Legras and BV

Dinner at Locanda.

Legras et Haas Intuition, dégorgée en Octobre 2023 - the nose had a nice and lovely fragrance. The dosage of 6g/l makes this a Brut, but I kinda felt the palate veered towards the sweet side.

1994 Beaulieu Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve - started drinking more than 1½ hours after decanting. Nose was nice and smoky, with pencil lead and black fruits. Very smooth tannins on the palate after 30 years. There was also a hint of earthiness a little later.

Bought as part of a mixed lot from Christies for HKD 938.

Full post on dinner is here.

Cabs and Tuscany

Dinner at Carna.

2006 Casanova di Neri Cerratalto - double-decanted at home. Very big and oaky nose, with tons of sweet fruit along with sweet vanilla. Very concentrated on the palate, and a really lovely wine in the prime of its drinking window.

1985 Antinori Solaia - decanted an hour after opening and started drinking after 1½ hours in the decanter. A little too soft by now, although 20 minutes later this was more fragrant with some woodsy notes. Very soft and supple on the palate. Probaby should have started drinking earlier as the wine may have had too much aeration.

1994 Haut-Brion - decanted an hour after opening and started drinking after 2 hours in the decanter. Big nose of smoke and green pepper, tobacco, and a bit earthy. Really fragrant after about 2½ in the decanter. Still very much alive and going strong.

Full post on dinner is here.

Krug and friends

Dinner at Deng G.

Elise Bougy Chetillon de Haut, dégorgée en Decembre 2023 - the nose was pretty fragrant at first, then got more toasty with time. Crisp on the palate with pretty high acidity thanks to being blanc de blancs. Drinking nicely.

Krug Grande Cuvée, 170ème Édition, ID 221035 - the acidity on the palate was higher than expected. The nose still got those toasty notes, but not the brioche profile I love so much. The palate was on the lean side, and not as rich as I normally love. After about 20 minutes, the palate had softened up a little.

Bought from MHD for HKD 1,660.

2021 Camille Thiriet Bourgogne-Aligoté du Jardin - this was a little mild on the palate at first, and in fact bland and boring. Nose showed a little toast but not much more interesting than that.

Krug Grande Cuvée, 172ème Édition, ID 123003 - toast nose, and the palate wasn't so acidic.

1994 Maximin Grünhaüser Abtsberg Riesling Auslese - lots of vanilla and marzipan on the nose at first, which was a surprise. Got the marmalade, too, after 30 years. This was ripe and rounded on the palate, but the acidity was high enough to balance it. The sweetness was nice enough to temper the heat in Sichuan cuisine.

Bought from Mayfair as part of a mixed lot for HKD 316.

2018 Wine Spots Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville - really ripe and sweet on the nose, with mint and spices, very fragrant.

Full post on dinner is here.

Riesling and Mondavi

Lunch at The 8 in Macau.

1994 Zind Humbrecht Riesling Rangen de Thann Clos St. Urbain - lots of polyurethane and some petrol on the nose, and plenty of apricot. The wine turned a little bitter on the palate when it got too warm. Later on this showed some marmalade, too.

2006 Trimbach Riesling Clos Ste. Hune - served around 1 hour after opening. Nose of white truffle, petrol, and a little flint. Slightly caramelized on the edges. A little grippy on the palate, and certainly more ripe on the nose than I had expected from this wine, but still has the acidity.

1987 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - showing nicely some 30 minutes after opening without decanting, with minty and earthy notes, some smoke, and cassis. There was a nice level of acidity on the palate to balance out the tannins that were still around after all these years. About an hour in, this was showing more meaty, leather, and animal notes. Tannins were still noticeable, and the nose was now very smoky.

Full post on lunch is here.

1981 Taittinger

Drinks and snacks at Caprice.

1981 Taittinger Collection - nose was the more toasty of the pair, almost coffee-like. Initially we thought this was un petit bouchonée but in the end we thought it was just closed. Good acidity on the palate. This turned really nice after it opened up some 30 minutes in, with caramel on the nose.

1981 Taittinger Comte de Champagne Blanc de Blancs - nose of marmalade, a little flinty, Chinese salted plum with that savory profile, got a little more oxidized. Very lovely.

These two made a very nice pair.

1994 d'Yquem, en imperial - opened for about a week. Tons of acetone, definitely some saffron. Good sweetness on the palate but still got the acidity.

Full post on the evening is here.

Whites and rosé

Dinner at Hoi Wan Restaurant.

Henri Giraud MV15, dégorgée le 12 novembre 2020 - nice and yeasty, with some toast on the nose but not overpowering. A little floral and marmalade. Wonderful balance on the palate.

Henri Giraud MV Rosé, dégorgée le 2 juin 2021 - more red fruit notes. Lovely.

1994 Laville Haut-Brion, en magnum - served 45 minutes after opening. Very fragrant, ripe on the palate but still got the acidity. Drinking very well right now.

2003 Sine Qua Non Sublime Isolation - 44% chardonnay, 37% roussanne, 19% viognier. Served 1 hour after opening. Fragrant and buttery, and that's the chardonnay. A little metallic, ripe and alcoholic with some vanilla. It's too bad we didn't give the wine enough time.

Full post on dinner is here.

Whites and God Only Knows

Dinner at a friend's home.

Fortnum and Mason Rosé Sparkling Tea - really lovely and fragrant.

2020 Dr. Loosen Riesling Dr. L - very fruity and sweet on the nose, almost peach and lychee.

2018 Blanc de Lynch-Bages - flinty with good acidity. A little green apple.

1994 Trimbach Pinot Gris Selection de Grains Nobles, en demi-bouteille - very big nose of honey, a little nutty, with lots of marmalade. Kinda flat on the palate, though... not that complex.

2013 Cayuse God Only Knows - drank 40 minutes after decanting. HUGE nose of alcohol, really ripe fruit on the nose, with tons of eucalyptus and very metallic. Surprisingly not that sweet on the palate.

Red Burgs and more

Dinner at Sun Hon Kee Restaurant.

2000 Duval Leroy Femme de Champagne - nice ripeness, with good savory and mineral notes.

2011 Chateau-Grillet - not floral at all despite viognier. Good acidity balance.

2004 Bass Philip Pinot Noir Premium - good acidity with nice fruit like strawberries. Color was pretty light and cloudy.

2016 Frédéric Cossard Vosne-Romanée Les Champs Perdrix - very young, very fruity, but a little pungent. It is, after all, bongwater.

2010 Felettig Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Combottes - still kinda grippy on the palate. A little lean with forest notes. Not bad lah.

2004 Giaconda Shiraz Warner Vineyard - served after 2 hours in the eto decanter. Definitely more Rhône-like than your typical Aussie shiraz. Eucalyptus and floral, soapy notes. Drinking nicely.

1994 Trimbach Pinot Gris Sélection de Grains Nobles, en demi-bouteille - a hint of savory notes on the nose, with honey, honeydew melon, and orange blossom water. Nice and sweet on the palate.

2004 Ponsot Morey Saint Denis 1er Cru Cuvée des Alouettes - leather, a little farmy, pungent, and savory.

Full post on dinner is here.