Dinner with Monthly Group

Dinner was at the newly opened Guy Savoy in Singapore, where the eponymous chef was at hand to greet us and prepare our meal. Nice big group this time, with Chris, Teng and partners joining us, along with Sean's friend, John. Pity that Darren, Sophia and Bill could not make it. I was a bit irritated that there was no corkage policy i.e. that we were not "allowed" to bring out own wines in, especially when the wine list was neither as extensive nor as well-priced as Guy Savoy in Paris. We ended up with only two wines on the night. Food was very good, but not great. A disappointment after the mind-blowing meal we had in Paris last year. The service experience was also not up to par. Hope they improve.

• NV Billecart-Salmon Champagne Brut Rosé 91 Points

  France, Champagne

  We opened two bottles on the night. Both were pretty similar, but the second was a little better, probably on the account of it being served slightly more chilled than its predecessor. Consistent quality as usual. Lovely elegant bead, nice suntle nose of dark cherry paired with earthy mineral, well-structure, nicely balanced palate with more cherries, more of that lovely minerality and a little citrus bite at the tail. Not quite as good as some bottles I have had with a bit more bottle age, but still very decent. This is one of my go-to Champagnes when everything else is overpriced, and these couple of bottles reaffirmed why.

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• 2001 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Brilliant wine - even better than the last time I had it from a half. Last bottle left in the restaurant's cellar, and the most fairly priced classed growth Bordeaux on the list, boy I was glad we got it! Decanted half an hour before the main course of roast pigeon was served, it paired very nicely. Beautiful nose, subtle, almost seeming fragile at points, with high-toned, perfumy flowers, violets, tobacco and dark cherries wreathed in slow whiffs of earth and dried soil, opening up into damp sous bois notes, all ran through by stream of graphite scents. Pure seduction. Palate had great finesse. Very fine-boned and elegant, almost silky, with delicious, very high-toned pure fruit in the form of cherries and cassis, along with subtle but very pervasive minerals, dried soil and fragrant dried flower flavours. Finish was mid-length, but had a haunting elegance, sliding silkily through the back-palate with a show of black tea, herbs and graphitey mineral. Feminine and seductive, this wine was sheer class and elegance.

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