2014 Birthday Wine Dinner

Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck, Asia Square
Tasted Saturday, June 28, 2014 by hkm520240 with 550 views

Flight 1 - Italian Sparkling : Prosecco vs. Franciacorta (2 Notes)

  • NV Sorelle Bronca Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Extra Dry 88 Points

    Italy, Veneto, Prosecco di Valdobbiadene

    This bottle is from a friend who import Sorell Bronca to Singapore.
    Very refreshing aroma, plenty of fruits here, apricot, peach with touch of floral. Simple and clean with nice fruitiness showing slight off-dry palate. Although it lacks some mid-palate and finishing, but it is pretty good as a Prosecco to be drunk casually with friends anytime with or without food.

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  • NV Quadra Franciacorta Brut 88 Points

    Italy, Lombardia, Franciacorta DOCG

    2nd aperitif serve during the dinner. Bright colour with fine bubbles. Lots of toastiness on the nose along with some citrus fruits but less expressive than the Sorelle Bronca Prosecco Extra Dry tasted alongside. Palate seems tight in the beginning but gradually open up to show more citrus and toast. Pretty dry with good acidity backbone and structure. Finishing is decent at best. A more serious sparkler as compare to the Sorelle Bronca Prosecco Extra Dry, but not as good as the Ca' del Bosco, which I regarded as the benchmark for Franciacorta.

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Flight 2 - Bordeaux 1978 - Right Bank vs. Left Bank (2 Notes)

  • 1978 Château La Croix St. Georges 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

    Cork was too soft to remove and had to force into the bottle. In order not to let the cork soap with wine, it was decanted about an hour and drink within the next 2 hours.
    Vibrant dark ruby red with matured mahogany tinge. What a beautiful and classic bouquet with plenty of cigar box, tobacco, pencil lead and smoke. Same flavors profile shown on the palate, still fresh and holding very well, smooth and mellow with vibrant acidity. It has a long lingering finish with hints of dried longan and fine velvety tannins. This is the wine I always enjoy, balance, harmony and elegant. I am very impressed by this Chateau.

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  • 1978 Château Clerc Milon 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Medium garnet with brownish hues and a little cloudy. Nose is very unique or rather suspicious, port like, coffee, nutty and a bit oxidize. And I thought it could be over the hill too. Surprisingly the palate slowly evolve to show cassis, nutty flavours and dried dark fruits. Still has some bodied and substance with plenty of acidity. Good finishing and almost dissolve tannins. Still holding and drinkable but not showing a lot of classic Bordeaux character like the 1978 Château La Croix St. Georges. A bit disappointed actually.
    Not a popular wine during the dinner and it gradually faded after few hours.

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Flight 3 - New World Cabernet - Napa vs. Coonawarra (2 Notes)

  • 1998 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Dark ruby red with brick red hue started to develop. Some development on the nose but still showing typical Napa Cab character of plum, slight pruney, lots of blackcurrant, spice and hints of liquorice and cedar oak. Still robust with good bodied and structure, exhibit blackcurrant, dark plum, earth and herbaceous undetones. Long spicy finish with soft tannins. While this bottle is holding and drinking well now, I don't think it will ever develop into impressive classic cab like 1990.

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  • 1998 Parker Coonawarra Estate Terra Rossa First Growth 93 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra

    Dark ruby core with crimson tinge, it looks more youthful than the 98 Mondavi Reserve. Nice and expressive nose, rich cassis, black currant, dark plum, vanilla oak and just a touch of eucalyptus. Rich and concentrated palate, medium+ bodied with layers of cassis, ripe berry fruits, vanilla, tobacco and eucalyptus. It has good substance on mid-palate, long persistent finish with fine and ample tannins, could still hold for another 5 years with ease. My 3rd time having this wine and it never fail to impress me. To me, Parker 1st Growth and John Riddoch are the 2 finest Cab (blend) produced from Coonawarra.

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Flight 4 - Brunello di Montalcino (1 Note)

  • 2004 Il Poggione (Proprietá Franceschi) Brunello di Montalcino 91 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    The wine is closed when pop and pour, so proceed to decant it for 2 hours.
    The colour is dark and intense, the nose is restrain, with dark cherry, black fruits, earth and hints of leather. Palate is still young, showing smooth and silky mouth-feel, elegant and balance but still has a long way to go. Long chewy finish.

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