Pre-Karaoke Dinner

Karaoke night with Martin and Joyce, Leonard and Jillian and William and Gina. Of course, Chad joined us later. This was the pre-dinner, at Chin Huat.

• 2008 Frankland Estate Riesling Isolation Ridge Vineyard 89 Points

  Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Frankland River

  A nice Aussie Riesling, but this needs a little more time in the bottle. A little petroleum on the nose, rubber, smoke, nice white fruit scents and some chalky mineral. A little different from Clare Valley versions I thought, less limey, more white fruity. Palate was marked by high acidy and flavours of lime, kumquat, some petrol, and a very minerally underlayer. It was a simple, racy wine, but had some weight and depth which should unfold with time. There was just a little heat at the finish, but otherwise it ended as it began, with some limey mineral, and little bits of smoky spice. Very pleasant, and years away from peak.

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• 2006 Domaine Grand Veneur Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 88 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Not bad. Nose had white flowers galore, along with yellow fruit, sweet lemon curd, lemon zest and some flowery dish washing liquid soap suds, making me think pure Viognier at first. Palate was streaked by a nice minerality, along with lots of weight in its beeswax, nectar and lemon curd flavours. Mid-length finish had some spice in it, along with more high-toned flowery scents. It came across as markedly weighty though, and the loaw acidity was apparent. There was some alcolohol on the back-end, but all-in-all, the wine was balanced enough. Decent, and good with the richer seafood dishes.

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• 2005 Bouchard Aîné & Fils Pinot Noir Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Les Prieures 88 Points

  France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune

  Some of these lighter wines from minor appelations did really well in 2005 - this wine was a fine example. Simple, but eminently quaffable, with a good amount of terroir and variatal expression thrown in for good measure. Nose showed plenty of mineral, some blood iron notes, bright red fruit, a toss of earth and lots of spice. Quite attractive. Palate had nice bright acidity, very stoney mineral lines and pretty red fruit, all very nicely balanced. Finish was decent too, with more bloody iron notes. Simple, unpretentious, but a fun drink, and very good with food.

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• 2003 Yves Boyer-Martenot Meursault 1er Cru Charmes 90 Points

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

  A nice wine, but this drank like a good new world Chard - something that should be expected from a 2003 Charmes maybe! But I thought it might have been a young Leeuwin Art Series. Nose showed pats of fresh butter, honey notes, kumquats, dried fruits, mineral and some toastiness. Palate was rich and honeyed, with more butter, ripe yellow fruit with tropical shadings and some chalky lines underneath. Some alcohol flecked the edges of the wine, but it had good balance apart from that, with nice acidity holding up the wine's weight. Finish was quite rich, with liberal spice notes, a litte heat, and more chalky mineral. Very new world, but a nice wine nonetheless.

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