AW's birthday dinner

Jade Palace
Tasted Monday, December 22, 2014 by etyc with 644 views

Introduction

This is more or less an annual event, and 2014 was no different. We met at Jade Palace - everybody was in high-spirits, especially since the Christmas and New Year holidays are just round the corner. As usual, food was exemplary and both company and wines were great! In fact, I had thought we had a drop too much... In any case, it was a wonderful evening!

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Flight 1 (3 Notes)

  • 2012 Domaine Denis Bachelet Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin

    Deep purple. Reticent nose - just a tad of "pinot essence"... Red-dark fruited on the palate, balanced with great acidity. A structured wine; Should improve with more bottle-age...

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  • 2012 Weingut Keller Riesling von der Fels

    Germany, Rheinhessen

    This is probably as impressive as an aperitif goes. Clearly more superior than its '10 & '11 siblings. Pale-yellow, this came with a "creamy" nose of white-flowers, tropical fruits. On the palate, this was dry but also appeared to have a tinge of that "fruit-sweetness" that made it quite well-rounded. Very fresh, long and bursting with minerality, this easily "cut-through" the few Jade Palace "small-eats" that we had before dinner proper. Most enjoyable. A wine that over-delivers vis its price...

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  • 2004 Weingut Robert Weil Kiedricher Gräfenberg Riesling Spätlese

    Germany, Rheingau

    Also pale-yellow, or light-golden. Expected this to have some age, but it was still as fresh as ever. Very nice fruity nose. On the palate - honey, fruits, minerals. The freshness (acidity) counterbalanced the sweetness very well and it never appeared to be anyway "clumsy" like some sweet wines do. Again, a very nice aperitif to kick-off the dinner...

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Flight 2 (2 Notes)

  • 1992 Chateau Musar Blanc

    Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

    I believe this is my first time trying a Musar Blanc, so no baseline for comparison... But on this night, this tasted like a wine past its prime - caramelized taste, and a tad "metallic". Dunno if this is characteristic of most Musar Blancs with some age, or is this simply an over-the-hill bottle? Hope to try another soon...

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  • 2012 Domaine Antoine Jobard Meursault 1er Cru Poruzots

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

    This is very nice. Spring flowers, creamy vanillin, fruits... Wow, significant weight (concentration) on palate too, with good acidity keeping it extremely fresh and balanced. Need to try out more wines from Chez Jobard!

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Flight 3 (3 Notes)

  • 2003 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Bonnes Mares

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru

    This was surely an "exotic" wine. Upon initial pour, it started off with some heat (alcohol) on the nose. Took a little sip and it appeared liquer'ish too. Must have been from a very ripe vintage, I guessed. Didn't really interest me so I let it sit. Re-visited after half-hour or so, and boy, did it evolve... Heat on nose was gone; Replacing it was spices, violets, berries. On the palate - sappy, deep and long, with lingering blue/black berries note. This was dense but suave at the same time. I like!

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  • 1989 Bouchard Père et Fils Chambertin

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru

    This was somewhat flawed. I doubt this is a representative bottle...

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  • 2000 Joseph Drouhin Musigny

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru

    A very "proper" Chambolle. This still appeared youthful, though '00s are said to be drinking well already... Well-restrained nose of red-berries and some flowers too. Silky on the palate, with good weight (red-fruited) and focus. Finished with considerable grip and length. Delicious, but should still improve (in terms of complexity) with some more age on it...

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Flight 4 (2 Notes)

  • 1986 Château Gruaud Larose

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

    After so many Burgs, it actually felt quite comforting to finally put my nose to something that's quintessential Bordeaux again. Deep dark purple, this had that plummy, dark-berries, smoky sandalwood kind of nose. Wonderful. On the palate - intense and deep, showing secondary flavours. Tannins are well-resolved and it ended with good length too. Very enjoyable!

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  • 2006 Domaine Dujac Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Malconsorts

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

    Another pretty wine. Perfumed nose, plenty of spices too. Red-fruited profile on palate. Good fruit-weight (flavorful) - silky, lithe and elegant at the same time. I liked the Vogue BM for its exoticness, and this for its beauty.

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Flight 5 (2 Notes)

  • 2003 Château-Grillet (Neyret-Gachet) Château-Grillet

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Château-Grillet

    Served alongside the Bouchard CC, this came across "huge". Thought this was a New World Chard from a very ripe vintage. Oak was everywhere and very prominent. On the palate, this was oily, intense and had great depth and length. Only snag was that the oak was still poking through. A well-made wine. Will be great if the oak gets more integrated...

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  • 2007 Bouchard Père et Fils Corton-Charlemagne Domaine

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

    Decanted for almost 3-hrs. Light-yellow; Good perfumy nose, like a Puligny. Good minerality, coupled with citrus, lemons, tropical fruits on the palate. Good concentration, but yet at the same time, light-footed (elegant) and structured. This should easily last for at least another decade if it doesn't "p'ox-out"...

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Flight 6 (4 Notes)

Flight 7 (2 Notes)

  • 1995 Henri Bonneau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Célestins

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

    Had this alongside the LLM CdB. This was definitely the more "ready" one. A very nice perfumy bouquet of flowers (rose), red-fruits, blood, tea. Very complex on the palate - silky, dark-fruited. This had power/concentration but didn't come across as being brawny - power in a velvet glove, as some would say. Great wine! Will still improve with more age...

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  • 2010 Lucien Le Moine Chambertin-Clos de Bèze

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru

    A good wine no doubt, but not quite ready. Dark-fruited nose, not really giving... This was more impressive on the palate - the dark-fruited tones followed, with great purity, depth and a long finish. One could certainly sense the verve, energy and structure coiled, ready to be unleashed with more bottle-age. Certainly like to re-visit this again, perhaps on its 10th birthday...

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