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Wine Type
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Vintage
Name
Variety
Locale
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Date
Posted
Score
Helpful
Comments
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White - Sparkling
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2000 Pommery Champagne Grand Cru Royal
Champagne Blend more
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Medium deep gold confidently expressing that its well aged, Omar and Patt0 thought perhaps 10+ years.
Brioche and citrus nose, with palate of sweet apple compote. Acid M+, and such fine bubbles.
This bottle has been sat for the longest time in my cellar, and last nights occasion certainly called for something aged and interesting!
Even though it was served in the same seating as its illustrious brethren, E Brochet BdB as well as the magnificent Bollinger RD, it gave both a run for their money & never fell short.
4 years.. Possibly the longest time any wine has spent in my cellar. Don't even know how this got in there 👏 I did think there was a chance this was flat but it was very much the opposite and still alive!
This Pommery Royal Brut Champagne Grand Cru 2000 has been one bottle in my cellar which I often thought about, when will I take this out? Who do I share this with... Found the perfect event at our annual Wines with View gathering, thanks for hosting us Patt0!
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
19th Apr 2024
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Red
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2012 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Laurence
Red Rhone Blend more
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Lovely.. none of that funk and odd aromatics sometimes associated with the Reserve, I bottle breathed this Cuvèe Laurence for 3 hours, and it was even more pleasant after a further 2 hours in the Riedel Somellier Burg glass.
Nose of lively red fruit kept improving over the 3 hours we had this wine, I had to keep my focus as 2 "friends" were trying to wipe me dry in Texas ♠️ Hold'em!
Unique orange peel and then fresh tomato leaves on the palate, ultra fine tannins were the highlight as was the 35 sec long finish.
Vintage 2012: Elegant and rich, with silky tannins and balanced acidity. Can be enjoyed young. Chateauneuf du Pape's 2012 vintage is known for its elegance and finesse.
The growing season was as follows... Winter: At the start, temperatures dropped rapidly and there were frigid winds leading to poor vine growth. Spring: Wet so the vines were prone to developing mold and other diseases.
Summer: Luckily things took a positive turn.. Warm with sufficient rain to help the vines grow. Fall: Things improved in September, days were warm and nights cool. Thus grapes could ripen fully.
Annual production is only circa 7,000 bottles.
Blend: 80% Grenache, 6% Syrah, 4% Mourvèdre and the balance a mix of other authorized varieties.
Described as a "throwback style" or classical and traditional. This is a beautifully crafted CDP, one which is both opulent and has great density, whilst being both full bodied as well as supple.
3 Feb 2023
Chinese New Year, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Red
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2019 Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino
Mendoza
more
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Finally got to try this young Argentino, a beautiful perfumed nose and raisins on the palate with a long silky finish.
The label is what always catches our eye first with this wine, read my review on 10 centuries of life, death and rebirth! 4 star now with such great potential to be a 4.3 or even 4.5 🌟 in 2-5 years, wonderful 😀
This Argentine Malbec is made of grapes from the 920 m Angélica vineyard, planted about 1930 in Lunlunta, and the 1,095 m Nicasia vineyard in La Consulta planted in 1996 with cuttings from the Angélica vineyard. ⛰️
Dare I say at circa USD80 it's even good value for a wine as complex and sophisticated as this! Milawa X Catena Zapata dinner at Stoked, hosted by Tamara Amaya.
Jul 2022
Malaysia
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Red
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1998 Château Calon-Ségur
St. Estèphe
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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1998... Ah, love an aged Bordeaux. Aug heat stress and end Sept rains made it a tough vintage for Cabs.
This is a 55% Cab, 35% Merlot, 8% CF and 2% PV blend.
Some faded blackfruit overtaken by leather, earth, truffles and some smoke too.
Acid M+, Med finish. Felt this was lacking somewhat, I have to say I expected more. Perhaps it was just the provenance of this particular bottle, with a little more tertiary development and aging then expected.
