2011 – Wine Bash of the Year

Posted on December 29, 2011 by Dave Chan

Line Up

Wine bash 2011 organized by KT and Gary. KT has generously popped a few excellent aged wines for us with many more great wines from the wine kakis. YLB kindly help to arrange a special menu for tonight, excellent food indeed. Quoted from one of the kakis: I must have done something right to have the privilege to be included in this dinner and tasted so many great wines! Thanks everyone and Happy New year!

While I’m not sure if this is my last wine dinner in 2011, I’m confidence to say that tonight dinner is definitely the wine dinner of the year, and will stay in my memory for the rest of my life. Food was great, but even better was the company and wines. I have no regret to my wine journey in 2011 and hopefully in 2012 will be better, though will be tough…..

1970 Maison Leroy Musigny & 1976 Maison Leroy Romanee St-Vivant

Flight 1 – 70s Leroy

1970 Maison Leroy Musigny – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru

  • Alcohol :: 13.5%
    Popped and poured. Cork was in perfect condition, no sign of leakage. Light brick red, light rim. The nose was pretty. Started off soft but seductive, complex and keep getting better with air. Kaleidoscopic is the word as the aromas keep emerging in the glass with sweet plum, brambly fruits and fig that intermixed with perfume dried floral, sandalwood, damp forest floor, mushroom and underlying caramel that wrapped in a superb perfume and complex package. Sweet and intense, in fact, super intense with incredible liveliness and velvety texture. This has complex layer of bright red cherry and blackberry fruits, mineral, mushroom, forest floor, autumn leaf and dried tea leave that goes on with a tiny touch of tannic grip that expand across the palate with amazing dimension, focus and precision with persistently long, driving finish with mocha like aftertaste that keep lingering and refuse to let go. This is so elegance, classy and in a total harmony that put one into contemplation to get what’s this wine could offer. Delicious. (93pts)

1976 Maison Leroy Romanée St. Vivant – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Romanée St. Vivant Grand Cru

  • Alcohol :: 13%
    Popped and poured into decanter. Wine slipped through the cork. Very light ruby core with brown rim. This has higher tone aromas than the Musigny and equally complex: mineral, autumn leave, wild funkiness, green apple, dark cherry fruits, salted plum, old aromas but have this freshness in the core for the lift. Strangely, I didn’t get the spices from both nose and palate. On the palate this was tasted a little bit old at first, but with more air, the wine getting more energetic with brighter profile. Complex flavors of salted plum, sweet cherry, mushroom, tea leaves and saline note goes through palate along with some harsh tannin that bring out the bitterness and slight rough edge but also given better grip. This is a shiny wine that will grab your attention immediately, totally different profile compared to the quieter Musigny. Nevertheless, both were excellent wines. With even longer aeration, the palate become sweeter and able to buffer off (though not completely) some bitterness from the tannin for a better mouth feel. I believe this is the tannin character of 1976. Excellent finished with saline note and tea leaves aftertaste, though not as long and precise as the Musigny. Last sip, a mouthful one that is seriously good with almost explosive like finish. (92pts)

(En Magnum) 1990 Krug Clos du Mesnil & 1990 Salon

(En Magnum) 1990 Krug Clos du Mesnil & 1990 Salon

Flight 2 – 1990 Champagne en magnum

1990 Krug Champagne Clos du Mesnil – France, Champagne, Le Mesnil Sur Oger, Champagne

  • Alcohol :: 12%
    En magnum. Popped and poured. What should I say? Krug is krug, a superstar that can grab everyone attention immediately and effortlessly. This vibrant medium golden Champagne is still youthful, with persistent fine bubble. The nose is powerful, intense and restraint. Yeasty, honey, green apple, pear laced on a solid bed of mineral, crushed stone and herbs with high tone yellow floral on the background. With time, nut and sweet yellow fruits note emerged. Incredibly powerful and muscular for a Blanc de Blanc, it immediately coated the mouth and palate, along with fine bubbly bring out the explosive impact that leave a numb feeling on the palate. The wine is trying to tell me that he is still a baby, you drink me now, I bite you! However, the structured started to mellow down at the end of the dinner that revealed impressive complexity and purity with intense herbs, sweet yellow and white fruits and mineral all supported firmly by the solid, almost impenetrable ripe acidic backbone that formed the endless layer of immense, expansive mouth feel yet with great focus. The lush, sweet, massive finish has insane grip on the back palate. This will need at least another 15yrs to hit the peak. Oh my, the power of Krug. 95-97 (95pts)

1990 Salon Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs – France, Champagne, Le Mesnil Sur Oger, Champagne

  • Alcohol :: 12.5%
    En Magnum. Popped and poured. Compared to the immediately engaging Krug, the Salon really started slow….. Nose was ok, palate was tight and pretty tasteless. Your patience on this wine will return with great reward. Similar to Krug, the Salon unfolded herself after 2hrs in the glass. The only different was Salon gently removed her mysterious mask and reveal the perfect features, Krug was break through the hard shell with forced. Still painfully young, with soft but focus aromas of yeast, green apple, fresh white bread and rich mineral at the background. With time, perfume floral scent emerged and showed superb perfume and great complexity. The ultra fine bubble gently coated the palate and bring out the complex, detail layers with out of the chart focus and precision, immense richness and intensity but feather light on the palate, with seductiveness, finesse, elegance and polished texture. A little bit of nuttiness and salinity added better dimension and depth. The super long finish is very fine, detail and fresh with touch of restraint and incredible tension. I really enjoy this quiet, charming Salon. This will continue to develop in the bottle at least another decade if not two, effortlessly. 95-97 (95pts)

Flight 3 – 85 Clos de Tart and 78 DRC GE

1985 Clos de Tart

1985 Mommessin Clos de Tart – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de Tart Grand Cru

  • Bottle breath for 60mins. Color was bright ruby core with just a bit of brownish at the rim. First sniffed, sour cherry dominated the nose with sweetness underneath that needs time to surface. With time, sweet red and dark cherry aromas emerged with additional layer of high tone Asian spices that slowly soared from the glass along with forest floor, mineral, autumn leave and a touch of wildness that sum up the superb perfume and complex with unbelievable refreshing aromas for such an old wine. Still so youthful on the palate, in fact a little bit tight still. It is so silky in texture that flowed onto the palate with care, light on its feet despite the amazing intensity and depth. This has incredible grip, tension with razor sharp precision and harmony that showing off the top class purity and endless complexity (though not as much secondary nuances compared to the 61 Vogue Musigny, but this will eventually reach there, after another 10-15yrs of age) of sweet dark fruits, salinity, meatiness and explosively seductive spiciness. Lively, vibrant, succulent and super long finish that is unreal with a touch of dark chocolate, dried herbs and spices aftertaste. I’m in love. The wine continue to evolve in the glass even after 2hrs: better intensity, lushness. The deliciousness is off the chart. 96-97 (96pts)

1978 DRC Grands Echezeaux

1978 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands-Echezeaux – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Grands-Echezeaux Grand Cru

  • Popped and poured, ullarge was a bit low but the condition of this bottle is absolutely pristine. Dark brownish in colour. This has very unique bouquet, complex aromas of assortment plum (salted, sweet preserve, sour) with secondary note of autumn leaves, mineral, tea leaves and a touch of funkiness that blew off with air. Similar to the 76 Leroy RSV, this tasted a little bit old and lean at first but continue to put on weight and brighten up with better intensity of fruits and liveliness. This has seductive dark fruits sweetness, salinity and meatiness sailing on the palate along with enticing secondary flavours that formed the complex and lush mouth feel. Long finish with sweet dark fruits, bitter sweet cocoa and creamy vanilla aftertaste. This is a outstanding wine but lack a bit of the finesse to be really extraordinary. (94pts)

1969 Chateau Margaux & 1982 Chateau Haut Brion

Flight 4 – duo 1st Growth

1969 Château Margaux – France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  • Popped and poured. Medium ruby core with brick rim. The level is good, corked was a bit soaked through, but generally the condition is excellent. Indeed, the wine showed really well, so much so that the quality of this wine from such a weak vintage impressed everyone. Lively, with the amazing perfume aromas that only Margaux is capable to offer: sweet cassis, violet, cedar, tobacco, soft cigar box all wrapped in a highly focus and captivating aromas profile. While this is a little bit lean, this is still bright and drinking very nicely. Elegance on the palate with amazing liveliness and medium complexity of blackberry, floral, earth, mushroom and salted plum with medium length, juicy finish. This showed surprisingly well. The magic of 1st growth Terroir? (91pts)

1982 Château Haut-Brion – France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  • Popped and poured. Dark ruby red with light brown hue, bright! The nose was awesome, palate showed good depth and complexity but the finished is clipped at first. Without any worried, the wine continued to gain weight with better transition between mid palate and finish after getting more air. Captivating aromas of gravel, scotch earth, sweet cigar box and tobacco perfectly intermixed with Asian spices, violet, dried roses, creme de cassis and touch of refreshing mineral for the lift, this was every bit as good as the Burgs tonight! Aged Bordeaux rock! Stunningly fresh and intense on the palate, with layer and layer of sweet cassis, blackberry, herbs, tobacco, spices intermixed with inner perfume of violet. The palate is getting lusher and silkier for the enticing, sappy mouth feel. There were still some very fine tannin for better grip as well as further development for the next 3-5yrs. The finish is full of succulent juicy sweet dark fruits and tobacco, very long and lingering. This is a top class Bordeaux, perhaps just a touch smaller scale than the very best one. Still, amazingly delicious. (94pts)

1980 & 1989 Guigal La Landonne

Flight 5 – The fame Guigal La Las

1980 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Landonne – France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  • Popped and poured. Milky dark ruby with brown rim. Seriously, the color is not really appetizing, but wow! What a nose and palate! Incredible perfume and complex, roasted herbs, dried fig, dark currant and plum fruits that added better breadth and depth with pepper, earth, roasted meat and a whiff of dried flower. The palate is even better: such intensity and richness, with sweet cassis and plum fruits expand on the palate along with complex spiciness, roasted meat, earthiness that went on to the palate with stunning drive and persistent. The sweetness melted in the mouth that is really touched my heart, so seductive! 1980 is not a great vintage but I have never had a Guigal La La from a normal vintage that didn’t impress me. I can’t believe this is aging so graciously and still so lively, for a 31yrs old wine, from a normal vintage. This classy juicy is getting sweeter and lusher yet remain ed highly focus and precise. This pair perfectly with the lamb shoulder too. While this doesn’t has the depth or scale of the 1989, the pedigree and harmony is all the same. Stunning!! (94pts)

