93 des Chezeaux Chambolle-Musigny

Dinner at Au Petit Salut in Singpaore.

1993 des Chezeaux Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Charmes - this was pretty good.  Need a good hour to open up to compensate for the acidity, but the nose was sweet.  Medium palate.

Bought from Vinum for SGD 95.

1996 d'Arenberg Riesling the Noble

Drinking at home.

1996 d'Arenberg Riesling The Noble - still great and improving.

1995 La Doriane

Drinks at brown.

1995 Guigal La Doriane - obviously this is hard to find, and under appreciated by Asians.  I was afraid it would be a little too old, but it wasn't.  It was full-bodied, lots of oak, very aromatic but not as light as the Laurus Côtes-du-Rhône.  Very enjoyable.  Was a little drunk after finishing this wine without dinner.

Bought from Eslite for TWD 2,520.

Billecart-Salmon Brut

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.