My bottle shared with the lads on our 1st and 2nd growth theme night at Cassis.. welcome home again TC!
Cassis, Taman Tun, Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia
21st Apr 2024
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Red
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2018 Château de Beaucastel Côtes du Rhône Coudoulet de Beaucastel
Red Rhone Blend more
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Strawberries and ripe cherry forward, this is a lively and fresh expression of CdP!
Acidity M, concentrated mouthfeel. 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise, 10% Vaccarèse/Terret Noir/Muscardin, 3% Cinsault, 7% white varieties. Grenache and Cinsault fermented in cement. Syrah and Mourvèdre fermented in foudre.
Bottle 4 of 14 (there were two magnums in the lineup) celebrating Chor 4 🍊 🐉 CNY and Mika Tyson Teaus new home!
My offering, nearly no one figured this for a CdP, Joe was closest I think. I actually quite enjoyed this, as did YF but most thought it was a little ubiquitous and forgettable!
USD 50 is a bit steep for a daily, but perhaps that's only because I purchased it from Albert's. If I could get this for say USD 40 it would make a great addition to my weekly tipple list!
CNY at Mika's, Rawang, near Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
13th Feb 2024
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Red
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2001 Château Angélus
St. Émilion Grand Cru
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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Opulent with such generous ripe plums and blackberries.. silky yet textured with what was best described as a sensuous glycerine mouthfeel.
Amazing, I loved this!
Great balance at 23 years, with more years ahead of this though its in a very intellectually stimulating place right now for Vino nerds like us!
Guesses from the lads on our blind tasting of this and other 1st growth themed bottles?
👍 LMC - Bdx, 2000
💎 WMK - Bdx, late 90s and early 00s
❌️ RN - Bdx blend, non French
🎓 DQ - Right Bank!!
Happy birthday brother RN, part of our First Growth specials lineup w SKT, WMK, DQ and LMC too, Stoked.
My sharing with the lads... Only 70k bottles ever produced, so a relatively small harvest Bordeaux.
Yes, turns out it is my one and only Angelus, and I was happy to share with this learned bunch. This was an Angelus vintage with tough tannins, but the years has been kind to this wine, and it is in a place I am enjoying very much now.
Medium-bodied, ripe and concentrated style with sufficient power with the right balance.
The Right Bank, such as this Saint-Emilion, was harvested under perfect conditions. 2001 Left Bankers did not fare so well, as the Medoc experienced more rain giving many of these wines a diluted character.
2001 was a topsy-turvy vintage, which could have made it confusing for the lads to determine what mine was! April - Went from cool to cold, thus not promoting a strong growing season. May - Heat wave, thus improved things.. unitl of course.. July - Wet! Aug - Dry.. What a sea-saw of warm and cold, until... Sept - One of driest on Bordeaux records!
In fact, Bouard nicknamed this vintage "L'Elegance", with perfectly ripe fruit due to a long spread-out picking period. Aromas are ripe black fruit, with hints of spice and lingering tobacco too. At this stage of 2 decades, it still shows lively freshness which I love.
60% Merlot, 40% Cab Franc, with a runway of at least another 10 years. Lovely! Amazing to have this in the same evening as the 2nd ever Angelus I have ever tried, DQ's 2006.
What a night celebrating RNs birthday and Thanksgiving.. with SKT, DavidQ, WMK and LMC.
Happy Birthday RN, hope you enjoyed the First Growth treatment.
May Day in Kuala Lumpur's Stoked, Malaysia
1st May 2024
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Red
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2019 Château Tour Saint-Christophe
St. Émilion Grand Cru
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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2019 is lauded as a modern day classic vintage, with its hot summer, freshness and consistency too.
Bottle breathed this 4 hours, but instead I would recommend giving this at least 3 to 4 more years of aging to let this well priced Right Bank Bordeaux to enter its first drinking window!
Anyway... for now, in its infancy... Plenty of blackfruit with such concentrated and opulence, this may be too young to truly enjoy but I get a glimpse of how good this will 1 day be each time I pop one! Polished oak was lush and coated the mid-palate.