1989 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Landonne – France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  • Alcohol :: 13%
    Bottle breath for 5hrs. Very dark ruby core with light brick red. The nose is truly sweet and seductive, intoxicating! Very intense and high tone, stunningly perfume, complex and airy: blackcurrant, plum, earth, star anise, cloves and perfume floral all wrapped in a harmonious package. This 22yrs old La Ladonne still pretty tight on the palate, with incredible concentration and depth all cloaked in a massive structured and absolutely polished, silky texture. Even more incredible is this wine has the perfect balance and precision for the power without weight mouth feel. Fresh, vibrant, lots of concentrated sweet dark fruits with soft, elegant mineral for the lift. The long finish goes on and on, unstoppable with sweet cocoa, dark chocolate and mineral that keep lingering at the end. Still youthful yet so complete. Extraordinary. This has long life ahead. 95-97 (95pts)

1961 Vogue Musigny

Flight 6 – The lone 61 Vogue (Georges Roumier) Musigny

1961 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Musigny Cuvée Vieilles Vignes – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru 

  • Popped and poured. Slightly milky brownish with light core. The level is a bit low but I believe this is acceptable for a 50yrs old wine. 1st sniffed and sipped confirmed the wine is in perfect shape. High tone, fragrance dried floral aroma began the memorable journey, astonishing complexity all wrapped in a perfectly harmonious package that is hard to dissect: nuttiness, fresh herbs, blackcurrant, pear and a lots more! Still amazingly rich and bright with great mid palate sap, stunning depth and wonderfully structured and layered. The tannin is still there, but refine and silky all integrated together with the sweet red and dark fruits, bitter sweet cocoa, dried herbs, matured secondary flavors and nuances to form the luscious, elegant and classy mouth feel. This still possess the material to go further though I’m really enjoy what it is now. Super long finish with great persistent and tension. 50yrs old? Oh my, Magnificent! (96pts)

1989 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Brand Vendange Tardive

Flight 7 – Aged Zind Humbrecht Brand

1989 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Brand Vendange Tardive – France, Alsace, Turckheim, Alsace Grand Cru AOC 

  • Always a pleasure to end a wine dinner with a glass of sweet wine. I think this is my very first old Alsace Brand. The nose is expressive and complex, with soft petroleum note dominating the nose with peaches, tea leaves and mineral earthiness. The sweetness has mellowed down with aged but with better nuances. A little bit sweet on the entry but quickly turn into dry, clean intense at the mid palate that offer white peach, lemon and a touch of herbs. Very clean on the finish with touch of spiciness. This is good, but obviously overwhelming by all the previous wines. (89 pts.)
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Chateau Montrose vertical tasting with Nicolas Glumineau

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Dave Chan

Chateau Montrose – Line Up
Chateau Montrose – Line Up

Bordeaux is in south west of France and divided into left and right bank by Gironde river. Right bank has lots of clay in the soil so mainly planted with Merlot and left bank has lots of gravel, which is coming from the mountain from thousands years ago that is perfect for Cabernet Sauvignon.

Chateau Montrose, classified as 2nd growth in 1855 Bordeaux classification, is located at St-Estephe, is one of the greatest appellations in Bordeaux left bank along with Margaux, Pauillac and St-Julien.

The usual blend of Montrose consisted 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet France and 1% Petit Verdot. One can expect with such high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, Montrose is a muscular wine with great structured that needed decades to get fully matured and one it does, you will expect nothing but a great wine in the glass.

NIcolas Glumineau

I’m glad to join this vertical tasting of Chateau Montrose, from vintage 2003 – 2009, conducting by with the new technical director, Nicolas Glumineau (a charming, humble and knowledgeable gentleman). This is simply the most comprehensive, educational tasting to understand the wines of Chateau Montrose. Nicolas Glumineau taken over this role in 2006 and 2007 is his 1st vintage in here. Therefore, this is also a great chance to compare the style and quality of the wines pre and current Nicolas Glumineau era.

1989, 1990, 2003 & 2005 are the best vintages in 1980s and 2000s. It is definitely a tough job for Nicolas for the role of technical director of this great Chateau, could he remains the exceptional quality of Montrose and surpass these great vintages? The answer is positive.

I’ve the opportunity to have a short conversation with Nicolas Glumineau on how he maintains the consistent quality of the wines in Montrose and the trend of Biodynamic practice inBordeaux. Nicolas Glumineau commented that the winemaking is pretty much the same here. In order to produce great wine, he spends more time in the vineyard as he believes that great wine is made from the vineyard. He is especially obsessed on the quality of the tannin. In order to have silky, sweet tannin (optimum ripeness of fruits is a must ) instead of massive but rough or green, astringent tannin.

NIcolas Glumineau

Biodynamic or Organic wise, Nicolas Glumineau commented that it is hard to achieve in Bordeaux and he has no intension to apply to his vines, yet. This is mainly because Bordeaux is having Atlantic micro climate. It is pretty wet and cold here which resulted in rot, mildew etc easily hence treatment is necessary according to the situation. In a great year like 2009, 2010, this approach is possible but not a problem vintage like 2004, 2007.

In contrast to Burgundy, it is easier as Burgundy enjoy continental climate which is drier than Bordeaux hence rot, mildew etc is less prominent hence Biodynanic or Organic can be done here.

Chateau Montrose 2004 & 2006

Flight 1: Pre Nicolas Glumineau era – 2004 & 2006

Both 2004 & 2006 are good but not great vintages, yet both showing very good quality. The 2004 is drinking beautifully now while the 2006 is showing well today, it needs at least another 5yrs to be in its drinking window.

1. 2004 Château Montrose (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe)

  • Alcohol :: 13%
  • Beautiful dak ruby red with light purplish rim, not a sign of bricking or brownish. Quite powerful nose with smoke, pencil lead, tobacco, cedar, ash, blackcurrant, blackberry and touch of spiciness, this is indeed very expressive. High acid entry with good dose of new wood but quickly buffered by sweet dark fruits at the background. A little bit lean but this has lots of power beneath. Light to medium level of fine grained, but a little bit hard tannin for better grip with dark chocolate and roasted coffee bean bitterness toward the long lingering finish with spicy aftertaste. With time, this wine showing more lushness and completeness. Good to drink now and will last at least another decade or more. (88pts)

2. 2006 Château Montrose (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe)

  • Alcohol :: 12.5%
  • The aroma profile here is a little bit tighter and darker. Intense aromas of savoury meatiness and mint intermixed with blackberry, tobacco and ink. This has better intensity and concentration than the 2004 with bright acidity and firm but very fine tannin backbone. Overall this is more complete wine that the 2004 with decent depth and scale. This too has very good acid grip and lushness on the long finish with mineral, touch of spiciness, bitter sweet cocoa and dark chocolate. Yet another beautiful wine that is drinking well, though not as well as the 04 now but the material here is more complete and will eventually surpass the 2004 in years to come. 90-92+ (90pts)

Chateau Montrose 2007 & 2008

Flight 2: Nicolas Glumineau era – 2007 & 2008

Ok, now let’s taste how the wines under the leadership of Nicolas Glumineau are. I would say the style is pretty much the same but perhaps the tannin and overall texture is finer. Even for a weak vintage like 2007 and apparently the 1st vintage of Nicolas, showing off the great quality, thanks to the strict work in the vineyard and attention to detail winemaking process.

3. 2007 Château Montrose (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe)

  • Alcohol ::12.5%
  • Bright and delicate on the nose with more direct aromatic, very different compared to the previous bottle. Pencil shaving, red and dark fruits, floral, brown sugar and mineral, not big scale but intense. This is delicious! Good freshness, transparency, sweetness of red and dark fruits for the light lush mouth feel. This has better complexity and concentration than 04 and noticeably silkier tannin. The medium level of silky, firm tannin already integrated well together with the fine acid backbone. Finished is long with mineral, milk chocolate and cocoa aftertaste. Pretty! This still needs several years to reach full maturity. 90-92+ (90pts)

Nicolas Glumineau – Wines from right bank (Merlot) apply more new oak for extract more tannin, flavours and aromas while left bank (Cabernet Sauvignon) has a lot of tannin and aromatic so don’t need to apply high % of new oak.

4. 2008 Château Montrose (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe)

  • Alcohol :: 13%
  • The nose is tighter with intense spiciness at the background, sweet dark and red fruits in the core accompany by smoke, pencil leads all wrapped in a serious, mocha like package. Full bodied, tannic and structured but very fine and not intrusive at all. Not perfectly polish but this has good roundness with endless layer of sweet dark fruits, tobacco, sandalwood and mineral. I especially like the transparency and freshness of this juice. This is a delicious, well made juice that offers very long finish with finesse. The harmony here is better than the last showing, lovely! 91-93 (91pts)

The legendary trio of Chateau Montrose - 2003, 2005 & 2009

Flight 3 – The legendary trio – 2003,2005 & 2009

5. 2009 Château Montrose (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe)

  • Alcohol :: 14%
  • Wow wow wow! This is absolutely gorgeous. The finest, most seductive Montrose I have ever had (the best young Bordeaux and definitely one of the best Bordeaux too!), simply off the chart. To emphasize that, this is a complete wine even at this age with incredibly finesse and class and most of us thought this was a better wine than both 2003 & 2005. As expected the nose is still pretty tight but deep and complex: mineral, tobacco, cigar box, sandalwood with underlying sweet dark fruits and violet. Full bodied, incredible depth and complexity bring out by endless layer of succulent sweet dark fruits, cheese, sandalwood, mocca, mineral and tobacco. Everything is in the right place for the best harmony. This is so lush and exotic in the mouth with stunning richness, purity and inner perfume of violet and roses, yet doesn’t lack of the freshness, elegance and finesse. The long finish is unreal! I can’t help but ask for more. 96-97+ (96pts)

Nicolas Glumineau – No press wine has added in 2009 as the wine is really healthy and full of juiciness, punch, charm and exotic.

