New World and alcoholic

Dinner at Hoi King Heen.

1999 Beringer Chardonnay Sbragia Limited Release - I bought this years ago and had been a little fearful that it's overly oxidized - which would produce a nose that only a few of us would appreciate.  The color was certainly a dark copper tone, not golden or straw-colored like a young Chardonnay.  Nose was very sweet and buttery, with sweet grass, pear and a little flint.  I was happy with this wine... It had everything I wanted from an old Chard, without being over the hill.  Didn't really feel the 15.1% alcohol at all...

2001 Henry's Drive Reserve Shiraz - can this be more typical of Aussie Shiraz?  TONS of coconut butter like I was chewing a Mounds bar and savoring the shredded coconut...  There was also lots of vanilla, mint and exotic spices.  I knew what I was getting into and there weren't any surprises...

2009 Pride Viognier - very floral, lots of oak, extremely sweet with vanilla, banana and exotic, tropical notes.  Ripe and alcoholic, definitely feeling that 15.4%.  Very young Cali Viognier...

Full post on dinner is here.