It's illustrious neighbour is the cult Bordeaux Château Valandraud, and this property has been owned by Peter Kwok since 2012. Managed by his daughter Karen Kwok.
Curated this for my buddies at our AMLY gang get-together in A&Bs home in the sky. Happy Hari Raya, happy birthday B ... and Happy Mothers Day to the 4 gorgeous mamas!
Hartamas in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
11th May 2024
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Red
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2017 Cordero di Montezemolo Barolo Monfalletto
Nebbiolo more
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Nose took hours to coax, I only got hints of dried flowers and potpourri, with the faintest of cherries too.
Medium to full bodied style Nebbiolo, still very tannic at this stage. I really appreciated the classical Barolo notes of tar and more red fruit on the palate, but it's still not perfectly come together at 7 years.
Simply did not prepare this well enough, bottle breathing for 4 hours just wasn't enough. I would definitely recommend waiting at least another 3 years or do a full decant to unlock this wine!
Hari Raya, Mothers Day and Boon's birthday - Yes, 3 parties in one, in Ad and B's beautiful home in the sky.
Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur
11 May 2024
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Red
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2011 Château Fombrauge
St. Émilion Grand Cru
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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Dinner with our guest, CR, from France.
Our son's birth year wine - Rather tannic, but enjoyable enough with Char Siew (BBQ Pork) at our favourite Chinese eatery in town, Overseas Imbi Kuala Lumpur.
A little 1-dimensional, not so interesting on the palate!
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Red
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2010 Château Lascombes
Margaux
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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Daughters birthday and her birth year wine.
Dinner at Soleil with friends.
Decanted with a large flask for 2 hours.
Needs air to soften the tannic structure and backbone.
Better but best to wait another 5 years for this massive hot vintage Margaux to reveal itself fully.
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Red
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1989 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Único
Tempranillo Blend, Tempranillo more
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This 1989 Unico is a blend of 80% Tinto Fino and 20% Cab Sauv, picked early from 30th September. Receives 3 years in barrel and 2 years in bottle prior to release.
Question with Unico is always, what is the ideal preparation? Some do a full large flask decant for five hours of air, others simply bottle-breathe for 12 or more hours.
Seductive nose with florality and deeper earthy notes, including coffee.
Dark ruby-colored with a complex nose, and certainly shows that this can age another 5-20 years. Unico is nothing but legendary with age.
Gorgeous, minty bouquet with blackberry and crushed violet flowers too. Interesting hints of strawberry jam as it develops.
Develops nicely with gentle aeration in the glass.
Palate is silky smooth, with such purity of fruit - Develops weight towards the finish, What a treat to have one of the 105,860 bottles produced.
Lastly, this is a monumental wine with such memorable aromatics, and that divine textured and layered mouthfeel.
Super generous of LMC for sharing this on the occasion of bro RN's birthday celebration, with the theme "First Growth Specials".
Stoked, KL, Malaysia
1st May 2024
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White - Sweet/Dessert
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NV Alvear Pedro Ximénez Montilla-Moriles Solera 1927
more
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Thanks for this 375 ml bottle of dark amber goodness, birthday boy RN. Whilst this NV Pedro Ximenez Solera 1927 is non-vintage, it does have some 1927 material in it!
Made of 100% Pedro Ximénez grapes from the D.O. Montilla-Moriles, comes from sun-dried grapes and aged for 5 years in American oak barrels. Traditional solera system means this goes through regular extractions and sprinklings.
Colour - Dark brown and deep amber
Nose - Figs, toffee, caramel syrup, molasses and coffee
Mouthfeel - Dense, very intensely sweet, good level of richness and thick.
Balance - Surprisingly well balanced with the acidity providing a backbone.
Finish - Medium-long with a tail-finish of ripe figs too.