6. 2005 Château Montrose (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe)

  • Alcohol :: 13%
  • I was surprised how expressive the nose was: the aroma is nothing but exotic and complex:  tobacco, sandalwood, smoke meat, leather, creme de cassis, blackcurrant liquor, mushroom and floral at the background. Structured, highly intense and powerful but well delineated and refine. This has superb sappiness on the palate with endless layer of sweet dark fruits, mineral and dry extract all wrapped in an ultra fine package. Massive level of tannin here, but the tannin is chewy, sweet along with firm polished structured that will permit it to continue evolve for the next 2decades. The finish was a little bit tight but offer better juiciness and great length when it opened up more. 94-95 (94pts)

7. 2003 Château Montrose (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe)

  • Alcohol :: 13%
  • The nose is sweet and seductive the complex aromas of mocha, blackcurrant liquor, perfume violet and lily, graphite, smoke meat and tobacco leaf. 2003 is a really hot year hence some of the wines suffered from high alcohol and lack of freshness. However, this is not the case for Montrose. The 2003 has massive concentration of succulent sweet ripe fruits but has this incredible purity and freshness for the lift and definition. The palate is superb intense, powerful but well rounded and lush. The tannin here is massive but it is sweet and polished that expand across the palate with incredible grip and dimension. The finish is a bit disjointed and turned a little bit softer than 05 & 09 which also display charming sweetness of dark fruits and mocha like aftertaste. This will need decade in the bottle to develop. 92-94+? (92pts)
After the tasting with Nicolas Glumineau, I’m confidcence to say that  he does a great job in Chateau Montrose and Montrose will only seen a better future. Bravo!

Nicolas Glumineau & Lawrence

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~ 1998 Chambolle Musignys & 2005 Montrachet ~

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Dave Chan

A friend who planning a simple dinner with 6bottles of 98s Chambolle turned out to have 8bottles with a young vine Musigny from Vogue and a Musigny from Drouhin. Food was consistently great in Imperial Super Peking Duck @ Paragon, Orchard with excellent stemware. While the Chambolles were really great, the 2005 Henri Boillot Montrachet no doubt stole the show, what a night!

Full line up

Let’s talk about vintage 1998 in Burgundy (Extracted from various reports):

This is a good vintage, but a difficult one, a winemaker vintage! The vintage started off cold and suffered from frost in April that delayed the vegetation circle, particularly the 1er Cru of Meursault and Puligny (more on lower slope). Followed by hail that limited the yield at this point but also contributed to the chance for better concentration and sugar level. Everything seemed pretty alright in May but the weather turned a bit out of control in July (cool, dry) and August (grapes could be burnt due to the very hot weather) and early September (Rains that left a high chance for rotting).

However, the weather in late September was ideal throughout the harvesting period with north wind that concentrated the grapes and rescued the vintage! The best reds are well structured, intense with good purity of red fruits, volume and fine tannin. The lesser wines could be harsh as the tannin could be very aggressive. White in this vintage is delicate, fresh and crisp but doesn’t have the intensity, acid backbone  for the long term.

Clive Coates rated the red 16pts (very good) and white 14.5pts (quite good – good) with the following comment: The red wines are quite tannic but they are balance and thoroughly satisfactory. Chambolle Musigny to Volnay are consistent and not so for Gevrey Chambertin.

The whites are fruity, attractive when young but you shouldn’t hold on to them for the long term as they tend to evolve rapidly.

I pretty much agree with Clive that the quality of red wines from Chambolle Musigny in this vintage is very consistent, at least from what I tasted today. All are delicious wines with admirable concentration, volume and aroma.

Chambolle Musigny: the most seductive wines in Burgundy?

Chambolle Musigny probably produces the most seductive red wines in Burgundy, or perhaps in the world. The best wines are highly aromatic with seductive red fruits, floral and forest floor and the intensity is incredible yet the wines are so weightless. The seductive inner perfume that wrapped in an elegance, feminine package with velvety texture offers great sense of finesse and grace. The 2005 Joseph Drouhin Musigny Grand Cru, 2002 Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Musigny Grand Cru & Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru, 1995 Domaine Georges Roumier Bonnes Mares are few of the best Burgundy I have ever tasted. Musigny from Georges Roumier is one of the very few dream wines that I wanted to taste!

Flight 1: Chambolle Musigny Les Fuees 1er Cru

J.F Mugnier Chambolle Musigny Les Fuees

Les Fuees, located just southward of the Bonnes Mares slope and produces wines with good concentration of fruits, firm backbone but yet lacking no elegance.

Barthod produces good Fuees and Mugnier produces great ones.

1998 Domaine Ghislaine Barthod / Barthod-Noëllat Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Fuées – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

  • Alcohol :: 13%
    Light ruby red, brown hue. Very expressive and high tone: sweet raspberry, red plum, caramel, brown sugar, forest floor, that wrapped up with attractive floral scents. This is quite powerful on the palate with very good concentration of sweet dark and red cherry fruits that cloaked in a feminine package and showing a little bit of finesse. Though a bit rough on the tannin, it lends better grip to the palate and leads to the very sappy, slight rubbery finish that lingers with sweet strawberry and a touch of fresh wood, with a slight bitterness. Despite the lack of a bit of lift, this is still a delicious juice. (87 pts.)

1998 Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Fuées – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

  • Alcohol :: 13%
    Wow! Such a seductive nose, so fragrant and complex, still very very young but showing great potential and class. Vibrant medium ruby red, so lively! Only very light brown hue. This has intense core of sweet raspberry, strawberry fruits with mint, mild spices, chalky and touch of caramel, very pure and the underlying power is perfectly integrated into the perfume aromatic profile. Very pure and polished, lots of uderlying power but the grace is there. Fresh, concentrated, elegantly structured with oustanding vibrancy and underlying fine, mouth watering acidity for a soft but solid backbone, that leads to the very chalky, juicy detail and complex finish. A great wine! (91pts)

Flight 2: Chambolle Musigny Les Cras 1er Cru

Les Cras, also located just southward of the Bonne Mares slope, along with Les Fuees is the top 1er Cru vineyard in Chambolle Musigny, just second to the great Les Amoureuses. Cras is no doubt the best wine of Barthod, a close fight against the great Roumier Cras.

1998 Georges Roumier Chambolle Musigny Les Cras 1er Cru

1998 Domaine G. Roumier / Christophe Roumier Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Cras – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

  • Alcohol :: 13%
    Lighter in ruby, with touch if brownish. Highly expressive and complex on the nose: star anise, Asian spices surrounded beautifully with perfume lavender, violet as well as mint, red cherry fruits and orange, Wow! Really silky, elegant, seamless and complex on the palate showing great finesse, purity and energy. Very intense, sappy yet so weightless and the tannin is so fine! This is a truly delicious wine. Still frightfully young but the harmony is absolutely gorgeous. Very long finish with great persistence. From nose, entry-mid-finish, everything was perfect but I noticed there is a little bitterness at the very end which created a little distraction as well as took a bit of finesse and purity away. Nevertheless, this is still a breathtaking wine. (91pts)

1998 Ghislaine Barthod Chambolle Musigny Les Cras

1998 Domaine Ghislaine Barthod / Barthod-Noëllat Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Cras – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

  • Alcohol :: 13%
    Vibrant medium ruby red, much livelier than the Fuees. Intense and even more high tone than the Fuees, but also darker with blackberry, blackcurrant as well as violet and touch of perfume roses, little spices, peppermint, forest floor, very complex and seductive! Rich, vibrant and well defined, though not as lifted as mugnier, this is easily a step up of the Fuees. Very tasty with raspberry, blackberry and touch of plum that move on to the very intense and sappy mid palate, with ripe acid as well as chalky, refreshing mineral for the backbone. There is this inner perfume floral scent that I really like. Long, tasty finish that is mouthful mouthful and layer of good focus and precision. This gets better and better in the glass: juicier sweeter, more seductive, and almost seamless only if the acid is a little bit more lively for better lift to be outstanding. (89pts)

1998 Ghislaine Barthod Chambolle Musigny Les Charmes

Flight 3: Chambolle Musigny Les Charmes 1er Cru

The 9.53ha Les Charmes is the largest 1er Cru vineyard in Chambolle Musigny, therefore this is relatively easier to find on the shelf from many different growers but it also means that the quality would be more variable. While this doesn’t possess the intensity of Amoureuses and structured of Les Fuees or Cras, the top example is charming with it’s softer structured with generous of fruits and elegant texture.

1998 Domaine Ghislaine Barthod / Barthod-Noëllat Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Charmes – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

  • Alcohol : 13%
    Slightly cloudy medium garnet. As with previous 2 Barthod’s wines, this too has very attractive sweet core of strawberry, red cherry as well as raspberry, perhaps a little bit more spicy along with forest floor and mineral that is a little bit more lifted and showy with hint of brown sugar like sweetness. Very seamless, sweet and seductive, with touch of tannin that bring out the light rubbery grip, but with excellent chalky liquid mineral that flow on elegantly toward the very fine finish that is real juicy and sappy. While this is slightly smaller scale than the Cras, this actually offer better sense of Chambolle feminine character. (88pts)

1998 Joseph Drouhin Musigny & Amoureuses

Flight 4: Chambolle Musigny Les Amoureuses 1er Cru

Les Amoureuses (The lover, romantic eh?!), located just down the slope of Musigny Grand Cru is the best 1er Cru in Chambolle Musigny and along with Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St-Jacques, Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Cros Parantoux are the best 1er Cru in Burgundy. The best Amoureuses offer Grand Cru quality and harmony with finesse, intensity but never come across as muscular.

