D'Auvenay and Champet

After dinner drinks at the Fifth Floor in San Francisco.

1998 D'Auvenay Auxey-Duresses le Clous - this has a huge nose of toasted oak, minerals, petrol, and glycerin. Wow! A huge wine and my first from D'Auvenay. A bit spicy on the palate.

USD 132 at the restaurant.

1979 (Emile?) Champet Côte-Rôtie - this was a classic wine with lots of bacon fat, a bit of smoke, lots of red fruits and minerals in the nose. Very smooth tannins after all these years, and pretty good stuff.

Around USD 140 at the restaurant.

1986 Bonneau Célestins

Dinner at Aureole in Las Vegas.

1986 Henri Bonneau Réserve des Célestins - it has an awesome nose, with an incredibly sweet cherries, leather, bacon fat, game meats, and a hint of glycerin. Full bodied with very smooth tannins. Amazing finish that lasts for more than 45 seconds. This wine was really showing well after 2 hours in the decanter.

USD 350 at the restaurant, which I thought was a steal.

93 Rousseau Clos de la Roche

Dinner at Lutece in Las Vegas.

1993 Armand Rousseau Clos de la Roche - opened 2 bottles. The first bottle was very good, with great nose of berries, mint, game meat, black olives. Medium- to full-bodied. Second bottle was not as good, with heavier roast meat nose that turns out to be slightly unpleasant.

USD 220 at the restaurant.

1996 Pingus

Dinner at Postrio in Las Vegas.

1996 Pingus - this wine is very young, definitely fairly tannic but also pretty forward for its age. The nose is amazingly aromatic and complex. Definitely coffee, strawberries, hint of mint, game meats and pain grillé. Spicy finish. Full bodied and turns tart on the finish after airing for an hour. Needs lots of time on this one. Also alcohol level high at 14%.

USD 290 at the restaurant.

1995 Mondavi Pinot

Drinking at home.

1995 Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir Reserve - pretty good stuff. Nose of black cherries, coffee, chocolate, mint, and leather. Game meats. Very sweet nose. Tannins still surprisingly heavy. Probably could use some more cellaring time. Starting to see sediment at the bottom.

Bought from Remy for HKD 430.

1990 Bizot Mazis

Drinking at home.

1990 Bizot Mazis-Chambertin

1997 Koonunga Hill

Drinking at home.

1997 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet - it's OK, a bit young but typical of New World/Aussie cabs.

Bought from Watson's.