Bodegas Alvear was founded in 1729, and is the oldest winery in Andalusia and the second in Spain. Throughout its history, it has kept its family personality, true to its roots. The Alvear are quite a few nowadays, and there are more than 50 owners right now! Some of the people in charge of the company are also family members.
The main grape variety is Pedro Ximénez, which is the base of its sweet, fino, oloroso and amontillado wines.
Wine Enthusiast calls this "One of the world's best PX wines". Clearly, the solera stocks went into this bottling were well selected.
Wine Advocate and Robert Parker proudly reminds, and it is printed on the label of the bottle -
"To consume slowly and introspectively after a meal"!
We did the same.. Enjoyed this with RN's birthday sticky toffee pudding, at Stoked.. Cheers!
Stoked, KL, Malaysia
1st May 2024
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White
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2003 Château Lynch-Bages Blanc de Lynch-Bages
Bordeaux
Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend more
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Medium golden colour, what did SKT surprise us with.. Funny that he wrapped this with a "Cardiologist" brochure, guess its good for the heart!
Light citrus, with butter and vanilla oak on the nose. Hints of white flowers and camomille too.
Medium acidity, with tropical notes coming through too. We enjoyed this with Stoke's signature Cappelini with raw shrimp and Yuzu, at brother RN's First Growth birthday party.
Comes across as a ripe wine, with honey and light caramel, a lot of richness. I guessed Bordeaux Blanc after some coaxing, and said.. surely this can't be a Blanc de Lynch Bages, thinking of the one RN shared many moons ago. It was!
Grown in a small parcel in the Lynch-Bages vineyard, modernistic style. Circa 6 months in barrels on lees, approx. 45-50% new wood. 2/3rd Sauvignon Blanc, with the remaining mainly Sémillon and some Muscadelle.
Overall, more an interesting and educational experience rather then pure joy, it is on a downward decline.. so drink up any remaining bottles! Thanks for sharing this rare bottle, SKT.
Stoked, KL, Malaysia
1st May 2024
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White - Sparkling
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1996 Billecart-Salmon Champagne Le Clos Saint-Hilaire
Pinot Noir more
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Right after everyone was surprised that my bubbles aperitif was a Blanc de Noir.. this showed up!
Bottle 2,920 of 6,500 ever produced. When most large makers are doing 1 to 2 million bottles of their NV bubbles, this makes the BS CSH very rare indeed.
This iconic Clos St-Hilaire from Billecart Salmon is an old-vine, single vineyard Blanc de Noirs or 100% Pinot Noir. 1996 is a well regarded and phenomenal vintage. Whilst delicate, there is such great balance and depth in this champagne especially with the honey and white pear notes.
Complex nose which was somewhat fleeting at times, bursting out with florality then slightly closed. I did get hints of mature red apple which to me is a tell-tale of this being Pinot dominant, or even all Pinot!
Minerals and flowers appear after you give this some time to evolve, there is a light textured mouthfeel with the finest of bubbles. Drink up, I feel that this is towards the back-end of its best drinking plateau.
The appearance is between clear gold and caramel-like deep gold, with a fine mousse that quickly dissipates. There is still a light tickle of fine bubbles on the palate.
Some element of oxidisation is clearly there, as are the yeast type brioche notes which seem to grow increasingly complex.
Very interestingly, a 2009 Robert Parker review describes:
Billecart-Salmon’s 1996 Le Clos Saint-Hilaire has lost some of its youthful exuberance and the fruit now is a touch softer than it was a few years ago. The aromatics and overall balance remain seductive and utterly compelling.
The Clos Saint-Hilaire is the most delicate, ethereal of the three, and this old-vine, single-vineyard Blanc de Noirs, is another of the more accessible 1996s.
I also loved this HK review from Finewineexperience.com, which describes the vintage really well.
I recall that when good 1996s began appearing on the market in the early 2000s, there was a lot of excitement for this vintage.
Richard Juhlin exclaimed in 2002 that 1996 was ‘Probably one of the great vintages of all time. Such acidity, allied to such high alcohol potential, had not been seen since 1928, which should guarantee an unusual longevity.’