1998 Joseph Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

  • Alcohol :: 13%
    Vibrant medium ruby, brick rim. My 2nd Amoureuses (1st bottle was a 2002) from Drouhin this year. While the 2002 is really stubborn that refuse to show herself, the 1998 is almost naked in front of you, oh, so seductive with it’s nearly perfect body! Soft, fragrance, elegance, with deep spices, forest floor, blackberry, red cherry and assortment of mineral, sea shell, chalk, very complex and intense with super focus. A little bit acidic at the entry, but quickly rounded up with soft, sweet mineral that introduce to the very refreshing, very very deep and intense mid palate that goes on with blackberry and red cherry sweetness that underpinned by the really fine acidity all culminate to the long and lovely finish that filled with intense inner perfume. This is still a teenager and with the potential, she will surely turn to be a gorgeous lady. 91-93 (91pts)

Flight 5: Musigny Grand Cru and young vines Musigny

Musigny Grand Cru, one of the most prestigious vineyards in Burgundy and share this fame together with Romanee Conti, La Tache, Chambertin, Chambertin Clos de Beze. The seductive, sexy aromas is highly perfume, gorgeous and complex. With immense intensity on the palate that is pure and elegance. The finish is nothing short of brilliant that is full of finesse and grace. Quoted from Clive Coates: A great Musigny is heaven in the glass!

1998 Joseph Drouhin Musigny – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru

  • Alcohol :: 13%
    The youngest showing today, still tight and restraint. While this is not as expressive as the Amoureuses but one can sense the underlying complexity and depth, quite similar but perhaps with better intensity and broader with darker fruits profile. Structured, big scale and almost mouth coating intensity on the palate. Again, this is rather tight but beautifully delineated and balance. Very juicy as well as spicy with huge sweet tannin grip. Seamless with endless finish that show off it’s class, finesse and grace with bitter sweet cocoa aftertaste. While this is overwhelmed by the Vogue and Amoureuses today, this will eventually be a better wine with another 10yrs of age as this possess better substance for the long term. 92-94 (92pts)

1998 Comte Georges de Vogue Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru

1998 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

  • Alcohol :: 13.5%
    This vibrant, youthful ruby red juice offer absolutely stunning seductive bouquet that is airy, high tone, focus with super breadth and depth: blueberry, black and red cherry with sense of underlying ripeness that distinct herself from the rest of the wines tonight. All of this sweet tones intermixed perfectly with violet, rose petal with mineral and spice that added better depth. This is real showy, firework! I had some wines from Vogue but never got myself impressed, as their wines are always highly extracted that seems a bit too heavy for such delicate grape. However, this stunning juice had me said that, and I hate to say so, this is my red WOTN after my very 1st sip. Power and grace is what I had in mind. Seamless, impeccable balance, highly complex and pure mouth feel with incredible intensity that just keep expanding gracefully and gorgeously on the palate along with super inner perfume that immediately fill in the mouth and lasted for mins. Long long lingering finish that is sweet and succulent, with mineral, orange and red cherry aftertaste. WOW! (93pts)

2005 Henri Boillot Montrachet Grand Cru

Flight 6: The great Montrachet Grand Cru

Montrachet, the best white wine in Burgundy or simply the best white wine in the world. While Batard Montrachet Grand Cru offer immense power, richness and more openly exotic but sometime lacks of the elegance of a great Chevalier that offer stunning depth but not necessary power and have this restraint and coldness that I really love.

Montrachet is the only wine that possess the intensity, richness and underlying power of a Batard and at the same time the elegance and depth of the Chevalier, try to imagine it, eh? A complete wine! Red wine of the night is unquestionably the 1998 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru but without any debate that the overall wine of the night is clearly the 2005 Henri Boillot Montrachet, enough said (well, maybe this is unfair as 2005 is the legendary vintage for Burgundy, but, who care? this is a great great wine!)

2005 Henri Boillot Montrachet – France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Montrachet Grand Cru

  • Alcohol :: 14%
    Light golden, very soft but complex elegantly formed aromas of ginger spice, mint, honey, liquid mineralite, sea shell, almond, wow, so complex and layers. This classy juice continues to evolve for the night that showed lemon custard, melon, pear as well as brown sugar and touch of caramel. A 6yrs old Montrachet, expected to be very tight and structured up front. Indeed, very young but this has the prefect balance of each element that allow us to access even at this young age. Super silky, gorgeously texture, so elegance with great sense of harmonious, it flowed through the palate gracefully with intensive care and go on to the mid palate with better intensity and depth, yet so seamless and graceful. The finish is explosive, yet so quiet and calm, with super complex flavors that just sail on and on forever with the soft, juicy sweet mineral aftertaste….. I’m floored…. 95-96+ (95 pts.)
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Reward (20110527)

Posted on July 22, 2011 by Dave Chan

Warning: You may stop reading this post if you’re allergic to blood as this post is truly bloody! In fact some of the photos are so bloody that I didn’t show them here. :p

Reward, we having company dinner after the sales and this round we headed to Yazawa @ Robertson Walk, a Yakiniku Restaurant in town that well-known of their Wagyu Beef selection, directly flown from Japan. I’m a beef person, I love beef and I had my best experience last year when I visited Kobe, the taste of the Wagyu is still…. lingering in my memory.

I’m really expected the dinner today and my palate has been satisfied by the food here, definitely premium quality for their meat: flavorful, tender, sweet, juicy, fresh etc etc (even the chicken and pork are very good too).  Tonight I’m fond to the thin slice selection instead of the thick cut Sirloin, dun get me wrong, it was good but with the size, it simply too oily. IMHO, it will be even better if the cut is smaller……)

After all, this is absolutely a divine spot in town for grilled beef but beware, to pamper your palate with such premium selection of meats, you’ll need to break the bank. OKOK, not that bad, but best with the budget of at least $80/pax.

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I ever had wine from Frederic Magnien, for once: 2004 Chambolle Musigny Les Amoureuses. While the Amoureuses wasn’t at the same level of Drouhin (the top level will be G.Roumier, J.F.Mugnier and Vogue), this is a serious wine, especially for a challenging vintage like 2004. Thus I feel that this is quite a good producer and dinner today reinforced my thought.

I’m not particularly like the profile of the 2006 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot (for the sheer power without refinement). The 2005 Meursault 1er Cru Charmes wasn’t show well at first, it slowly opened up and show powerful palate but remained balance and fine. 2006 Clos Vougeot is even better, firm structured and complex, still young and will only benefit with age.

I pretty much enjoyed the wines from Frederic Magnien today but the star of tonight has to go to the Trotanoy. 2002 is a pretty normal vintage in Bordeaux but the 2002 Trotanoy is a very tasty & sexy wine, total harmony and cashmere like texture, absolutely singing tonight. The 1999 Trotanoy is a wine with more structured and intensity, drinking well now but additional bottle age will certainly help (min 3yrs).

Flight 1: Frederic Magnien

2006 Frédéric Magnien Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot – France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru

  • Medium golden that seems a little bit advance. Focus and expressive on the nose that that aromas of flint, gun powder, smoky oak with citrus, mineral and iron. Bitter sweet entry with bitter orange peel and quite heavy dose of oak infused flavor that coated the mouth with slightly toasted factor leads to heavy, long finish. This is a powerful wine though not necessary refine and tasted quite fat for a Chassagne and quite advance.

2005 Frédéric Magnien Meursault 1er Cru Charmes – France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru

  • Wow, very powerful nose of smoke, gun powder, pineapple and spices that remain fresh and focus, still a bit tight. The power from the nose also reflected on the palate with good dosage of oak infused mineral, citrus fruits, lemon. Firm acid backbone give a good cut to the power and everything remain good balance hence while this is a much powerful wine than the Morgeot, this is not heavy and finer with dry, clean mineral finish that is quite long. When this pair with the ox-tongue, it is amazing as it display even rounder and creamier mouth feel, oak has mellow down and offer more complex flavors of preserve plum, lemon, butter that is sweet and juicy, long finish. Well Done. Buy – Maybe – Yes.

2006 Frédéric Magnien Clos Vougeot – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru

  • Alcohol :: 13.5%
    Opps, this is rather backward and austere but show good depth and complexity on the nose with stemmy, spice and roasted herb note dominated the aromatic profile with underlying raspberry, black cherry and earth. Rich on the palate but also a tad lean and reserve that the medium level of very firm tannin bury the fruits underneath hence the tannic mouth feel. This is quite fine with oak infuse flavor, grounded coffee bean and long spicy finish and earthy undertone. Still a baby, leave it un-touch for at least 8-10yrs.

Flight 2: Trotanoy

2002 Château Trotanoy – France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  • Alcohol :: 13.5%
    Medium ruby core with just a touch of brownish rim. Complex, expressive aromas of roasted herb intermixed with sweet blackcurrant fruits, cigar box, ash and smoke meat that added more complexity and depth with the leathery tone. Wow, what a smooth, velvety mouth feel, harmonious and complete is the word, though not the top. Very rich and concentrated, with cashmere like silky tannin that almost fully integrated and blend perfectly with the savory meatiness, sweet dark plum and blackcurrant that form the juicy background and mouth feel. This is so elegance and lighter in style compare to some of the good vintages Trotanoy, but delicious all the same. Long finish with ash and mineral, sweet tones. Drinking beautifully now yet have a little bit upside potential still. Buy – Yes.

1999 Château Trotanoy – France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  • Alcohol :: 13.5%
    This is slight edgy compared to the 2002 but also having better substances and depth that will age gracefully in the next 5yrs and this is a better wine compare to the 2002. Similar aromatic profile to the 2002 but it is deeper and more complex with roasted herb, green capsicum, ash, smoke with sweet currant and blackberry fruits. Low-medium level of firm tannin coated the palate, especially the side along with higher level of lively acidity that formed a firm backbone with bigger scale and structure. Quite juicy with medium complexity and depth, juicy sweet plum on the long, firm finish that linger with roasted herb, mineral, sweet currant aftertaste with additional blackberry and spices complexity compare to the 2002. This is good but still not fully open for business yet. Give it another 5-7yrs and it will be evolved into something special. P/s: there were two bottles in the dinner, one is showing better freshness, tension and more complete than another. Buy – Yes.

Flight 3: The celebration!

1999 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon – France, Champagne

  • Pop and Poured and as expected, this pale golden color Champagne is some what unyielding and backward. Pretty, vigorous and very fine beads that display toasted oak, hazelnut, white flower, mineral and lightly honey coated white fruits that bring on to the very rich, with explosive fine beads that glide through the palate with intense ripe yellow and white fruits on the butter white bread with earthy, honey finish. Very good but still too young.
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1995/86 Margaux Blanc & 1999 Cathiard En Orveaux (20110520

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Dave Chan

Chateau Margaux need no introduction, one of the 4 First Growth in the original 1855 Bordeaux classification (Chateau Mouton only elevated in 1973). I only had once and it was a 1999 so I can’t really put a conclusion how good is a Chateau Margaux, but from all the reading I got to know that Margaux is the most delicate, elegance and fragrance wine in Bordeaux. Well, I hope I will be able to drink more Chateau Margaux in my future wine journey…..

