Lamarche and Morey

Dinner at Sabatini in Taipei.

2000 Jean-Marc Morey Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chenevottes - this was very good. Crisp, fruity, good minerals and toasty oak. Very vibrant and lively on the palate.

1995 François Lamarche Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Chaumes - very open, drinking very well. Lots of ripe fruit in the big nose. Wow! Very enjoyable, and for such a reasonable price!

1994 Leeuwin Estate

Lunch in Singapore.

1994 Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay Art Series - pretty good. Typical toasted oak, butter, and lemon zest.

Las Cases and Huet

Dinner at a friend's home.

1985 Léoville Las Cases - started drinking after 1½ hours of airing, and it was drinking beautifully. Nose was wonderful and full-blown, very smoky, with minerals, stewed fruits. With time the nose increased in sweetness. Amazing Bordeaux expressing its classic beauty.

Bought from Oaks for SGD 223.

1997 Huet Vouvray Cuvée Constance, en jennie - this was a very well-balanced wine. Not too sweet. Good acidity to balance the fat, with a creamy, buttery palate. Very strong minerals and iron on the nose, enveloping the core of pear, orange, citrus, and caramel notes. Yummy! Very complex and fine.

Bought from Farr for GBP 52.

1997 Viader and Mondavi

Dinner at Tribute.

1997 Viader - this drank well like a typical Californian from the start. However it started to show really well after 2 hours of opening, which is consistent with the last tasting... it needs a lot of time. Lots of sweet fruit, coconut, and caramel. The nose was definitely "wow!" Everyone was impressed since it evolved over time and improved.

Bought from Ponti for HKD 591.

1997 Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon To-Kalon Vineyard - this was pretty strong from the start, with nose of sweet fruit and caramel. Very smoky at first, and more of a "Bordeaux" feel. Tannins are pretty firm. Still needs time to soften up.

1990 Dom

Dinner at Brasserie on the Eighth.

1990 Moët et Chandon Cuvée Dom Pérignon - pretty good stuff. Smooth, yeasty, not too sharp, nice toasty oak.

Bought from Macau Ferry for HKD 850.

1997 Poggio Antico

Dinner at Zanotti in Bangkok.

1997 Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino - pretty good stuff. Nose was nice on the opening, and gradually good better, with good fruit and acidity not too apparent.

About USD 100 on the wine list.

1996 Phelps Backus

Dinner at Victoria Harbour Seafood.

1996 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Backus Vineyard - fairly good but needs more time. Not a "wow" wine.

Bought from Sogo for HKD 1,080.

MNSC dinner - Conrad HK

MNSC dinner at the Conrad Hong Kong Executive Lounge, catered by Brasserie on the Eighth. Hosted by me on my birthday.

1990 Louis Roederer Cristal - this was yummy. Nose was very yeasty and sweet, with hints of straw. Crisp acidity. Good stuff.

Bought from Yamaya for JPY 13,000.

1998 Artadi Grandes Añadas - the nose was very sweet, full of strawberries, cotton candy, marshmallow, with hints of coffee and glycerin. I can certainly understand why this could be a New World shiraz. Tannins still pretty firm on the palate. My favorite of the 4 1998s.

Bought from Oaks for SGD 208.

1998 Clos Erasmus - the nose was very sweet, very New World, with notes of vanilla and coffee. I liked this wine a lot, almost as much as Artadi, though Parker's 99 points is probably not deserved, at least not today.

Bought from Vinum for SGD 151.

1998 Pingus - I never would have guessed this was the Pingus. It started out with the classic "shit" nose, but later the sweet fruit emerged and the wine was delicious. Then it took a strange turn, and the nose was completely Côte-Rôtie! With the classic rose petals! Everyone smelled this and it was amazing! Very good wine.

Bought from Vinum for SGD 480.

1998 Alvaro Palacios L'Ermita - my first pour smelled of wet chalk at first and I thought the wine was off. But it was only my glass. Then sweet fruit core came out after the second pour, Pretty good.

Bought from Vinum for SGD 260.

1970 Marqués de Murrietta Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial - nose of sweet fruit as well as sweet grass. A bit acidic on the finish, typical of an older Rioja. Don't think the others liked this as much as I did.