1996 Champagnes reminded me a bit of Germany’s much-prized Eiswein style Rieslings .. What you get is a luminous, vibrant, crystal clear but super concentrated expression of Riesling and place, as all the water-ice is left in the wine press, and only the essence is vinified.
Summer had been mostly warm to hot, while critically the northerly winds blew (concentrating the sugars, but also the acidity), and September nights were cold, further ensuring acids didn’t drop too far.
Champagne writer Peter Liem describes the result, 1996 ‘was essentially unique—nobody had ever seen a vintage with the same combination of high ripeness and high acidity. Producers were thrilled with the extraordinary phenomenon of “10/10” (10 degrees of potential alcohol and 10 g./l. of acidity), which involved sugar levels comparable to those of 1989 and 1990 but also acidity levels of vintages such as 1986 or 1980.’
The north wind concentrated the acidity, the flavors, the sugars in the berries. But the pitfall of ’96 was that it concentrated the oxidative compounds in the bad grapes, and these have evolved very rapidly.
This is why some wines are not yet ready to drink, while others are already over the hill. This is also why there are not many rosés from ’96, because of this oxidation in the pinot noir.
Thanks for your immense generosity, brother LMC. What a massive bottle to kick-start our evening celebrating RN's birthday and a belated repeat get-together for DQ's as well. Wonderful dinner over 5 hours at Stoked.
Stoked, KL, Malaysia
1st May 2024
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White - Sparkling
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NV Savart Champagne Premier Cru l'Ouverture Brut
Pinot Noir more
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My bottle which shows how much of a chameleon a well made single-varietal champagne could be.. Most thought this must be a blend, but turns out it is the first of two Blanc de Noirs of our night!
Disgorged: Jun 2023
Dosage: Extra Brut (3.5 g/L)
Blanc de Noirs: Pinot Noir 100%
Area: Clay-based soils of Ecueil, Montagne de Reims
Cru: Premier Cru
Style: Grower champagne
I felt there was heaps of bruised and ripe red apple, and this could have given it away as a BdN. The mouthfeel was one of interest too, lots of chalky minerality.
This may be Fred Savart's entry level Champagne but it is far from one-dimensional.
Half of which was fermented in mostly neutral barrel with the other half is fermented in stainless steel, and only partial malolactic fermentation. This wine is in equal parts a blend of three successive vintages and aged under cork, not crown cap.
Still a high level of liveliness and presents itself in a bright way, with crushed rocks and white flowers on the nose together with citrus notes.
Mid-palate is that of white pear, with baking spices and fresh brioche too. Medium- to full-bodied, with enough acidity M+.
Happy Birthday bro RN, and belated celebration with DQ too, great evening with massive wines at Stoked. Know what followed this? LMC's iconic Clos St Hilaire.. another BdN!
Stoked, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
1st May 2024
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Red
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2014 Harlan Estate
Oakville
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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Look what showed up after my Grange 1996... this was served blind to us.
Nose was black fruit forward, with blackcurrant and berry liquor aromatics. Came across as being quite obviously Bordeaux like but much richer.
Ultra dark core. I thought.. Napa 2015.
Colour: Deepest garnet and near opaque with tinges of purple.
Nose: Blackfruit, light cassis and classic Bordeaux claret.
Palate: More black fruit, richness and concentration, with hints of rich cedar and vanilla on the back palate.
Mouthfeel: Amazingly toes the line between power but remains so balanced.
Colour: Deepest garnet and near opaque with tinges of purple.
Nose: Blackfruit, light cassis and classic Bordeaux claret.
Palate: More black fruit, richness and concentration, with hints of rich cedar and vanilla on the back palate.
Mouthfeel: Amazingly toes the line between power but remains so balanced.
Brother RN who generously shared this blue-blooded icon with us all at his Thanksgiving and cosy Birthday bash in Bref at Taman Tun, teasingly unzipped the neoprene sleeve.. I saw a peek of the rounded label, my jaw dropped.
