerals, a little savory, a hint of brett, and some toasty oak.  Very lovely. 

2000 Billecart-Salmon Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon - a very lovely rosé, with nose of minerals, toast, strawberries and yeast.

Full post on dinner is here.