Chateau Margaux also produce one of the best white (100% Sauvignon Blanc) wines in Medoc, well-known for the sheer freshness and the ability to develop in the bottle for decades. I have been adored the white wines from Medoc, say: Pape Clement Blanc, Smith Haut-Lafitte Blanc and Domaine de Chevalier Blanc, all are truly delicious and complex and indeed I can see the good future of them in the bottle.

We have a bottle of 1995 Pavillon Blanc du Margaux, this was not really good and only showed better in the next day. However, the 1986 Pavillon Blanc du Margaux was truly brilliant, I’m truly impressed. 25yrs of age, still possess remarkable freshness, energy and power, this continued developed in the glass over the 2.5hrs lunch with no sign of fading, sensational. Still on its way up and should have no problem to keep for another 10-15yrs.

The 1999 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru En Orveaux from Sylvain Cathiard was a good wine but was clearly overwhelmed by the 1986 Blanc….

1995 Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux – France, Bordeaux, Bordeaux Contrôlée

Day-1

  • Alcohol :: 12.5%
    honey, dry fruits, mineral with touch of roasted grassiness and dry sherry like aromas ad palate profile with good mineral complexity and citrus, lemon infused flavor that coated the palate with almost creamy texture and lengthy finish that’s linger with mineral and oak aftertaste, quite heaty too. Maybe additional bottle age will do some good for this.

Day-2

  • Alcohol :: 12.5%
    Day-2. Expressive and subtle aromas of mineral, sea shell, sea breeze and less dry sherry character on the aromatic profile with star fruits, guava, floral, dash of honey and nuttiness, everything is so focus and complex. The palate has also improved, better integration and weight on the palate. Round and polished, impeccable balance, the juice is so smooth and velvety that caressing my palate till the finish that’s linger with mineral and green herbs. Though there was this alcohol heat exude at the very end that distract a bit, other than that I have nothing to nail.

1986 Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux – France, Bordeaux, Bordeaux Contrôlée

  • Light golden color that seems not developed much, just like a 2000s. Popped and poured and the bouquet was already lovely, elegance and seductive. Expressive, gentle, perfumes aromas of floral, fresh cut grass and green herbs complexity over smoke, fresh honey coated ripe fruits: citrus, lemon, guava with mineral infused, the aromas itself is absolutely top class and with time, red apple aromas evolved. Palate wise, it was quite soft on the entry with richness and intensity build up along the mid palate and finish, and it was really powerful on the finish with mineral aftertaste. With more aeration, the almost crisp mouth feel turned to creamier, richer and fuller. Very complete from the entry till the finish, seamless I would say, with really good intensity and depth, though not really highly complex for the flavor spectrum. Fresh, precise and detail that leads to the focus, delicate medium length finish. Very good and for the youthfulness that it showed today, this will only get better with additional bottle age. Buy – Yes.

1999 Sylvain Cathiard Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru En Orveaux – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru

  • Alcohol :: 13.5%
    Dark brick core with light brownish hue. Expressive and aromatic, though not super attractive as the dark floral, blue Pinot fruits, earth, leather and mushroom aromas all wrapped under the roasted aromas which I don’t really flavor, as it seems lack a bit of the freshness and definition. The palate is showing better though, fresher, good grip with flavor of Umami, red and blue pinot fruits over roasted herb and mineral. Rich and fullish mouth feel, rounded, with ripe tannin and acidity, though I do not really favor of the roasted aromas that seems lack a bit of freshness and definition here, but overall this is a good wine that is almost mature with decent lengthy finish.
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1996 Dujac CDLR & 1975 Trotanoy (20110519)

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Dave Chan

I knew what’s wines to be served in the dinner and I really can’t wait for it to open!

Dujac, one of the top maker in Morey St-Denis, is famous for his Clos St-Denis Grand Cru (CSD) & Clos de la Roche (CDLR) Grand Cru (although recently his other Grand Crus: Chambertin, Romanee St-Vivant, Bonne Mares etc also gained enormous attention in the wine world and become the flagship wines in Dujac’s Portfolio alongside with CSD & CDLR. I have had great experience with Dujac 2006 CSD & wanted to try their CDLR for comparison to the CSD, so today is the day! However, the 1996 CDLR is an off bottle…… pity….

I love Trotanoy (who doens’t?), especially after his legendary 1982 & 1998 and yet today, I have the chance to witness and drink another legendary vintage, 1975, I believe you could understand how exciting I was! Indeed, the 1975 is the best Trotanoy I ever had, this classic claret showed beautifully today, simply stunning. It started a bit weak, but slowly built in the mouth and showed its full force at the middle of the dinner and continue to hold itself till the end, such energy and liveliness for a 36yrs old wine, this is a wine that reminded me why I love aged Bordeaux.

1996 Domaine Dujac Clos de la Roche – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru

  • Medium ruby red that is milky, dangerous sign. A lots of muskiness on the nose with no sign of fruits. Palate wise, it was dominated by volatile acidity, earthy and musky tone with weird taste, lack of tension and freshness too. This didn’t get better in the glass. Flaw.

1975 Château Trotanoy – France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  • Alcohol :: NA
    Lively garnet core with brick rim. The aromas was soft, but deeply focus. Toward the end of the dinner, the aromas evolved into highly complex, huge depth with its seductive Asian spices, flora, old saddle leather, earth, autumn tea leaves along with sweet pure dark plum and dried fig. Absolutely captivating. Palate wise, it was similar to the nose that is quite lean, soft with sweet fruits, not really complex and finished with medium length. With time, this lovely, poise, sexy lady started to pull herself together, showing great harmonious, complexity and depth. Sophisticated. So velvet, so fresh with really complex flavors that’s is hard to dissect that coated the palate along with a touch of super silky tannin for a better depth and mouth feel and the finish just wont let go with mineral, dried tea leaves after taste. The wine hold herself very well till the end of the dinner with no sign of tired. This is a top class Pomerol. Buy – Yes.
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Domaine Leflaive & Domaine Leroy (20110507)

Posted on July 9, 2011 by Dave Chan

Had a unexpected simple lunch at Aoki, Japanese Restaurant who are famous for their Sashimi, Sushi or everything about Fish! My first time here and this 2hrs lunch will live in my memory forever as it was so…… dang delicious! Highly recommended.

Too many dishes of which I have lost count and forgot some of the name, here below are among the the best for the day:

  • 1. Raw White shrimp with sea urchin with Caviar on top
  • 2. White fish Sashimi with truffle and sesame oil which pair well with the leflaive
  • 3. O-toro & Chutoro Sashimi
  • 4. O-toro & Char O-toro sushi both sushi and sashimi served well with the Leroy, Yum!

We started with a white, the new venture of Domaine Leflaive’s – Meursault 1er Cru Sous le Dos d’Ane, a monopole (i think so). The wine also inherit Leflaive’s elegance and purity. Very good indeed indeed.

2007 Domaine Leflaive Meursault 1er Cru Sous le Dos d’Âne – France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru

  • Pop and poured and this friendly wine is already approachable with it’s easy going rich mid palate with very little oak influence on both nose and palate, which blend well with the ripe white fruits with a little touch of yellow fruits that underpinned by the fresh elegance mineral and rounded acidity. The finish is smooth and linger. A good Meursault that is fine with less usual powerful and oakiness.

We had a bottle of Sake before the red was served. Can’t remember much (I was trying hard to stop myself not to touch the bottle in front of me, the 1990 Domaine Leroy Les Beaux Monts) but it was quite good. Well, when my glass started to fill up by the vibrant color liquid, I can’t help but to grab the glass as soon as I can (need to behave a bit…..) as I wanted to know if the wine live up to the status…..

Frankly speaking, I have yet to be impressed by Leroy’s wines, be it Domaine (89 Boudots) and Maison (98 Chambertin). Ok ok… that’s just because I have yet try many of her wines, especially the top one. However, the 1990 Beau Monts today was blown me off and I’m truly impressed, from the bottle of my heart. Beaux Monts (11.39 HA), a relatively large parcel byBurgundystandards, produced up to 60,000 bottles annually hence it is quite easy to find in the market but also mean the quality can be very diverse.

From what I have read, Domaine Leroy, is unquestionably the reference standard fro Les Beaux Monts and I must admit that I was lucky enough to be able to drink this bottle, 1990 Domaine Leroy Les Beaux Monts. A utterly seductive wine, It was so delicious that I can’t help but keep my mouth stick to the glass!

1990 Domaine Leroy Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru

  • Very bright color of medium ruby core with light brownish hue. Absolutely beautiful aromas of spices that is soft and seductive boast from the glass with the background of sweet red and blue Pinot fruits, secondary flavors of autumn leaves, mineral and preserved plummish fruits that added better complexity and bring on to the fully mature, grand Cru like harmonious and balance yet this tasted so young with good energy, drive on the intense mid palate with transparency to the concentrated, sappy, rounded, polished mouth feel which culminated into the long, velvety finish with good depth and finesse. Low level of very fine, firm tannin presented at the very end which only added better depth to the wine and the focus and precision here is top class. Utterly delicious! Definitely a treat for my birthday. Buy – Yes.
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2011 Simple Dinner Series 6 : WOTN (20110506)

Posted on July 8, 2011 by Dave Chan

Line Up

Simple Dinner Series No 6 – theme : WOTN. 

So, let’s talk a little bit about the theme. As simple as it is, everyone bring a bottle that they believed that bottle is able to catch the WOTN title, no restriction on region, vintage or whatsoever.

We trying hard to have all the wines blind so that non of us knew what’s being served and will only revealed the identity of the wines at the end of the night, after everyone has voted for their WOTN No1 – No3. However, due to the bottle shape and shortage of decanter, it is hard to achieve for such practice. But still, we have lots of fun and laugh through out the dinner.