It's a Harlan. I was speechless!
Simply amazing.. the timing of this iconic bottle.
It was the last wine served in the evening, at close to 10pm.
Brother RN nonchalantly said he had brought a "bonus" wine along, and wanted to share it with us.
Mind you I typically find the experience of a bonus forgettable, as one is either too intoxicated or it is somewhat a modest and forgettable ubiquitous 2nd or even 3rd wine, from either a lesser maker or unoutstanding vintage.
Never have I been.. speechless at the unveiling of a bonus bottle!!
2014 is described as a dream vintage in Napa.
Napa Valley's harvest was unusually early this year, not surprising given the state’s ongoing drought, which was so extreme that the cover crops in many vineyards never took hold.
Substantial rain in late February and early March relieved most of the stress and set up the vines for a vigorous start.
"Early" was the key word all season, from budbreak to veraison to harvest. Thankfully, the hotter months proved milder than most expected.
25th Apr 2024
Bref at Taman Tun, KL Malaysia
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Red
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1996 Penfolds Grange
South Australia
Shiraz Blend, Syrah more
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Sometimes I have to pinch myself.. within 💯 hours in the same week, I tried two aged Grange 1996s.
4 hours bottle breathed, this was my bottle with cherry and menthol bouquet.
DQ had brought the first to our 1st and 2nd Growths session, fooling all of us, so I had to change my game plan for a gathering next week.. I thought why not bring it for this cosy birthday dinner with bro RN instead.
Little did l know.. Aussie wines are RNs kryptonite, but even he had to admit.. this perfectly aged Grange 1996 was his 💚
Bref, Kuala Lumpur
25th Apr 2024
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Red
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1996 Penfolds Grange
South Australia
Shiraz Blend, Syrah more
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Magnificent!!!
Concentrated raspberries, opulent tannic grip and structure. Acid M+, textured mid-palate. 50s finish!
Is this a mid 2000s Napa cult wine? I was gonna be happily proven wrong..
This is only the 2nd Grange that has ever graced my lips and palate, after the visit to Penfolds Magill Estate last year when we tried the present 2018 release.
An exceptional vintage both in quality and quantity. After the drought conditions in 1995, much needed rains replenished the soils during the winter across most of South Australia.
The growing season was dry and mild, allowing the grapes to set and mature slowly resulting in ripe, complex, elegant fruit.
🍇 Shiraz (94%),
🍇 Cab (6%).
Matured in 100% new American oak for 19 months.
@DavidQ thanks for spoiling us on the occasion of our 1st and 2nd growth session in Cassis TTDI with bros TC, SKT, WMK and LMC. Ultra memorable indeed!
Cassis, TTDI
21st Apr 2024
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White - Sparkling
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2006 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut
Chardonnay more
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What a way to kick-start brother RN's birthday.. my first ever taste of Comtes!
Lively, energetic with such fine and precise needle-like bubbles. What came across immediately to me was unripe young mango notes, and the aromatic bouquet on the nose was in full bloom. Light brioche, lemon and even a sea breeze.. I am in love!
Good level of minerality kept building to a crescendo, I loved each and every of the 3 pours I had. This is spectacular!
Finish.. nothing less then 50 seconds, remarbkable. As I had my last sip from the cutely shaped wide bottle, there was even some late sweetness. Great today, perhaps even better in 5-10 years!
Thanksgiving dinner, we are grateful for health, friends and all blessings.. what an evening at Bref in TTDI, happens to be my first time enjoying DC's other kitchen here too!
Bref TTDI, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
25th Apr 2024
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White - Sparkling
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2008 Dom Pérignon Champagne
Champagne Blend more
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When any evening presents a second apertif, and it is a Dom.. its gonna be a good.. good night!
Served unblinded, when this came after the Comtes 2006 which was bloody exceptional, I found the nose of this DP 2008 to be muted. Very muted in fact.
