Dim Sum Club at Yan

Celebrating Joyce and PY's birthdays over suckling pig and Alaskan crab

• 1982 Taittinger Champagne Artist Collection André Masson 91 Points

  France, Champagne

  Not bad, but about time to drink up. Golden coloured in the glass, the nose was really developed, with oxidative, rancio notes dancing around aromas of apple liqueur, honey, caramel and bit of savoury white meat at the sides. With time, the oxidative notes actually lifted off a bit, revealing more of the sweet honeyed tones. The palate was full and rich in Tattinger style, with roasty toasty nuts and biscuits, alongside large scaled flavours of ripe, almost liquered apples, honey and sweet lemons, all spiked with just that touch of sherries rancio notes moving into a citrussy finish. Mousse had almost died, but there was still a lively hit of acidity keeping it alive. Very mature, but still just about alive enough to keep I it fun. Drink up though!

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• 2007 Bruno Rocca Barbaresco Maria Adelaide 92 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  More modern than I would normally like, but this was actually quite lovely. The nose had a lifted sweetness to its red cherry and strawberry notes, but these were infused with more classic Nebbiolo tones of fragrant roses, minty menthol and smoky tar - really pretty. The palate was surprisingly forward for a 2007 Babaresco. There was a little structured layer of firmness, with a bite fresh acidity and firm tannins that were perhaps plusher than one would expect from a more classical shaped Piedmont, all this framing really lushly fruited notes of black cherries and even plums. Dark and powerful, with an undertow of earthy bd spice, but still coming across rather quite elegant and feminine for all that. Maybe a bit extracted, but pretty good nonetheless, even with a touch of finesse. The flowers, herbs and spice that came out on the finish then brought one right back to Piedmont in spite of its modernnness.

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• 1982 R. López de Heredia Rioja Viña Tondonia 92 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  This started out a bit slow, showing a bit tight, but it opened up really nicely in the glass. After an hour, it was really quite the blushing beauty in the glass, with a whole perfumed panoply of geraniums, cherries and preserved strawberries on the nose, along with lifted smells of earth, spice and cigarette smoke, and then that telltale layer of coconutty American oak. The palate was fresh and lively, with a spine of bright acidity and just the remnant of powdery tannins wrapped around vibrant flavours of red cherries and berries, a bit of haw flakes, all trailing away into a warmly spiced finish that lingered very nicely on the back-palate. The palate felt a little lighter and less compelling than the nose would lead one to guess, showing its Crianza background, but it was really enjoyable nonetheless. Good stuff, drinking nicely now.

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• 2003 Katnook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Odyssey 91 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra

  Rich, powerful, delicious in its own way, but very much an Aussie Shiraz. The nose had classic notes of blueberry pie, big plum fruit and notes of spice and eucalyptus, leading into a full, powerful palate of blue fruit laced with more of that warm spice picked up on the nose, and then into a long finish laced with a touch of eucalyptus again. Tannins were fine and acidity well balanced, but the fruit was still primary and a just a hint mono-dimensional. Quality is there though, and I think this will make an interesting enough wine say 5-6 years down the road.

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