I brought a flight of 2009 Egon Muller Spatlese, normal and auction. Similar to the Willi Schaefer (being opened for 3days but still very tight on the palate for both Kabinett and Spatlese), both Spatlese and Auction were not expressive despite opened for over 24hrs. However, this allow me to estimate when to pop for the next… well….conclusion was I will bury all my remaining bottles deep inside my locker……

The highly expressive, lush, voluptuous 2003 Sine Qua Non (SQN) Papa Syrah was unmistakably the WOTN for many follow up closely by 2000 Domaine Armand Rousseau Gevrey Chambertin Clos St-Jacques for its perfume, complex nose and very fine, elegance, readiness on the palate. The roast beef, er… sorry, the 1999 Château Le Tertre Rôteboeuf is not far behind the Rousseau, complex, polished, harmonious with persistent long finish.

After all, we’re splitting hair here for choosing the WOTN as many wines were impressive and a class of its own, such as the 2006 Espectacle del Montsant Montsant, 2006 Tua Rita Syrah,  are not far behind the top 3.

The 2002 Chateau Musar being the most interesting wine of the night as most of the guests thought it was a Pinot! Hehe….. Well done ringer!

Venue : Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck @ Paragon

Really thanks to Paul, who helped organize the dinner menu and grab a huge room to keep us away from the noisy crowd and slowly enjoyed our chat and drink. Very good menu to go with the wines too. Lovely Peking duck, utterly delicious lamb shoulder. Proper stemware, FOC Corkage, very good food and friendly service, this restaurant is highly recommended!

p/s: I forgot to bring my camera…….. hence please excuse me for not enough photos….

2009 Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Spatlese & Spatlese Auction

Group 1 :: Egon Muller

I have re-arranged the tasting notes for easy reading instead of follow the actual serving sequenced.

2009 Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Riesling Spätlese #7 – Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  • Alcohol :: 8%
    A.P. 3 567 142 07 10. Opened 24hrs prior to the dinner. Straw yellow. Aromas of ripe pineapple, rose water, liquid mineral with passion fruits and almost Sauvignon Blanc like grassiness aromas that gently display from the glass with a dash of underlying fresh honey sweetness. Not broad-shoulder nor expressive, still pretty unyielding despite being opened for more than 24hours. The palate is equally tight too that showed pretty focus with freshness and transparency thanks to the racy acidity. However, the acidity is kinda sharp at the moment and everything seems being discreet that resulted in somewhat lean and less expressive compared to some of the 2009 Spatlese from others maker. The finish is slightly more powerful and richer than the Auction with persistent and has this mineral that linger. I would love to see how is the evolution over the next 5yrs too.

2009 Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Riesling Spätlese Auction #19 – Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  • Alcohol :: 7.5%
    A.P. 3 567 142 19 10. Opened 24hrs prior to the dinner. This too is very tight despite being opened for 24hours, I got aromas of cheese, lemon citrus with ripe pineapple, rose syrup and honey mineral that is fine and elegance. I would expect more from the palate though. The palate is kinda lean at the moment but fine, with even better tension, precision and focus compared to the normal Spatlese though not as rich and showy. Perfectly balance between the piercing, huge mineral backbone and fresh, ripe acidity that lend freshness to the wine and made me feel that the sweetness level seems to be lesser than the normal Spatlese. Finish is quite lean too that build on some weight but not much, with pineapple and grape fruits aftertaste. I would love to see how is the evolution over the next 5yrs.

Group 2 :: Burgundy

1994 Bouchard Père et Fils Beaune 1er Cru Grèves Vigne de L’Enfant Jesus – France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru

  • Alcohol :: 13.5%
    Sweet and caramelize nose, slight burn aromas with some rubber, not really like this. The fruits are fading, lack of the concentration to cover the tannic, acidic backbone with Chinese tea leaves like finish. This has past it peaks and half way down. A pity.

2000 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru

  • Alcohol :: 13%
    Bright ruby core with light hue. Compared to the Tetre Roeubeuf , this wine display airy, floral complex nose with sweet cherry fruits, mineral that is elegance and pretty fine. Super bright flavours profile, the mid palate is quite restraint though. Some tannin kick in here to provide grip and added better depth and richness on the lengthy finish that goes on with spices, tea leaves and mineral. A pretty wine that is pretty approachable now and clearly a very fine effort in 2000.

2007 Domaine Tortochot Chambertin – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru

  • Alcohol :: 13.5%
    Bright deep ruby red. This display plenty of seductive sweet dark and red fruits that lead me to Vosne, especially with its high tone red floral scent. Other than that, this is pretty tight on the nose, but showing good focus. Very rich, sappy but restraint palate with good balance and harmonious. Flavors wise, sour cherry and dried tea leaves dominated with good substances beneath. Still tight and quite sappy, good structure with long finish that display trace of alcohol heat and toasted caramel aftertaste. Good effort but didn’t really show I’m a Chambertin at this stage and I hope it will when approached to the maturity. Buy – No (re-taste is needed)

Group 3 :: Bordeaux

1978 Château L’Evangile – France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  • Alcohol :: NA
    Ok, finally, we got a Bordeaux in the flight. Mature, developed bouquet of barnyard, dried fig paste, wet tobacco, fur and earth, pretty deep and complex. The palate offer some sweet fruits and spices but perhaps lack of freshness, the finish is started to fade as it is very alcoholic with barnyard, tobacco and cigar box after taste. Though the wine is down the hill, but palatable. And hey, what a rare treat to have such old L’evangile! Drink up.
1999 Château Le Tertre Rôteboeuf – France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
  • Alcohol :: 13.5%
    WOW, the nose display very good complexity and seductiveness with its sweet pure dark fruited aromas along with barnyard, dried fig paste and roasted herbs. I thought this was a Rhone CDP with its barnyard tone! The palate is equally good, rounded, polished, complex, good depth and harmony. What really strike me was the very pure mineral and natural sweetness of the fruits with really silky tannin that leads to the vey long finish with spices nuances that goes on and on. Impressive and this still on its way up! Buy – Yes.

2004 Chateau Palmer

2004 Château Palmer – France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  • Alcohol :: 13%
    Served right after the L’evangile, this showed very good liveliness with its fresh aromas of vanilla, tobacco leaves, cigar box, and pure cassis fruits that continue to pamper the palate with its finely texture, sweet pure cassis fruits and polished tannin. The finish is complex, sappy with good freshness, harmony and tension. Everything is so tightly coiled, but, with finesse and I could see its bright future. Excellent wine. Buy – Maybe – Yes.

 Group 4 :: Great stuffs!

1988 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape – France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  • Alcohol :: 13.5%
    Brick red with lots of sediment. Lack of fruits and tension on the nose and palate, compared to the last one we had few months ago, this is somewhat tired, off bottle due to storage? Not sure, what I know is this bottle display plenty aromas of angelica root, autumn leaves, preserve plum and sour cherry that bring on to the lean, straight forward palate with quite alcoholic long finish. A let down. Drink up.

2002 Chateau Musar – Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  • Alcohol :: 14%
    Bright red and dark fruits along with wild meatiness, barnyard that reminiscent of a Rhone. This has opened for approx 7hrs and still going strong, but as good as this is, the last bottle is better, and perhaps this is because of the occasion. Friendly on the palate, with medium level of intensity and complexity that bring out by the really sweet pure fruits, tannin was well-integrated with spices, barnyard flavours that lead to the slight alcoholic, medium length finish. Chateau Musar is a very interesting wine, Cabernet Sauvignon blended, but the purity of the bright fruits and elegance that made almost everyone in the dinner guessed this was a Burgundy Pinot! Buy – Maybe – Yes.
2006 Espectacle del Montsant Montsant – Spain, Catalunya, Tarragona, Montsant
  • Alcohol :: 15%
    A very well-made Spanish Ganacha that is well deceiving, as all of us guessed this was a very good 2007 CDP, perhaps a special Cuvee from some mid-tier producer! Power nose that displays plenty of sweet dark fruits, kirsch liquor and floral scents with underlying caramelize aromas. Full-bodied, the rich, intense palate is coated with highly concentrated sweet but pure dark fruits that show good complexity and depth and continue the wide flavours spectrum with liquorice, kirsch. There is trace of alcohol heat exude here, but well in-check that didn’t bring any distraction, with voluptuously long finish. Impressive! Buy – Yes.

2006 Tua Rita Syrah Toscana IGT – Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  • Alcohol :: 14.5%
    Opaque purplish core with purplish hue. White pepper core surrounded by an array of violet, spices, sweet dark plum and grilled savory meatiness. Very complex and elegance that too showed on the palate. Quite acidic entry that quickly rounded up by creamy mouth feel and layer of concentrated dark fruits intermixed with spices, charcoal, bitter sweet cocoa with silky tannin, beautifully texture that linger effortlessly on the amazingly long, powerful juicy finish with mineral and acidity freshness, remarkably depth and class. All the element is very well integrated that created a harmonious environment for the term. Give it another 5-7yrs and should be able to show more. Buy – Yes

2003 Sine Qua None Papa Syrah

2003 Sine Qua Non Syrah Papa – USA, California, Central Coast

  • Alcohol :: 14.9%
    Dark but bright ruby core. The nose is much more expressive that the Tua Rita Syrah with sweet, pure dark fruits that complex with meatiness, liquorice , perfume floral and whiff of alcohol. Very showy, the mid palate is really expressive and seductive with its rich, highly concentrated pure, sweet dark fruits flavours profile along with charcoal and leather, opulent and almost voluptuous. Tannin is well-integrated, impeccable balance with long finish that is pure, but I feel that connection between the powerful mid palate is not seamless, which the Tua Rita showing better on the finish. What I’m sure is, this wine will be even better after some long sleep. Buy – Maybe – Yes.

N.V. Equipo Navazos Jerez-Xérès-Sherry La Bota de Palo Cortado Nº 21 – Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry

  • Alcohol :: 20.5%
    Pur Er tea in colour. I’m not sure how long the wine has popped, but the aromas is truly expressive, almost as powerful and strong as a Brandy. Impressively deep and complex aromas of high tone almond and hazelnut, roasted fruits along with cockroach (no worry, you will find this in Chivas too), dried raisin and caramel. The palate is equally rich, intense, powerful, clean. Dry and juicy at the same time, I know, a contrary but it is. Very long finish with peat, smoke and heat. Definitely not something I like, but I can’t deny that this is a really well-made Sherry as it is balance, good depth and complexity, very clean and pure too. Buy – If you like it.

