Quinta do Noval Masterclass

Co-hosted by Corinne Michot of AXA Millésimes and (Gérard Basset?).

2000 Quinta do Noval Colheita - still really alcoholic, very sharp nose, with lots of red fruits, very grapey, still got the tannins.  Later this opened up more and showed nutty notes like hazelnuts, and prunes.

2011 Quinta do Noval - forest pine notes.  Obviously still tannic, the alcohol wasn't so sharp.  Very sweet on the palate but not so bad on the finish.

2004 Quinta do Noval - exotic nose, with acetone, and this was a little weird... maybe with some banana?  Not what I expected.  Can feel the tannins softening.

2000 Quinta do Noval - nose was very closed, just as Corinne said.  A little paint thinner, with maybe a teeny bit of leather and a hint of forest.

1994 Quinta do Noval - much more developed, with exotic nose that was sweet like sugarcane, Asian spices.  Really lovely, and wonderful on the palate.

We then moved on to the Nacionals - the rarest of Ports made from a small plot of ungrafted, pre-phylloxera vines.  Production is extremely tiny - about 200-250 cases per year, and these days the practice is to release it slowly over 10 years while keeping about 20% stock at the quinta.  It's an incredible privilege to be drinking any of these wines, and especially the older vintages.

2011 Quinta do Noval Nacional - lots of forest pine, much bigger and more intense than the vintage.  Definitely licorice and spices, with a hint of smokiness.  More tannic because the berries are smaller.  Good sweetness on both the nose and on the palate.

2004 Quinta do Noval Nacional - nose was a little closed, somewhat stinky, with a little animal and hospital disinfectant... I think Christian Seely was right in not releasing this wine earlier, because I'm one of those who don't really "get it", at least not right now.

2000 Quinta do Noval Nacional - just like the 2000, I didn't get much out of the nose... only shoe polish, as the nose was pretty closed.

1994 Quinta do Noval Nacional - a lot more smoke, pencil lead, a little green.  Not showing as well as the vintage.

1963 Quinta do Noval Nacional - more alcoholic, with paint thinner, a hint of dustiness, but oh-so-beautiful on the palate!  Very nutty, soft and beautiful, with candied fruits and prunes.  What a privilege to have tasted this wine!

1937 Quinta do Noval Colheita - the oldest colheita from Noval, and these were bottled only 2 months ago from pipes.  With savory notes and very alcoholic on the nose.  This was simply stunning!  Soooo rich and unctuous on the palate.  Wow!

Unbelievable to have drunk 3 (or was it 4?) glasses of this tonight.

2009 Quinta do Noval Duoro - nose of potpourri, and still kinda tannic.

Endless wines for lunch

Lunch at Hong Kong Wine Vault catered by the Press Room.

2010 Jean-Marc Boillot Puligny-Montrachet - oaky, toasty, lemon citrus on the nose.  Nice acidity on the palate.

1973 Maison Roche de Bellene Volnay 1er Cru Santenots - savory like black olives, ripe, a little stewed fruit and slightly tired.  Lovely and interesting ruby color.  Almost took it for a dark rosé...

1973 Chave Hermitage Rouge - violet and floral nose, with farmy and bacon fat notes.  Very lovely and drinking well.

1973 Latour en jeroboam - what a beautiful wine!  Minty, smoky, earthy, tea leaves, dried herbs... Very fresh and vibrant.  Smooth on the palate but by no means light and diluted.  A little acidity on the back palate.  Wow!  This is meant to be ex-château stock from an auction house, and it really shows!

1992 Château de la Maltroye Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Grandes Ruchottes - mature, caramelized nose, sweet with Chinese licorice notes.

1973 Tortochot Chambertin - nice and sweet fruit, acidity a little high, a little savory.  Long and spicy finish.

1998 Bouchard La Romanée - minty, a little potpourri, perhaps fermented without de-stemming?  Good power here, but needs more time.

1998 Jean-Jacques Confuron Romanée-St-Vivant - fresh, fruity, pine needle notes.  Lovely and open.  Much more ready than the La Romanée.

1975 Ducru-Beaucaillou - sweet, grassy, smoky.  Pretty open.

1963 Averys Romanee St. Vivant - nose of leather, animal and sweet fruit.

1971 Maison Leroy Echezeaux - a little savory with a little fruit.  Not open yet and gone too quickly.  My contribution.

1994 Rayas en magnum - fruity, sweet, cool fruit, pine needle, potpouri, a little ripe.  Drinking very nicely.

Macallan 18 Years, distilled in 1973 - really beautiful and nutty.  The old style of Macallan.

1998 Yquem en demi-bouteille - polyurethane, honey, apricot and nutty.

1981 Rayas - leather and animal notes.  Very nice.

1987 Guigal La Turque - so much bacon fat, sweet and round.  Drinking beautifully.  Awesome.

1990 Vogüé Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses en demi-bouteille - a little tight, not great. sharp alcohol with shiitake mushroom notes.  A pity that this was drunk just after opening, without proper aeration.  My contribution.

1996 Domaine Leroy Romanée-St.-Vivant - forest, sweet fruit, beautiful, nice with dried herbs.  Pretty rich and powerful.

1997 Gaja Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo - smoky, nice concentration, drinkable now and very nice on palate.