Sunday Evening Barbeque

A few of us got together to watch a glorious Sunday evening sunset over the South China Sea from a 45th floor rooftop enjoyed over a great barbeque and some fantastic wines.....all very mellow.

Aperitif

• 1998 Palmer & Co Champagne Blanc de Blancs - France, Champagne
  From magnum. Pale straw gold colour. Typical huge Palmer mousse that quickly dissipates into intense streams of tiny bubbles. Nose initially fills the room with toasted malt then multiple notes of malt and barley.....hints of weissebier. Palate is soft, soapy on the attack with a lovely back end of wheat and light brioche. Some length. Very agreeable....the opposite of austere. 91-92. (91 pts.)

Appetisers

• 2008 Castello della Sala (Antinori) Umbria Cervaro della Sala - Italy, Umbria
  Distinct yellow gold colour. Nose is welcoming warm hay and oak......some lemon balsam in the background. Palate is moderate acidic bite followed quickly by butterscotch boiled sweets, some roasted lemons, well integrated but significant new oak. A big rich wine with a very New World..... California Napa Chardonnay.... heft (and alcohol). Needs food and has lost something since I drank it a year ago. (87 pts.)

Aged Angus Tenderloin

• 1989 Château Lynch-Bages - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
  Three bottles decanted a couple of hours before serving. Still a deep ruby-red translucent colour.....it looks more like a 1999 than ten years older. So silky smooth.....almost remniscent of a Pomerol than of a Pauillac. Very complete and totally more-ish. (94 pts.)

French Cheeses

• 1985 Château Cheval Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
  Decanted for an hour before serving. All the linear perfection of a Lafite but with less austerity and more soft edges. Utterly gorgeous and drinking perfectly now. (95 pts.)

A great evening and such a pleasure to drink two great Bordeaux both at their peak.