1976 Freiherr Heyl zu Herrnsheim Niersteiner Brudersberg Riesling Beerenauslese Goldkapsel

1976 Freiherr Heyl zu Herrnsheim Niersteiner Brudersberg Riesling Beerenauslese Goldkapsel – Germany, Rheinhessen

  • Alcohol :: 12%
    From 750ml. Another rare treat for a 37yrs old German Riesling BA! Expressive, mature bouquet of dried tea leaves with sweet mangoes, dried apricots and peaches core. Not highly complex, but fully mature and the sense of harmonious and freshness is stunning. A complete wine that flows through to the palate with seamless connection from entry to the very long, fresh, detail finish. Another great example of high intensity that coat and care your palate but never being heavy. What a great way to end the dinner! I love this. Buy – Yes.
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Araujo Masterclass with Bart & Daphne Araujo (20110505)

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Dave Chan

One of the masterclasses in 2011 world gourmet summit. In fact, I didn’t enroll for this…. My best buddy did… but due to some personal issue, he can’t attend hence, I got my birthday present! Thanks buddy!

Dr. NK Yong is the host for this masterclass together with Ms. Lisa-Perotti Brown, Mr. & Mrs. Araujo. Set-up for the masterclass was pretty simple, no brochure or any introductory note provided. However, the hosts made it a serious masterclass with loads of info for the wine making, vineyard, growing season and personal thought between Californian Cab and their French counterpart: Bordeaux.

Philosophy of Araujo: Elegance is difficult while power is easy, they want balance of all. Weight without heaviness.  I would say their wines showed us that they have achieved their goal. Unlike some of the cab based wines that show superb ripe fruits, lack of acidity and freshness, over the top, Araujo’s wines are ripe, sweet but display great freshness and transparency. Stylish, soulful, classy and loads of personality. Most importantly, I can see the evolution of the wines, thanks to Mr. Bart very wise choice to select 2set of wines (Cabernet & Syrah) that are 10yrs different (2005 & 1995 for Cab, 2003 & 1993 for Syrah) in aged.

I must say Araujo produces world class wines and one of my best experiences for Californian wines. p/s: All wine growing information is extracted from http://www.araujoestate.com

Flight 1: Cabernet Sauvignon

2008 Araujo Estate Altagracia Red Table Wine – USA, California, Napa Valley

-> Cost 1/3 of the price of Araujo and named after Bart’s grandmother name. Altagracia is blended from certain special lots (fruits from Eisele vineyard young vines which not quite mature in fruits flavours and not so high on tannin) that declassified from Araujo flagship Cabernet and vinified in the same manner as Eisele Vineyard Cabernet.

-> This wine label as red table wine means that this doesn’t need to be at least 75% Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. This is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, sometime Merlot.

Wine growing Information: 

  • The 2008 growing season was year of extremes, beginning with intense storms that brought rain and high winds, but the precipitation soon waned and for the second year in a row, less than 60 percent of normal rainfall was received.  The spring season was one of the driest on record. The dry soils prompted grapevines to push out early, just as frigid, dry air in early spring created conditions for the deepest and longest frost period in three decades, against which our wind machines proved ineffective.
  • The Cabernet grapes were not spared by the frosts, which caused a loss of over 20 percent of the normal crop.  The vines produced a small canopy in response to the lack of soil moisture, while enduring an early heat spike at bloom.  A cooler summer ensued, allowing the naturally resilient vines to focus on ripening their small crop in the mild temperatures. After the early start to the growing season, the Eisele Vineyard harvest began slightly earlier than normal, with the first block of Cabernet harvested on September 11th and the final grapes picked on October 1st.
  • The fruit was sorted, de-stemmed and cold-soaked, undergoing native yeast fermentations and long macerations in small stainless steel tanks. The wine was aged in 100 percent new French oak barrels for 23 months and bottled in September 2010.
  • This vintage was the first that we were able to source fruit from two other stellar Napa Valley vineyards; some of the resulting wine was used in the Altagracia, and based on the outcome, we will likely continue to produce Altagracia with the addition of some of our friends excellent fruit.

Tasting Note:

  • Alcohol :: 14.2%
  • Eisele Vineyard: 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Petit Verdot
  • Napa Valleu: 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot
  • Bright dark ruby core with purplish hue. Eucalyptus and green herb dominated the aromatic profile along with smoke mint, brown sugar and pure sweet cassis. The sweet cassis flavour also reflect on the palate, though sweet but bright, with layer of charcoal, sweet plum and smoke element that glide through the very rich palate but not heavy, with very silky tannin, velvet, good grip with fruits and integration of oak, already drinking very well now yet definitely no problem for aging. Juicy, bitter sweet cocoa finish that is spicy with alcohol heat notes that distract a bit. Bart commented that the tannin is silky and soft, almost un-noticeable when tasted but chemically measure proved that this is a wine with really high tannin. Buy – Maybe – Yes.

2005 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard – USA, California, Napa Valley

Wine growing Information: 

  • The remarkable 2005 growing season began with one of the wettest springs on record, with soaking rains that continued well into June. Full soil moisture capacity in the vineyard encouraged long leafy shoots, and clear weather at bloom allowed an excellent fruit set, all of which kept our crews busy thinning clusters, leaves and shoots to provide ideal exposure for the remaining grapes. A spectacular summer ensued, with warm, sunny days and cool nights, and even through September, the weather continued mild with no severe heat spikes, ripening the perfectly formed clusters slowly and completely.
  • This beautiful season allowed extensive hang time until the end of September, producing grapes with delicious flavors and lower sugars with no dehydration. The generous harvest began on September 27th with the young Petit Verdot, and ended on October 13th with the last Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit was hand-picked under lights during the cool hours of the night, hand sorted, fermented and macerated in small tanks, and then aged in new French oak barrels for 26 months. The wine was bottled in November, 2007.
  • 2005 is a vintage with heat but never too hot, wonderful long hang time and ideal harvest period, well ripe tannin with effortless finish that just goes on and on. The valley is very near the coast thus having lots of fog during summer. Jun – Aug – Sep is very boring: fog came in at night, stay until 10am and temperature slowly warm up to 85F, everyday, truly boring but absolutely magical for the grapes. Occasionally having heat spike once or twice which the temperature can rise up to 100F.

Tasting Notes:

  • Alcohol :: 14.8%
  • 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 2% Merlot
  • Darker ruby core with lightly brown hue (storage?). Tight on the nose with highly expressive of eucalyptus essence aromas, vanilla, smoke cigarette that is slightly pungent and with some swirling, sweet dark fruits emerge. Super rich and concentrated on the rounded, polished palate with layer of fruits that is so pure and dense but never come across heavy thanks to the fresh acidity that formed the firm backbone and show great freshness and focus, elegance which move on to the complex, detail finish that’s linger slowly with spices and eucalyptus dryness. The great thing here is the tannin / oak / acid / fruits all well integrated and formed a really lovely, harmonious atmosphere to enjoy even at this young age! It could be a great wine with good sense of finesse and class but, the little touch of alcohol heat pukes out at the very end causing a down grade, perhaps half a notch. That’s being said, if this issue can be solved with additional bottle age, this will be brilliant. Buy – Maybe – Yes.

1995 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard – USA, California, Napa Valley

Quoted from Daphne: 

  • A lots of Californian wine like to made big impression upfront, ie, hit you hardly at entry. Araujo, wanted to do it more restraint, tight at first but the wine slowly open up and keep changing which made dining exp a lot more fun.
  • I loveBordeaux, I love Haut Brion, La Mission Haut Brion, Calon Segur but we can’t madeBordeaux, as growing condition is different. Araujo only use 100% new French oak made by Cooper.

Wine Growing information:

  • The 1995 growing season began with major winter flooding in January and March followed by a cool, frost free, but still wet spring, bringing later than usual flowering. Both rain and a freak hailstorm in June resulted in a light fruit set and small clusters. A warmer than usual summer allowed the grapes to hang on the vines for an extended period. The grapes benefited from this extra hang time, yielding a crop that was richly concentrated, intense and beautifully balanced.
  • We began harvesting our young vines on September 25 and finished with the older vines on October 24, about 3 weeks later than usual. The lots were fermented separately in stainless steel tanks, then aged 22 months in 75 percent new French oak barrels. The wine was bottled in August, 1997.
Tasting Note:
  • Alcohol :: 13.5%
  • 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
  • Medium ruby core with more brownish hue. Even more expressive on the nose with almost caramelize fruits underneath along with tobacco, smoke cigarette, eucalyptus, sweet cassis, plum and honey that almost like a late harvest dessert wine. Similar to the 2005, this too offer superb balance, purity of fruits, harmonious and elegance with good mid palate depth, remarkable long on the finish with fresh mineral that linger with more power built at the end that made the finish even longer and compelling. While there is touch of alcohol present too but this is acceptable compare to the slightly higher presence from the 2005. Almost seamless, despite the overall balance and depth, the figure of the 1995 is streamline with a tad more finesse compare to the more opulent, powerful 2005. Buy – Yes.
Flight 2: Sauvignon Blanc

2010 Araujo Estate Sauvignon Blanc Eisele Vineyard – USA, California, Napa Valley

Wine growing Information: 

  • The 2010 growing season began late, with cool spring temperatures delaying budbreak in the vineyard. Cool, showery weather persisted through May and then finally more normal temperatures returned in June for good weather at bloom and fruit set. Despite a heat spike in late August, the cooler overall temperatures for the growing season allowed the Sauvignon grapes to maintain a beautiful acidity, ensuring crisp and lively flavors, while warm weather in September helped bring the fruit to full maturity.
  • The leisurely harvest was about one week later than average, beginning with Sauvignon Musque on September 2nd and finishing with Sauvignon Blanc on September 17th. The clusters were hand-picked in prime condition in the cool morning hours, then whole-cluster pressed and fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel drums and new French oak. The wine was barrel-aged sur lie for six months with weekly batonnage, and bottled in March, 2011. The grapes were certified ‘Organic’ by California Certified Organic Farmers and ‘Biodynamic’ by Demeter.

