2001 Dead Arm

Dinner at Neighborhood.

2001 d'Arenberg The Dead Arm - very heavy nose of coconut butter, exotic spices, and very, very sweet on the nose.  Sweet on the palate, too.  Tannins have softened but still a big wine.

Full post on dinner is here.

2013 de Fenouillet Muscat de Beaumes de Venise - the last glass from the bottle, so perhaps the nose wasn't as fresh.  The lychee nose seemed to be fading a little, with sweetness on the palate combined with a little grippiness.

Laurus wine dinner

Dinner at the Mandarin Grill for the launch of Laurus Wines.

1998 Laurus Côtes du Rhône Blanc - 60% Roussanne and 40% Viognier.  This is amazingly floral and aromatic, refreshing, completely different from traditional CdR such as Guigal.  Very nice.

1997 Laurus Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc - this is very traditional with Grenache Blanc, and threfore less remarkable, but good wine nonetheless.

1996 Laurus Gigondas - wow!  What a wine!  This is sooo nice.  The power that comes from old Grenache is wonderful.  Very easy to drink and smooth.  Yum!  Should get some of this.

1997 Laurus Côte Rôtie - this is a little young.  It's a fuller-bodied, more powerful wine, but neds time to develop and for the Syrah to throw off the tannic coat.  Should be wonderful in a few years.

1998 Laurus Muscat de Beaumes de Venise - this is different from the others, in that it seems to be a lighter style and more "floral".  The lychee is present but not as overpowering.  Very nice end to the meal.

29th birthday party

Held a birthday party at brown and pulled out a bunch of nice wines.

1970 Léoville-Las Cases en magnum - first time opening such an old wine...and broke the cork!  The wine was a bit disappointing.  While it has completely shed its tannins due to old age and is now a soft and velvety wine, it retained no hint of fruit and I consider it very faded and less pleasurable to drink.  In this respect Parker got it right.  Probably will not spend more money on this particular vintage in the future.  There were, however, some people who liked it for the softness.  Bought from Berry Bros for HKD 2,188.

1970 Ducru-Beaucaillou - opened 2 bottles and decanted separately.  This was a much better wine, due to the stronger tannins.  It is not as faded as the Las Cases, and still retains enough fruit although clearly it is not a young wine brimming with fruit.  I prefer this to the faded Las Cases which I consider too soft.  

Bought from Ponti for HKD 1,399 each

1997 Chapoutier Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise - opened 2 half-bottles.  Very good indeed.  The strong lychee notes were immediately identifiable.  Yummy.

Jaboulet Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise

Jaboulet Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, unknown vintage - good sweetness, with loads of lychees and some apricot.  The nose is a bit harsh and could use some softening of the glue/acetone scent.  But overall a very successful wine.  Bought from Watson's for HKD 88.