1996 d'Arenberg Riesling The Noble

Drinking at home.

1996 d'Arenberg Riesling The Noble.

Leroy, DRC, Grange, Suduiraut

Dinner at a friend's home.

1986 Maison Leroy Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru - decanted 1 hour prior to serving.  Good nose but not much concentration.  Obviously past its time.

Bought for NTD 3,200.

1989 DRC Échézeaux - opened 1 hour and 45 minutes prior to serving.  Much better than the Leroy.  Great concentration of fruit, good palate with a long finish.

Bought for SGD 367.

1972 Penfolds Grange - highly anticipated since none of us have had Grange before.  Decanted for 2½ hours prior to serving.  The nose was distinctive and unpleasant to me.  A friend described it as a "wet chalk" smell, and I have to agree.  There was still fruit at the core of the wine, but not enough.  It was quite a disappointment.  I initially thought the wine might simply be over the hill.

Re-tasted the next afternoon and it seemed the chalk nose disappeared somewhat.  However when we tried it again on the third night, the fruit started to disappear but the chalk was still there.

Bought for HKD 1,710.

1983 Suduiraut - this was nice. Older but not as concentrated as the '90 Yquem.  Much more of an orange and pineapple nose.  Very good indeed.

Bought for HKD 559.

1996 Yalumba Signature

Dinner at The Grand Blue in Tokyo.

1996 Yalumba Signature - pretty good.  Nice firm body.  Good amount of sweet fruit that is typical of Australian shiraz and cabs.  A little young.  Will be impressive in 5 years.  Finally opened up nicely after 1½ hours.

1994 Cepparello

Dinner at Moomba in Singapore.

1994 Isole e Olena Cepparello - started out wonderfully, with good concentration and good, powerful nose.  But this wine throws a huge sediment, more than any other wine I've seen.  Looks like mud off the bottom of hiking boots!  Definitely needs decanting, or a third of the bottle won't be drinkable.

1988 Léoville Poyferré

Dinner at home.

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut

1988 Léoville Poyferré - decanted for 1½ hours prior to serving.  This was amazing.  This was the first time I believed in 'terroir', even though I can't describe it. This tasted like a Ducru! Sure they're both Bordeaux, but it's nothing like a Lynch-Bages, for example.  It's definitely St. Julien!  Nice body, smooth.  Great nose packed with good fruit.

1997 Baumard Quarts de Chaume

Drinking at home.

1997 Domaine des Baumard Quarts de Chaume - good floral nose, kumquats, honeyed almonds.  Yummy.

Bought for NTD 1,250.

1996 Yalumba Hermitage

Dinner at a friend's home.

1996 Yalumba Hermitage - OK.  A little young, with firm structure and good amount of tannin.  Classic sweet palate and a bit of spicy nose.  Would be better in a couple of years.

1994 Ebenezer Shiraz

Dinner at a friend's house in Tokyo.

1994 Barossa Valley Estate Ebenezer Shiraz - not bad.  Typical New World blend of sweetness and spiciness.  Would improve with time.