MNSC dinner - Rhône

MNSC dinner at the Mandarin Grill. Theme was Rhône.

1996 Chapoutier Ermitage De L'Orée - for some unknown reason no one got enough of this wine. It was creamy, buttery, and lacking of the usual mineral nose. Unfortunately temperature wasn't quite right as it was too cold and nose was not open.

1991 Guigal La Landonne - this was a deep ruby color. Nose was bacon fat, grilled meats, without any violet or floral notes typical of viognier. Tannic and a bit hard on the palate.

1991 Guigal La Mouline - notes of lavender, floral, mint, and this was very open. The taste was "soapy" with round tannins, and a good, long finish. Thoroughly enjoyable. This was much better than my last bottle a year ago.

Bought from Vinum for SGD 541.

1991 Guigal La Turque - the nose also showed lavender but was less open. It was also very good and probably my favorite of the night, just as good as I remember from 2½ years ago.

Bought from Vinum for SGD 541.

1972 Jaboulet La Chapelle - the edges have turned amber and fading. The nose was pain grillé and gamey, grilled meats. Smooth, silky tannins but the finish was a bit short.

1996 Chapoutier Hermitage Vin de Paille, en demi-bouteille - bouquet was full of sugar cane, sweet corn, and beet sugar, along with toasty oak. It was only medium sweet but still very nice.

Bought from Berry Brothers for GBP 55.

91 La Chapelle

Dinner at Brown.

1991 Jaboulet La Chapelle - this was not bad. Round tannins. Very drinkable now.

Long-Depaquit Vaillons

Drinking at home.

1996 Long-Depaquit Chablis 1er Cru Les Vaillons - pretty typical chardonnay, with citrus and minerals in the nose.

Bought from Tatung Atherton for TWD 900.

1996 Moss Wood

Drinking at dinner.

1996 Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon - pretty disappointing. Too acidic and a bit tannic still.

Bought from Ponti for HKD 431.

96 d'Arenberg The Noble

Drinking at home.

1996 d'Arenberg Riesling The Noble, from half-bottle - pretty standard nose and palate. Enjoyable as usual.

Torbreck Juveniles

Drinking at home.

2000 Torbreck Juveniles - Whoa! This was pretty good, very much like a poor man's Guigal Côte-Rôtie, with all the same nose and especially the violet/lavender from the viognier. Very good once opened up. Have to get more of this stuff.

89 Ygay

Dinner at M Kitchens.

1989 Marques de Murrieta Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial - very, very good stuff! Nose was incredible, with sweet grass, red fruits... but palate was a bit acidic, especially after 2½ hours. Nose also had stewed fruits and cardboard, but the cardboard faded after a while.

Bought from Ponti for HKD 289.

Grande Dame and La Turque

Dinner at Chef's Table at Gaddi's.

1990 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin La Grande Dame - mmm... very smooth. Toasty oak. Good stuff.

1989 Guigal La Turque - very beautiful wine indeed. Full of cassis, grilled meats, smooth, round tannins. Nose of violet.

Bought for SGD 520 from Vinum.

85 Lafleur

Drinking at home.

1985 Lafleur, en demi-bouteille - beautiful! Typical Bordeaux with nose of smoke, minerals, earth on top of black cherries, cassis. Nice and sweet. Smooth texture. Yum.

Bought from Vinum for SGD 350.

98 Leeuwin Chard

Dinner at Brasserie on the Eighth.

1998 Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay Art Series - very nice and delicious.

Bought from Remy for HKD 340.

MNSC dinner - Aussies

MNSC dinner. Theme was Parker's Aussie favorites.

1997 Greenock Creek Seven Acre Shiraz - this was pretty good and fruity.

1999 Rusden Zinfandel Lodestone - this was the only Aussie zin as far as we know, and it was very good! Very jammy and sweet, with caramel and toffee nose. Wow! Very interested. I think everyone was pleasantly surprised.

1994 Clarendon Hills Astralis - this was a bit closed and not as good as expected.

1995 Clarendon Hills Astralis - this was pretty good, probably the best out of the three vintages, but it was a bit tannic.

1996 Clarendon Hills Astralis - this also outperformed the '94.

Bought from Oaks for SGD 168.