18th Feb 2011: Chinese New Year dinner recap - no rabbit!
Krug 1998
Straw gold lemon colour. Lovely florals of fresh pastry, baked
lemon puff pastry, fine mousse with ripe lemon flavours and a peach stone
finish. Great with shark fin consommé. 92-93/100.
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Verget Meursault 'Tillets' 2003 Pale lemon colour. Lovely soft creamy lemon fennel sauce with hidden citrus lifts and raw cashews. Dry, med+ bodied wine, med acidity with rich ripe lemon flesh and peppery undertones. Finish is concentrated on the mid-palate. 92/100. |
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Robert Weil Rheingau Riesling Spatlese 2007 SGD$75. Clear pale yellow lemon colour. Subtle aromas of waxy lemon rind with developing naphthalene overtones and hint of fresh coriander. A bright wine with ripe citrus acidity and pineapple notes. Drink now if you like young fruit, or sit on it for 7+ years if you're after the distinct aged riesling characters. 94/100. |
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Maison Ambroise 'Le Rognet' Corton Grand Cru 2000 Lovely med+ ruby garnet colour. Developing forward yet soft nose of ripe forest dark berry fruit with sour cherries. A dry full-bodied pinot with high acidity and surprisingly youthful tannins after 10 years. Rich ripe dark berry, blackberry, sour cherry fruit with earthy sweet mocha undertones. Long finish. Perfect with roast chicken and foie gras as the acidity cuts across the heavy weight of fat in the mouth. 95/100. |
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Domaine Des Comtes Lafon Volnay-Champans Premier Cru 2002 Medium ruby colour with tinge of garnet. Lovely clean perfume of warm dark berry fruit with summer hedge sticks. Dry, med+ bodied wine with intense unripe small red fruit and blackberries. Youthful sappy tannins. Drink over next 5-12 years. 91+/100. |
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Penfolds Magill Estate Shiraz 2001, SA Deep ruby colour with a watery garnet rim. Youthful aromas of warm summer plum and blackberry laid over cloves in black earth. Dry, full-bodied wine of smooth velvet texture with high acidity. Rich blackberry flavours with plum skins on the back palate. This has aged nicely and is a finely crafted wine despite its boring nature. Drink now - 2020. 92/100. |
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Mouton-Rothschild 2000 Purchased from Langton's auctions. A blend of 86% cabernet sauvignon and 14% merlot. Decanted for 20hours but in hindsight, this should be extended to at least 36hours. Intense ruby garnet with a lighter rim. Youthful earthy nose with notes of leather strapping and tobacco. Dry, full-bodied with silky texture. High acidity, zippy sensations of rich, ripe blackberry fruit and trails of sour plum skin. Very smooth finish. Excellent. Drink 2015 - 2025+. 97/100. |
20th Feb 2011
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Grosset Off-dry 2010 Watervale Riesling, Clare
Valley Clear pale lemon colour with youthful aromas of crushed chalk, limestone and lime rind. This has rich, fresh steely lime flavours with streaks of passionfruit and sweet grassy lemon candy. At 11.5% alc this is very much the younger sister of the more serious Watervale and Polish Hill rieslings but still reflects the excellent vintage conditions of the 2010 vintage in SA. A thoroughly enjoyable semi-sweet wine that is rather unlike similar German offerings. Drink now - 2016. 89-90/100. |
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Paringa Estate Peninsula Pinot Noir 2007,
Mornington Peninsula Medium ruby colour with a watery rim. Developed nose whereby the fruit has obviously waned a fair bit but there is still an initial waft of red berry fruit and some heavier cherry fruit hidden in the background. Silky texture, med+ bodied wine with a nice, even spread of red berry and cherry flavours. The tannins aren't obvious and provide a well-balanced weight to the wine. The finish is reasonably long. Drink now. 89/100. |
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Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Palengat
Vineyard 2006, Horse Heaven Hills, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA Purchased from Langton's auctions. Intense purple ruby colour, initially (despite 4 hours of in-bottle breathing) very closed nose and I thought this might have been a compromised bottle. At times, I would be teased by hints of exciting florals but what resided in the glass was a dull and uninspiring spirit. However, overnight, youthful aromas of blackberries, violets and bramble started emerging. Silky texture, dry, full-bodied with high acidity. The forward, even tannins provide robust structure to this powerful fruit-driven wine. rich blackberry flavours with dark cherry and bitter earthy chocolate linger in the mouth. Long finish. 15.2% alc. Drink 2016 - 2025+. 93-94/100. |