Interestingly this did not translate to the precise and full bodied palate, with developing light brioche notes as well. Even at this very early age, this Dom shows a good length to the finish and well developed M+ acidity.
Blend of 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay grape varietals, and whilst still too young, it showcases depth as well as great balance.
This vintage marks the first time the estate has released a wine out of order (the 2009 was released before the 2008). Seems DP loved the wine so much they felt it warranted additional aging.
This is a very iconic cuvee for many reasons, besides its age-worthiness.
It is described as the mark Of a new era...
Richard Geoffrey was behind the creative ambitions of Dom Perignon for over 28 years. He shaped the Dom Perignon project in his style and was the driving force.
Vincent Chaperon worked alongside Geoffrey for 13 years. During this time, he took part in 13 harvests and declared four vintages.
This 2008 Dom Perignon vintage was the best way for Geoffrey to end his career as Chef de Cave, and for Chaperon to start his.
Thanks to bro RN for sharing this at his Bref TTDI get-together as a thanksgiving dinner and celebrating his birthday too.
With this 2008, I have now covered the 2006, 2010 as well as 2012 DP vintages. Somehow the 2006 and 2010, perhaps as they were off-vintages, fared the best for me and were the most open Doms!
Bref, Taman Tun, KL, Malaysia
25th Apr 2024
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Red
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2016 Henri Bonneau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Célestins
Red Rhone Blend more
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Medium tannic grip, acid M+ and a classical herbal nose with aromas of garrique and more dried herbs. I thought.. this could be a CDP, but why does it look so young, and yet is so elegant.
A very complex wine, and when unveiled by our kind host Patt0, it was clear why.. this CDP comes from the magnificent 2016 vintage, and it was not just any CDP. It is the iconic Réserve des Célestins!
This is the late Henri Bonneau's top cuvée, and displays such intensity and concentration of black fruit. I have to agree.. this must be one of the finest CdPs one could enjoy!
Whilst the 2015 Reserve Celestins was the last top cuvée that Henri made and put on barrels himself, I have to say it was a privilege to try this 2016 due to its vintage, and being able to admire how his son Marcel who had been at his father's side throughout their lives, has capably taken over.
Production numbers? 1,500 bottles each year!
2016 - An exceptional CDP vintage!
Rather mild winter and a dry and cool spring, then the vines had to resist a hot summer. It was a hot albeit not blistering hot summer.
In early August, over the Véraison ripening time, there were wide temperature variations between day and night, a positive factor that encourages polyphenol synthesis.
Whilst the summer was particularly dry; Things changed in September.
It was precisely the thin drizzle that fell continuously on 14 and 15 September that allowed the grapes to reach full maturity, without hampering the quality potential of a harvest! Perfection.
Possibly the best vintage over 2 decades, until one goes back to 1990's perfection.
The late Henri Bonneau (1938-2016) is one of the true legends of Châteauneuf du Pape. He is the 12th generation of Bonneaus to produce wine in Châteauneuf and is now aided in the cellars by his son, Marcel.
Henri has 6 hectares of vineyards, split between 5.25ha in La Crau (arguably Châteauneuf’s finest terroir) and 0.75ha on stonier soil near Couthézon in the northeast of the appellation.
Bonneau produces mainly from Grenache (80-90%) with small quantities of Mourvèdre, Counoise and Vaccarèse.
Henri harvests as late as possible, a policy that usually produces super-ripe fruit although sometimes he does get caught out by October rains. Yields are kept low and vinification and elevage are traditional with the use of wooden foudres and smaller oak barrels.
Typically the wine is aged in oak for 3-4 years before being bottled unfiltered. Whilst outstanding and super rare... I have to say, this is a wine which needs cellaring to at least 2030 before one pops the next bottle!
Wines with View annual dinner, PJ, Malaysia
19th Apr 2024
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Red
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2003 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
Pauillac
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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My birthday bottle last year, we had a wonderful lunch date at one of our favourite restaurants in Kuala Lumpur - Cilantro.
