This is still a work in progress as I upload tasting notes and wine labels from as far as 1999... Check back once in a while to get the updates.

May 12, 2008

Rounding up investors

Dinner at Forchetta in Taipei.

2001 Jean Marc Pillot Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Caillerets -  I took the Pillot because we had it here last time, and I felt that it went better with food. This time, the first pour from the bottle was a little suspect, and I thought the nose indicated a bit of heat damage. It gradually opened up and improved, but the acidity was still higher than I remembered.

2003 Etienne Sauzet Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Perrieres - this was in a different class altogether. Powerful nose of toasted oak and minerals, this was very beautiful wine on its own. Once again, my friend decided to call the wine merchant in the middle of dinner to place an order for this wine. I should extract some commission from the guy...

2000 BOND Matriarch - for a second wine, I really do like this one although it may not measure up to the Harlan Maiden. It's a nice, classic Californian which will not disappoint you with its typically vanilla, tropical-fruit nose from the toasted new oak barrels. But the wine had plenty of detractors at the table, who preferred the Pichon instead.

1998 Pichon Lalande - for Bordeaux lovers, this was a classic, box-standard Pauillac through and through. My friend picked up sous bois in the nose, and I think he was absolutely right. Of course the classic cigar smoke and pain grillé notes were also in abundance, and I would probably have marked it as a Pauillac in a blind tasting.

1990 Rausan-Segla - a classic Margaux, and the nose of sweet grass and herbs were immediately apparent. The wine was smooth on the palate as a lot of the tannins had been shed over the years, and I really liked it. 

1990 Lynch-Bages - another classic Pauillac, although the nose was more subtle compared to the 1998 Pichon. The fruit was more evident here, and the finish was reasonably long. A very good wine matching my expectations.

1990 Coutet - another classic, this didn't stray far from the standard notes of apricot, honey, orange blossom that is typically found in sweet Bordeaux. The wine was very sweet on the palate, which for some people may overwhelm all the subtle notes and hence lack complexity. Nevertheless the wine was very enjoyable.

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