Dinner with Todd & Mina

Crown Wine Cellars, Hong Kong
Tasted Wednesday, September 16, 2009 by Goldstone with 355 views

Introduction

A quiet Wednesday evening dinner mainly to test out Todd's newly acquired 1998 Ch. La Mission Haut Brion.

Flight 1 (1 Note)

  • NV Marchese Antinori Franciacorta Tenuta Montenisa Brut 89 Points

    Italy, Lombardia, Franciacorta DOCG

    Nice pale gold colour. Tiny, prolific and persistent bubbles with a rich mousse. Nose of Rich Tea biscuits along with a touch of fresh mown grass. Slightly soapy but in a very pleasant way on the palate, very, very soft mouthfeel and a predominance of ripe Pomelo. Very soft, with restrained but perceptible acidity. Good finish with white peaches emerging. Very soft.............like Badoit compared to Perrier.

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Flight 2 (1 Note)

  • 1992 Blain-Gagnard Bâtard-Montrachet 92 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

    Deep sparkly rich gold colour. Nose is ripe peaches, touch of shortbread, touch of resin, smokiness and creme brulee with just a slight whiff of oxidization. This has a really rich palate with mouthcoating viscosity and petrol elements (evoking teenage memories of siphoning petrol) together with both the taste and texture of ripe banana. Enough acidity to prevent it from becoming cloying ......but this is a seriously heavy wine. Very good length and some in the head resonance on the finish. Over time, the smokiness on the nose became more pronounced and it ultimately descended slightly towords Oloroso Sherry. This is the first time I have been able to take detailed notes on this wine. I really like it, although there is clearly some bottle variation and this was not the best.

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Flight 3 (1 Note)

  • 1998 Château La Mission Haut-Brion 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Deep opaque blood red colour, translucent purple at the edges. Heavens!.......a really great pencil lead initial nose which quickly reveals deep rich blackcurrant of fantastic purity and precision. Touches of both Cedar and of fresh-sawn boxwood emerge. The palate is initially dry, austere and tannic but balanced by great purity and precision of blackcurrants and blackberries. There is a touch of greeneness/dryness on the back end remniscent of Juniper berries but that should resolve with age. There is also Japanese green tea on the back end. Overall, an austere and haughty but lovely palate. Huge length and good "in the head" resonance on the finish. Still very young but this is very impressive indeed, despite the generally unremarkable year.

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Closing

A great balance of wines over a simple but delicious dinner.

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