Colgin tasting with Ann Colgin

Tasting of Colgin wines at Hong Kong Wine Vault, with Ann Colgin and Joe Wender.

2009 Colgin IX Estate Red - alcoholic, very fruity, sweet, tangerine with coffee notes.

2008 Colgin IX Estate Red - seemingly more concentrated, with forest, mint, eucalyptus, vanilla, oak and coffee notes.

2009 Colgin Cariad - more metallic, mineral, forest and pine.  A little tannic.

2008 Colgin Cariad - pungent, farmy, animal, and a little medicinal.

2009 Colgin IX Estate Syrah - Wow!  I was really liking the bacon and leather notes.  Fruity with blackberries, a little floral, smoky.  Still alcoholic.  What a beautiful wine!

2008 Colgin IX Estate Syrah - tangerine, sweeter, tropical fruits, banana.  Seemingly more alcoholic.

Full post on the evening is here.

George, Fortia and Puligny-Montrachet

Dinner at American Restaurant in Hong Kong.

2007 Château de Puligny-Montrachet Puligny-Montrachet - the first pour seemed pretty bland, but improved to show a little oak and lemon.

2011 George Pinot Noir Leras Family Vineyard - Lots of sweet fruit, eucalyptus, and kinda oaky.

2003 Château Fortia Cuvée du Baron - nose of forest, a little farmy, a little sweet and grapey.  Still reasonably concentrated on the palate.  My contribution.

Full post on dinner is here.

Riesling, Corked Gewurz and Sake

Dinner at Above and Beyond in Hong Kong.

1993 von Schubert Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Auslese 83 - nose of polyurethane, minerals, white flowers, and plastic.  Still got acidity here despite the sweetness.

1985 Hugel Gewürztraminer Vendages Tardives en magnum - what would normally have been a beautiful wine was… bouchonné!!!  Initially there was a whiff of white grapes and lychee.  Then the nose faded quickly.  There was some sweetness on the palate, but it was mostly bitter, and had no length.  Another diner and I quickly agreed that the wine was gone.  It wasn't as undrinkable as it could have been, but it gave me no pleasure to drink the wine.

Dassai Junmai Daiginjo 39% (獺祭「純米大吟醸」磨き三割九分) - nose of bananas, tropical fruits and sticky rice.

1983 Delamaine Grande Champagne Cognac - lots of caramel in the nose.

Full post on dinner is here.

1943 Yquem

Dinner at L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Taipei.

1943 Yquem - nose of raisins, nutty, honey, caramel, orange marmalade, definitely vanilla, honeydew.  Soooo sweet and concentrated, very unctuous.  A very long finish, and the fragrance lingered in glass for a long time.  Very top shoulder.

The color of the wine was soooo deep and dark, and resembled an old Madeira or Tawny Port.

Full post on dinner is here.

2 whites for cheese

Cheese and wine at Caprice in Hong Kong.

2011 Ostertag Sylvaner Vielles Vignes - ripe, floral, tropical fruits, peach and white flowers.  Lovely.

2007 l'Aiguelière Sarments - interesting blend of Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc.  Very floral, very ripe with apricot.

Full post on dinner is here.

02 L'Evangile and more

Drinks at Amo Eno.

2009 Sandhi Chardonnay Sandford and Benedict Vineyard - lots of toasty corn, with medium to slightly high acidity on the palate.

1990 von Schubert Maximin Grünhauser Abtsberg Kabinett - petrol, white flowers, polyurethane and flint.  Relatively acidic but ripe and the same time, slightly sweet on the palate.  Very yummy.

2003 Kistler Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast - all I could smell was nail polish remover…  So different from the bottle I had last week.

2002 L'Evangile en magnum - very sweet, minty, a little jammy.  Drinking very well now.

MNSC dinner - Cépage

MNSC dinner at Cépage, hosted by Dr. Poon.


1985 Louis Roederer Cristal - loooooove this!  Old Champagne is always awesome, and you've got that savory, mineral, salty plum (話梅) nose that I always love.

Flight 1:

1988 Dujac Clos de la Roche - a very lovely wine, fragrant and floral. 97 points.

1988 DRC Grands Echezeaux - denser, more animal and powerful.  94 points.

Flight 2:

1997 George Jayer Echezeaux par Henri Jayer - very nice and elegant.  I think I gave this 96 points...

1997 Rouget Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Cros Parantoux - more meaty and animal.  I think I gave this 93 or 94 points.

Flight 3:

1997 Shafer Hillside Select - huge nose of sweet fruits, vanilla, tangerine... Sweet on the palate.  I think I gave this 96 points.

1997 Bryant Family - big, ripe and very sweet.  I think I gave this 96 points.

Full post on dinner is here.

SQN and Vega

Dinner at Amber in Hong Kong.

NV Alfred Gratien Brut - savory minerals, toast.  Ripe on the palate with good acidity.  Very delicious.

1997 Sine Qua Non Twisted and Bent - decanted.  Initially a little toast masked by the sweetness, then huge nose of toast, slightly sharp, sweet grass... VERY sweet nose, with buttery corn coming out much later.  Actually, creamy corn...from Green Giant.  Very smooth on the palate, very soft and elegant, but the finish was long with slight bitter marmalade.  Mature on palate now.  Incredibly beautiful to drink now.  60% Roussanne and 40% Chardonnay.

1989 Vega Sicilia Unico - lovely, with sweet fruit, a bit of forest, chocolate, smoke and mint.  A little sharp on the nose.  Fairly smooth on the palate with medium body, and slightly acidic.  Still a very young wine.

Full post on dinner is here.

Chards and Pinot

Dinner at a friend's place.

Patrick Javillier Meursault Clos du Cromin (vintage known) - very ripe, tropical fruit, flint and mineral.  Ripe and bitter mid-palate with a slightly acidic finish.

2007 Henri Boillot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de la Mouchere - oaky, mineral and toasty.

2003 Kistler Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast - leather, animal, sweet and floral.  My contribution.