Tasting Note:

  • Alcohol :: 14.3%
  • 64% Sauvignon Musque, 36% Sauvignon Blanc
  • Wow, this is amazingly good for a new world Sauvignon Blanc, the best so far? Bright gold in color that boost wonderful aromas of tropical fruits, guava, eucalyptus leaves, mineral and touch of pineapple and sweet liquid mineral, what a complex yet refreshing nose! Unlike some of the crisp Sauvignon Blanc that seem quite lean, this is creamy yet clean on the very rich mango, sweet passion fruits coated palate with good depth and complexity. Silky, velvety mouth feel with good long finish that’s pure, and fresh. Juicy but not being sweet with pink guava aftertaste. Buy – Yes.

Flight 3: Syrah!

2003 Araujo Estate Syrah Eisele Vineyard – USA, California, Napa Valley

Wine growing Information: 

  • Following a warm winter with above average rainfall, the start of the 2003 growing season was delayed by a cool spring and an unusually wet April that reduced the fruit set and cluster size. A benign summer ensued, with classic conditions of cool, foggy mornings followed by long summer days of temperatures mostly in the 80’s, allowing flavors to develop well in advance of sugars. Some long-awaited heat arrived in mid-September, bringing the small crop of already flavorful grapes to full phenolic ripeness.
  • Harvest began on September 17th, and continued until September 27th. The grapes were picked and delivered to the winery during the cool pre-dawn hours. The fruit was sorted by hand, de-stemmed, and cold-soaked, and underwent native yeast fermentations and extended macerations in small open-top fermenters. The wine was aged in 50 percent new French oak barrels for 21 months and bottled in July, 2005.

Tasting Note:

  • Alcohol :: 14.9%
  • 96% Syrah, 4% Viognier.
  • This is even sweeter entry than the Cabernet and also more powerful. I very much like the underlying layer of succulent dark fruits that is pure and not heavy, in fact, fresh to buffer the power of this wine, which is very much approachable and enjoyable with complex flavours of roasted herb, mineral and fruits. Refine and polished texture. The cashmere like tannin is well-integrated and added better weight and depth to the wine. While this is powerful, it doesn’t sacrifice the sense of elegance and finesse, and the long, effortless finish just goes on and on, quite dry with roasted coffee bean. This is absolutely delicious with substances to boost, I like. Buy – Yes.

1993 Araujo Estate Syrah Eisele Vineyard – USA, California, Napa Valley

  • Fresh, good acidity with rounded mouth feel. The sweetness has mellow down, with very fresh and pure sweet dark fruits coated palate leads to the very long, grippy finish. Very good. I noticed when aged, this Syrah showed even better sense of elegance with polished texture and seamless harmony but lack of the mid palate concentration and overall depth and complexity. That being said, I prefer the 2003 version, would the 2003 version evolve into something like this 1993? Well, I would love to know. Buy – Maybe.
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2011 Pre-Bod Dinner (20110430)

Posted on June 25, 2011 by Dave Chan

I have a group of friends that I knew them from some tasting events / masterclasses for a few years, but hardly gather around for a proper dinner, though we have been wanted to do so. Thus, this is a very good excuse for me to pull them together for a dinner. Wine is such a mysterious beverage that allow me to know more friends, or to be more precise, wine bros!

I decided to hold the dinner at Imperial Treasure, Great World City which I very much enjoyed my meal here, very good food, proper stemware (Bord, Burg and White) and cosy, quiet private room. The highlight dishes of today supposed to be the Steamed Live Alaska Crab w/ Chinese Wine and Egg white. However, it is quite salty today….. which is less refreshing and appetizing. Charcoal Grilled Lamp Chop as good as the other day I had with some other dishes being ok, but not something exceptional.

And not surprise that the wines steal the show, always. I really enjoyed the completeness of the 1998 La Nerthe CDP Cuvée des Cadettes, simply delicious and is clearly my WOTN. A pity that both 1992 Romanee St.Vivant (can’t remember the producer, should be Chanson?) and the 1993 Tignanello being over-decanted (more than 8hrs), I really would love to try both right out of the bottle and drink them for 3hrs. 2002 Joseph Drouhin Les Amoureuses, still a baby, so freaking tight despite opened in the bottle for 9hrs…and remained as tight for the next 2days…. Both Riesling showing well though completely different in style, some prefer the rich, opulent Robert Weil while some prefer the sleek, elegance J.J.Prum and I simply enjoyed both of them.

Really appreciated all my friends who spent their time with me for chit chatting with some good food and of course, many wines! Specially thanks to YLB who bought me the lychee martini cake. Cheers guys!

Tasting Notes:

Flight 1: “Aperitif”

2002 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon - France, Champagne

2002 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon – France, Champagne

  • Alcohol :: 12.5%
    Fine beads with super focus aromas of white flower scents, white fruits with a dash fresh honey, very refreshing and perfume. As one would expect, this is still a baby and the mid palate weight is obviously not showing what an aged DP can offer, but it inherent the structure, sense of elegance and harmonious of DP. The fine beads gently explode on the palate that bring out the flavors of stone fruits, mineral, green fresh herb. Good intensity and definition though not necessary with good depth and complexity now. Crisp, fresh, medium length finish that’s is very clean and precise. Hand off for another 10-15yrs if you own some of this. Maybe a buy at this point, but would love to try this again in the future when it is more ready.

Flight 2: Wildness

2004 Rene Rostaing Côte-Rôtie – France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  • Alcohol :: 12.5%
    Meaty, roasted herb, slight alcohol heat. High acid on the palate which is quite sharp, with dried tea leave and mineral persistent finish that leads me to Gevrey rather than a Rhone. This lack of fruits to cover the alcohol which exude and distract a bit. This does improved quite a bit with some sweet fruits surfaced to balance off the high acid backbone with some wildness appeared at the medium length, fresh finish. The alcohol note still exist though.

1998 Château La Nerthe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée des Cadettes - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

1998 Château La Nerthe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée des Cadettes – France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  • Alcohol :: 14%
    Dark ruby core with brownish hue. Clearly a CDP with its sweet dried fig paste, sweet plum, blueberry with a touch of burn caramel that showing good depth. I believe this is from old vines as it has this depth and charm whereby only old vines in can deliver. Good purity here, with classy elegance profile. Broad, complex of flavors spectrum on the richly red and dark sweet fruits slowly glide thru the palate with very good intensity that is gentle and soft, really harmonious with no rough edge nor single elements shoot out. Sweet red cherry, wet stone, mineral with even deeper expression of licorice, spices and kirsch liquor complexity. Long elegance finish with good persistent and spicy aftertaste. Remarkably fresh too. This may not be the best CDP, this is a lovely, delicious one for sure and very complete, my WOTN. Buy – Yes.

Flight 3: A “ringer”

1993 Antinori Tignanello Toscana IGT – Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

-> I called this a ringer because none of us got this right, I thought It was a Bordeaux, and in fact everyone of us thought this was a Bordeaux too! Well…. I really need to drink more…… HEHE.

  • Alcohol :: 12.5%
    Shoot! I thought this was a Bordeaux at first with the aromas of sweet plum, leather, earth, rose. Good ripe and sweet tannin that mislead me this is not a Sangiovese, need to try more aged Sangiovese based wine! I like this for the first pour: sweet mid palate, rounded with good fruits and decent length, though not necessary highly complex. 2nd pour, the wine started to fade as the acid became volatile and the finished has lost its tension. Drink up soon.

Flight 4: The Burgundy land……

2004 Fernand Lécheneaut et Fils (Philippe et Vincent) Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Pruliers – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru

  • Alcohol :: 13.5%
    Still pretty young as suggested by the toasted oak influenced (hint of caramel) aromas with bright primary fruits: red and black cherry. This has pretty good transparency to the flavors, while the palate is rich, it is quite restraint and doesn’t possess the ripeness and roundness from the ripe vintage, this leads me to 2004. Fine, clean, with cherry acidity exude at the back, kinda tannic and structure, good long finish with mineral and dry tea leaves aftertaste. Really not bad for a 2004 but kinda straight forward.

2002 Joseph Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

2002 Joseph Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses – France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

  • Alcohol :: 13%
    Perfume nose but not necessary seductive as the sweet fruits have yet to surface, sour cherry, mineral, autumn tea leave, floral and forest floor. Fine, fresh acid and tannin backbone that wrapped under an elegance package with good mid palate intensity that never came across heavy with really harmonious, verve, poise persistent finish with mineral that resonant. This wine has never really opened up throughout the dinner, but one can sense the pedigree and refinement within. Some of my friend guest this was a MSD Grand Cru such as Clos St.Denis. Buy – Maybe, re-taste is needed.Day 2: Still the same, structure up front, high fresh acidity but very fine, I have no problem to swallow.
    Day 3: Opened up slight more, with lightly sweet fruits on the palate and fine acidic finish with clean mineral undertone.

Flight 5: SweeeeeeT

2006 Weingut Robert Weil Kiedricher Gräfenberg Riesling Auslese #11 & 1990 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel

2006 Weingut Robert Weil Kiedricher Gräfenberg Riesling Auslese #11 – Germany, Rheingau

  • Alcohol :: 8%
    A.P. 3 400 30 11 07. From a 375ml and opened for at approx 7hrs before served. Dark golden. Focus and fullish aromas of fresh honey coated yellow fruits complexity: ripe lemon, mango, banana, peaches, preserved plum and touch of secondary petroleum note. Clearly Auslese for the weight and depth and though not outstanding, there is purity and clarity in this wine. The sugar level for 2006 German Riesling is kinda high, often lack of acid for the focus and precision, but this surprised me with its racy, mouth watering acidity that provided lift, almost razor sharp precision to the intense sweet mid palate flavors of ripe grapefruits, honey peaches, sour plum and clean long finish. Buy – Yes.

1990 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel – Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  • Alcohol :: 7.5%
    Full of secondary aromas of petroleum along with yellow floral scents, honey, caramel note that added more complexity to the aromatic profile with Bortrytis spices. The sweetness is clearly toned down after 20yrs of age, this is a more elegance version compare to the powerful Robert Weil, complex, bright, transparent, good grip, long, clean finish with dash of honey, citrus, petroleum, dried tea leave and lime. Good stuff and I especially like the liveliness and elegance.
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