Arran Sauternes finish

Drinks at b.a.r. Executive.

Arran Single Sauternes Cask Malt - bottle #220 of 313.  Bottled at 56%.  First whiff almost burned my nose hairs off, as the alcohol was that sharp.  Very sweet on the nose, with a little smoke.  After airing for a while, and sniffing softly and carefully, nose of caramel, nutmeg, chocolate and a little peat.  

5 imperials from Sotheby's

Wine auction at Sotheby's.

2004 Le Petit Cheval en imperial - leather, coffee, prunes, smoke.  Slightly bitter on the palate, like American ginseng or burdock.

2003 Gruaud Larose en imperial - smoky, dried herbs, coffee.

2004 Lynch-Bages en imperial - smoky, muted.

2004 Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge en imperial - big nose of coffee, smoke and fruit.  Not bad at all.  Wine of the evening.

2002 L'Evangile en imperial - coffee, chocolate, smoke and fruit.

La Chapelle vertical

Dinner at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong, hosted by Sotheby's in conjunction with Paul Jaboulet Aîné.  Jean-Luc Chapel from the domaine was in attendance.

2005 Louis Roederer Brut - nose of cotton candy, oak and flint.

2010 Paul Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle Blanc - a little floral, toasty oak, very ripe with an interesting finish.  Second pour showed sugar and nutty notes.

2006 Paul Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle Blanc - much riper than the 2010, nose more open, with acetone, pineapple and marmalade notes.

2009 Paul Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle Rouge - opened 6 hours and double-decanted 4 hours prior to dinner.  Pine forest, ripe fruit, almost jammy, with a little sulfur, and vanilla.  Very tannic.

2004 Paul Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle - slightly jammy, green peppercorn indeed, a bit of smoke.  Still slightly tannic

1990 Paul Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle - the biggest disappointment of the evening, as the pristine condition of the wine meant it was simply too young and did not show, despite having been opened more almost 7 hours and double-decanted 4 hours prior to dinner.  Nose was very muted, a little dusty and chalky.  Nice acidity balance on the palate.

1988 Paul Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle - beating the 1990 hands down tonight.  Open and beautiful nose of leather, a little smoke and forest.  Acidity slightly higher.  An opulent wine.

1978 Paul Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle - the wine that I looked forward to the most this evening.  Pristine condition meant the wine was still very young, and felt a little restrained tonight.  Big smoky nose, with lead pencil, cigar box and ever so slightly medicinal.  Definitely more concentration here on the palate.  Happy with this but wish the wine could have been more opulent tonight.

1964 Paul Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle - possibly the wine of the evening.  Nose was very open, with obvious leather notes, sweet and lovely, surprisingly a little sharp, coffee, nutty, a little savory like black olives.

Full post on dinner is here.

85 Guigal and 07 JJ Prüm

Dinner at On Lot 10 in Hong Kong.

1985 Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde - beefy, animal, leather, dried herbs, prunes, violet and floral. Acidity slightly high on the palate.  Not bad considering the price.

2007 Jos. Joh. Prüm Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese - very refreshing, classic petrol and white flowers.  Sweetish and smooth on the palate.

Full post on dinner is here.

MNSC Dinner - HK Country Club

Dinner at the Grill Room of Hong Kong Country Club.

1996 Salon - flinty, yeasty, ripe with caramel notes.

1982 Ausone - Very sweet, ripe, grassy, minty, a bit of green pepper and smoke.  94 points.

1983 Ausone - a little dusty, chalky, ripe fruit and a little smoke.  93 points.

1989 Guigal La Landonne - drank almost 3 hours after opening.  Sharp, very ripe nose, a bit farm and animal, minty, and a little violet.  Soooo good… 97 points.

1989 Henri Bonneau Réserve des Célestins - drank almost 3 hours after opening.  Pretty sharp nose, ripe, really sweet, black olives and savory nose.  A big wine.  96 points.

1990 Henri Bonneau Réserve des Célestins - decanted 4 hours prior to serving. A bit meaty, minty, forest.  96 points.

1990 Chave Cuvée Cathelin - really ripe and sweet, jammy, really open nose, bacon, forest, animal and tangerine.  Wow!  99 points, almost perfection!

Full post on dinner is here.

1991 Janus Gran Reserva Pesquera

Dinner at La Paloma in Macau.

1991 Alejandro Fernández Janus Gran Reserva Pesquera - nose of potpourri, dried herbs, savory minerals, ripe and a little cooked, minty.  Very smooth on the palate with silky, velvety tannins.

Full post on dinner is here.

76 Schönborn Auslese

Lunch at The Eight in Macau.

1976 Schloss Schönborn Hattenheimer Nußbrunnen Riesling Auslese - nose of polyurethane, honey, marmalade and acetone.  Sweet on the palate, slightly bitter mid-palate, with good acidity balance.  Flint and petrol notes showed up after about an hour in the decanter.  A very lovely wine.

Full post on lunch is here.

A pair of Portuguese

Dinner at Guincho a Galera in Macau.

2010 Bacalhôa Chardonnay Cova da Ursa - big nose of toasty oak, mineral, lemon, ripe, a little sweet with a hint of vanilla.  Not bad at all.

2008 De Pancas Touriga Nacional Reserva - sweet, ripe, plummy, forest, dried herbs, pine and cedar.  A little sharp and alcoholic.

Full post on dinner is here.