1997 Clarendon Hills Grenache Kangarilla

Dinner at friend's home in Singapore.

1997 Clarendon Hills Old Vines Grenache Kangarilla Vineyard - Very sweet, fruity nose.  Actually very close to Côte-Rôtie, surprisingly, with floral notes, smoked game meats.  Medium-bodied.  Very nice and drinkable.

Bought from Oaks for SGD 68.

1989 Castillo Ygay

Dinner at Nectar in Singapore.

1989 Marqués de Murrieta Castillo Ygay - still pretty good wine.  Nose ws very fruity and open.  Acidity noticeably higher as expected.  Smooth on the palate.

Bought from Ponti for HKD 289.

1990 Mondavi Cab Reserve

Dinner at a friend's home in Singapore.

1990 Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - this is a very good wine!  As expected, nose of leather saddle, game meats, stewed prunes and glycerin.  A bit sharp at times.  Smooth and round tannins, with a medium-long finish.  Very enjoyable.

Bought from Vinum for SGD 179.

1994 Montelena

Dinner at Golden Leaf.

1994 Montelena, from magnum - it was pretty good, consistent performer although not great.  I had hoped for better.

Bought from Remy for HKD 1,290.

1995 Château d'Ampuis

Drinking at home.

1995 Guigal Château d'Ampuis - I was curious to see if the wine is now ready, after my last bottle almost 2 years ago.  It certainly was!  Wow!  The nose was classic Guigal Côte-Rôtie.  Lots of violet, leather, game meats, sweet fruits, animal blood.  Very awesome up to about 2 hours in the decanter.  Very smooth on the palate.  Medium-bodied.  Delicious now but wait till it gets better in 5 years!

Bought from BBR for HKD 575.

1996 Dalla Valle Cab

Drinking at home.

1996 Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon - I wanted to see if would show better than the last bottle, and it did.  Nose of iron, minerals, black cherries and lots of sweet red fruit.  Very powerful.  Full-bodied with very firm tannins.  Still needs a few years of aging time.

Bought from FRW for GBP 60.

1991 Faiveley Echezeaux

Drinking at home.

1991 Faiveley Echezeaux - body was extremely light, probably because it's Echezeaux, after all.  Never quite developed and remained slightly acidic.  Flat on the palate.  A bit earthy.  The nose, however, was very good.  Opened up well with core of sweet fruits.

Bought from Tatung Atherton for TWD 3,500.

MNSC Dinner - Plats

MNSC dinner at Plats.  Theme was 1987 - 1997 Californian.

1997 Beringer Cabernet Private Reserve - smooth on the palate, and became flatter.  Pretty Bordeaux-like.  As it opened up it improved somewhat.

1996 Ridge Monte Bello - nose was very sweet, with vanilla and oaky notes.  A bit acidic on the palate.

199x Fisher - don't remember the vintage or the wine... but perhaps Wedding Vineyard.  A totally sweet fruit bomb.

1995 Philip Togni - what a disappointment!  The nose was dominated by sweet grass, stewed fruits.  Not the fruit bomb I had expected.

1993 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Chabot Vineyard

1998 Plumpjack Reserve - pretty concentrated.