I am a huge fan of Pichon Lalande (Not so much of Pichon Baron), and this is a blend of 65% Cab, 31% Merlot, and 4% PV.
Simply bottle breathed for 60 minutes prior to opening. Appearance wise, very dark with a tinge of purple, and no rim observed. Its hardly aged!
Classical bouquet nose of cedar wood, with black fruit which took a little while to open up - Perhaps served a wee bit too cold, next time must remember to have this at 16C.
Interestingly, but perhaps not surprising considering the hot and legendary 2003 Bordeaux vintage;
This is both dense as well as richly textured, and the tannins are still lightly structured providing a nice backbone.
Overall, I loved the pencil lead and ripe fruits, but it is slightly brutish in style and less elegant then I would have liked. I would say it is still not perfectly in balance, and one could wait 10 years before having this.
Happy Birthday to me (2023!), and thanks again to brother TC for ferrying this all the way back from Hong Kong into my cellar.. Don't know why I had forgotten to post these tasting notes nearly a year ago!
Paid circa USD 210 for this, and that was on sale in Hong Kong - Aged Bordeauxs with a good pedigree don't come cheap these days!
Cilantro, Micasa hotel,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
17th July 2023
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Red
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2010 Bird in Hand Cabernet Sauvignon Nest Egg
Adelaide Hills
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Some green and light eucalyptus notes, which over our 2 hour Pork Ribs and Iberico Jowl dinner developed to heavy coriander green notes!
Not particularly flattering especially when we had this on its own, better when paired with the heavy meats. A far cry when drank alongside my Poyferre 2011 second wine.
Nose improved with vanilla oak.
This Nest Egg comes from the Bird in Hand winery, and I read from the rear label that its crafted from small plots in the Adelaide Hills near Barossa Valley.
Vines are in the mineral rich soils above the Bird in Hand goldmine! Aged in French oak 12 to 18 months.
Shared my last bottle of this wine with VC and N, on the occasion of her farewell.. Bon voyage, and wishing you the best back in Australia. Double date night at Farm to Plate.
3rd Mar 2024
Damansara Kim, Malaysia
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Red
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2010 Bird in Hand Cabernet Sauvignon Nest Egg
Adelaide Hills
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I fooled myself thinking I brought an aged Shiraz that tastes like a Cab.. DOH!
Dark fruits, perfumed nose with hints of menthol signalling the Cab content. Tannins are fine and partially resolved, well integrated oak and acidity.
Bottle 7,890 of 9,696 ever produced.
This comes from Adelaide Hills which we drove through whilst on our way to Barossa last year.. I enjoyed this a lot, wish I had picked up more bottles!
Australian theme night with VG, JG and CQ at New Ubin, CHIJMES Singapore. Happy New Year, gang!
16th Jan 2024
Singapore
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Red
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2008 Dominio Pingus Ribera del Duero
Tempranillo more
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2??0??0??0?? Yup.. my Vivino journey has led to this 2000 th review!
My 1st ever tasting of this flagship Ribera, with that ever lingering plum and vanilla aromatics.
However after 1 hour of full decant, the complex palate came out to play, unforgettable coconut notes.
Best of all, a silky yet powerful mouthfeel which perfectly coats the palate like a velvet glove. Very long finish.
Dominio de Pingus is a Spanish winery located in Quintanilla de Onésimo in Valladolid province with vineyards in La Horra area of the Ribera del Duero region of Spain.
Planted with very old vines of Tinto Fino, i.e. Tempranillo, the vineyards are 2.5 hectares (6.2 acres) in Barrosso with vines exceeding 65 years and 1.5 hectares (3.7 acres) in San Cristobal with vines older than 70 years.
Cult like status with only 500 cases produced annually.
Thanks for this extraordinary iconic wine, and Happy Housewarming brother @Mika Tyson Teau. Eve of Lunar New Year 2024.
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