1993 Montelena and La Mission

Dinner at Blue.

1993 Montelena Estate Cabernet - full-bodied with good tannins and concentration.  Sweet on the palate.  Delicious but was drunk too quickly by everyone.

Bought from Seibu for HKD 595.

1993 La Mission Haut-Brion - this was opened and decnated about 45 minutes to 1 hour before we drank it.  A classic, finesse Bordeaux blend.  Nose of minerals, moss and earth.  Not much fruit in comparison to the Montelena.

Bought from Eslite for TWD 2,640.

1995 Vieux Télégraphe and Vogüé Chambolle-Musigny

Dinner at Lava.

1995 Vieux Télégraphe "La Crau" - this was very closed when first opened.  It is a powerful wine, not like the Beaucastel at all.  Lots of minerals and fruit.  Full-bodied and high in alcohol.  With time it opened up and improved, although at one point I thought I smelled olives!  It needs at least an hour.

Bought from Apex for HKD 270.

1995 Vogüé Chambolle-Musigny - this was a really good wine!  The nose was very nice, with berries and vanilla.  A friend smelled chocolate.  It was very soft.  A wine with finesse, not overpowering.  Good finish.

Bought from Vinum for SGD 98.

1993 CastelGiocondo

Dinner at Benissimo.

1993 Frescobaldi CastelGiocondo - wow! Soooo tannic.  It was really hard to drink when first opened.  Took more than an hour to get better, but still not quite there.  Wine Spectator recommends that this is cellared until 2001.  I think it needs more time.

Bought this from Cave-du-Relax for JPY 4,280.

1998 Danzante Pinot Grigio

Trying out wines at brown.

1998 Danzante Pinot Grigio - very good.  Good amount of oak to give it body, so that it's not light and tasteless, but not too much like American whites.

1994 Limestone Ridge

Drinks at brown 2.

1994 Lindemans Limestone Ridge - there were loads of sediment which unfortunately got into the glasses.  Still very fruity, much better than the last bottle.  Good concentration, spicy.

Bought from Watson's for HKD 336.

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.