Goodbye 2014, Hello 2015

Our regular "IT" kakis, plus some new friends gathered for one last time in 2014 at Jade Palace, to bid goodbye to 2014 and say hello to 2015... A fun evening for sure - the company, the conversation, the food, and of course, the drinks! It was a pity Mr. Poh couldn't join due to a medical condition. In any case, a Happy New Year to all! A toast to SG50, and to health!

• 2001 Ferrari Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore

  Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Trentino, Trento

  A bit of toast, nuts, brioche, apples on the nose. Very nice. The bubbles are either too fine, or I didn't see any at all... It had good freshness, weight and intensity on the palate, with the apple notes following through. A very nice drink!

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• NV Paul Dethune Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  A very nice and interesting Champagne. Don't really have BdNs that often but I must say that it is an "engaging" wine. Though technically a white, it attracts with notes of red-berries and some red-apples too. Palate had enough density, minerality and freshness that kept the whole experience "engaging" that one would yearn for that additional sip/glass of it. Very nice!

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• 2009 Bernard Boisson-Vadot Meursault Les Grands Charrons

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault

  Wow this was good, punching above its "village" weight. Decanted for about an hour, it displayed notes of white-flowers, lime, mint, and had that extra feel of "creaminess" on the nose. On the palate, it started off being quite a typical Meursault - buttery, rich/dense with enough acidity and minerality keeping it fresh. As it sat in the glass, it developed more clarity, with additional notes of honey, chalks and the minerality becoming more pronounced. Bravo, for a village!

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• 2011 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Meursault 1er Cru Charmes

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

  We had this after a few (very good) reds, and it still managed to stamp its class. While the Vadot seemed "rounder", this was more focused and elegant, with that same "creamy" note/texture. The extract/minerality was even more amazing than the Vadot... palate staining, in fact... with a slight tinge of salinity. There's definitely still room for improvement on the integration part. Should be much better with age in bottle as the wine becomes even more integrated...

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• 1964 Domaine Henri Lamarche Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru La Grande Rue

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru

  This was still a very much alive wine! Uncorked successfully with the Durand, this was almost brownish in color. The (actually dense) nose was completely secondary/tertiary - plummy, earthly with that little bit of spice. Palate was also alive and kicking throughout its time in the glass, with good depth and "volume" on the mouthfeel and minerality and spice on the backend. Notable length too. Very impressive!

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• 1964 Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Had this alongside the '64 Lamarche LGR, and both impressed. This was dark ruby-red, with just slight bricking at the edges. The nose was most captivating - tea, tobacco, rose-petal, smoke... it just kept evolving, giving... even after time in glass and not falling apart. On the palate, it appeared elegant but light initially, but gained more weight with air and the notes of rose-petals following through, with additional notes of orange-peel and some earth. All-in-all, this was very captivating!

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• 1967 Fratelli Rivella Alba

  Italy, Piedmont, Alba

  This was the last of our 1st flight of (old) wines. Unfortunately beside the Lamarche and Campo Viejo, this kinda paled. It had that funky, secondary nose, but not quite nearly as impressive as the other 2... We didn't decant this, so lots of sediments. Palate had notes of tar, some tobacco. Gained a bit of weight in the glass... but generally overshadowed by the other 2 wines in the same flight...

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• 1986 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Served in a flight of a mini-vertical of Bishan Lalangs - '83, '86 and '95. After the previous flight of '60s wines, the comment that everyone echoed was "too young!"; And indeed this was... way too young, with almost no sign of secondary flavours at all. Nose of graphite, some earth. Palate was dark-fruited, very fresh with fine tannins. Based on tonight's showing, won't be surprised if it would last another 1-2 decades.

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• 1983 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Of similar profile as the '86. Another wine that seemed very young in this outing. There's a hint of secondary notes, plus leather and graphite on the nose. Palate was also dark-fruited, with some earth and dark-coffee notes. Still very fresh, this has the legs to last...

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• 1995 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  This appeared to be the freshest of the lot. Amidst a nose of earth, cedar, graphite, the palate was perhaps the most impressive of the trio. This had depth, structure, and length, very balanced, silky and fresh. Will definitely be great in time to come. On hindsight (fearing that the '60s wines might crumble), we should have done this flight first. It kinda suffered coming after the '60s...

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• 1985 Château Gruaud Larose

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Our 3rd and last flight is an interesting one - strange bedfellows, you may say... One too young, one drinkable, and one in just the right place. With this GL, we're back to familiar territory as the 1st-flight. Nose had that secondary flavours, leather, tobacco. Palate was rich, smooth and silky, with a good length to boot. Fabulous, these '80s Cordier-era GLs...

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• 2003 Clos Fourtet

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  This is probably one of the few "successful" '03 Bords...? Very nice, but could definitely be nicer with some more age on it. A bit of plum, blackcurrant, smoke on the nose. Palate-wise, this didn't come across as being jammy at all despite '03 being an extremely hot (overripe) vintage. It had that rich, textured mouthfeel, with well-mannered tannins and good length. Very plush and enticing... yet not overdone!

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• 1999 Château Hosanna

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  The "youngest" (taste-wise) of the trio. Very well-made, one could sensed all the components there - tannins, structure, fruit (dark-fruited profile) in a very fresh package. However, this came across as being a bit "stiff" and backwards. Didn't give away/out much. Would definitely like to try this again with more age on it.

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