Birthday at Triumphal Palace

Having read a glowing review in the LA Times (the real deal Cantonese) and at the sametime desiring a change of pace birthday meal, I decided to organize a casual meal with a group of friends in the San Gabriel Valley restaurant called Triumphal Palace. We dined on fried calamari, salted prawns, sweet corn soup, sugar snaps and shrimp, Chinese green beans and ground pork, Buddha vegetable bowl with bamboo, suckling pig with jellyfish, clams in black bean sauce, stirfry beef in red curry, spare ribs, Szechwan scallops with red pepper and more (I know we had other dishes). Unfortunately the restaurant had changed owners subsequent to the Times review and some of the dishes were either unavailable (lamb chops with black pepper & honey) or out of season (live whole roasted seabass). Nonetheless, the meal was outstanding and it was a great deal of fun to be with friends, two of whom share the same birthday. I would easily go back to Triumphal Palace. The food was both outstanding and incredible value for the quality.

Of course, wines were also opened. Out of the twelve in the group, a few did not drink wine and some drank only a small quantity, leaving about six or seven of us to do the work of drinking through the wines. Several bottles remained unopened. Here's what we drank:

• NV J. Lassalle Champagne Premier Cru Réserve des Grandes Années Brut Rosé

  France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

  I have to admit for a guy that drinks very little Champagne, I really liked this. In fact it might be my favorite wine of the evening, which would be a first. For some reason the flavor profile really spoke to me. Yeasty flavors of baked bread dominate. For a N.V. this wine seemed to display very evolved flavor profile. I really can't capture in words the various notes, but for some reason this wine really spoke to me. I can easily say this is the best N.V. Champagne I've ever had (which is not much by any means). Others at the table that drink Champagne more often, really liked it as well. A great beginning to a fun night.

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• 2002 Domaine des Aubuisières Vouvray Cuvée de Silex

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray

  This wine is drinking really nicely right now. The color is very translucent pale straw, like safflower oil. Beautiful note of melon and crushed flowers on the nose and palate with the addition stone fruits emerging. The texture was very clean and luxurious. None of the oily viscous characteristics as I've read in other notes. I would say this is a slightly lighter style of Sec Vouvray than say a Huet, but showing great balance. This bottle was just showing so nicely at present and was very popular at the table. Again, another single bottle put to rest, but going put in style.

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• 2003 Weingut Josef Högl Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Schön

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  I have little experience with Gruner, having tried only a few examples. This bottle was easily the best so far. Lemon peel on the nose and palate with some minerals and spritz. This was more about texture then flavors. Very zippy acidity leading to a dry but firm structure. The finish is bit dry but the flavors persist some. Excellent food wine. Certainly went very well the shrimp dishes tonight.

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• 2003 Müller-Catoir Gimmeldinger Mandelgarten Riesling Kabinett

  Germany, Pfalz

  This wine has really come into its own showing less sweet initially and more structured. The nose is bursting with floral, peach notes a slight hint of petrol. The palate is mouth coating but delicate with candied orange peel and stones dominating. Just a fantastic texture that seems slightly dry for a German Riesling. With air the wines begins to show a bit sweeter. Great length and persistence on the finish. Unfortunately this was my last bottle, but what way to go out.

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• 1996 Bouchard Père et Fils Beaune 1er Cru Grèves Vigne de L'Enfant Jesus

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru

  Very advanced coloring with a brickish orange tinge. Initially reticent nose that begins to open up with earthy, mushroom, sous bois notes. Unfortunately the palate remains very acidic and shy not showcasing much of the what appears to be a more red fruit profile. The nose remains captivating with various spices and a slight soy sauce note that emerges. I hope the fruit comes through a bit more with more cellaring as the balance and structure are more acid dominate.

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• 2003 Roessler Pinot Noir Bluejay

  USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley

  Smokey blueberry nose perfumed with allspice. Rich palate of sweet dark fruits. Nice length and texture. I like these Mendocino Pinots as they seem to hold more structure and showcase a fruit profile more to my liking. Holding it's own right now. No rush to drink up.

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• NV Buller Premium Fine Muscat

  Australia, Victoria

  Not much to add to the already many positive notes. Probably my 5th or 6th bottle. Less initial heat than earlier bottles. Big note of fig on the nose. Nice caramel, molasses, honeyed palate. Possibly drinking optimally right now.

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Once we got home, we sipped some NV Benjamin Tawny before calling it a night.