5/17/2013 - Leon Chan wrote:

I have not added a tasting note for some time and would have preferred to return with a bang. Instead I returned to this sharing platform after taking a sip of this disappointing wine. My thoughts are similar to earlier reviewers back in 2011, the wine is over-extracted although it did come across as a promising wine from the nose. The wine first opened up generously with aromas typical of a cabernet, rich dark fruits, but after some swirling it turned into a whiff of alcohol and hints of acrylic, not unpleasant though. Nice healthy opague blue-purple color and together with the fine tears came to the rescue as it delicately lingers down the wine glass. The anti-climax hit after the first mouthful, no traces of fruits hidden behind a heavily oaked wine, followed by a bitter and short finish. Leaves a very hollow after-taste. Despite the lack of aeration, I cannot foresee this getting any better with more contact with oxygen. 75 point is on the generous side!

5/16/2012 - Leon Chan wrote:

Had it a couple of days ago but didn't take down any notes, but had a recollection it was easily one of the better Brunellos. It was defintely drinking at its early peak. Fantastic and much better than Fattoria dei Barbi I had a month ago.

5/16/2012 - Leon Chan wrote:

Agree with the other tasters - it is very Gevrey both in terms of color and body. Nose of preserved cherries and plum, and a touch of forest mushrooms. It needed a bit of time to open up to the palate. At first it didn't match the nose, after 2-3 hours, it went from a very high acid base to a smoother palateable array of berry fruits, sweet medicinal herb (somewhat like chrysanthemum) and medium cooked veal. This bottle will probably hold up and may evolve for another good 3-5 years but is probably drinking at its optimum now. I like it so much the bottle was finished in one night all by myself.

12/31/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

Surprisingly young nose of raspberry, red cherry and earthy pencil lead kind of aroma, still sweetly pungent with alcohol after 5 hrs of decanting. Frankly a very welcoming nose and better than expected turnout considering the surmountable literature on how this house has under-performed in the last few decades. Medium body of red fruits, quite a decent finish, reminiscing of a young Barolo actually! Not a second growth quality but a very worthy mid tier grand cru. Very enjoyable!

11/1/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

I liked it. Simply a much more complex CDR and ready for drinking. Beautiful nose, subtle grenache based aroma. Fine tannins, earth, tea, black current jelly, raspberry liqueur on the palate. Good finish. Wondering what the premium range reserve or vielle vignes will taste from this producer.

11/1/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

Pop and pour - good nose and creamy fruit body. Lack a bit of sophistication but serves very well as a food wine. Has many more good years left.

11/1/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

Light ruby colour, very clear and transparent - a pleasant sight. Aromas of raspberry, aromatic glue and cherry liqueur. Tannin and will require some aeration before some light fruitness comes through. Definitely has potential but may require a good 5 years to develop.

11/1/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

Dark purple for a burgundy. Pleasant nose of earth and blackberry. Still primary and tannic, subtlety and fruits are not coming through at this juncture, making it very to assess.

11/1/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

This is either not my style or something went very wrong in this batch. The alcohol was overbearing covering up anything that's beneath it. I have the bottle left open overnight and will try again tomorrow in hope of a better experience.

10/20/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

It delivered beyond its price point. Popped and poured through a vinturi. Vanillin, raspberry nose, matched with a simple but yet satisfying balanced body and good finish. I could drink this everyday!

10/7/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

Lightly acidic nose, good aroma though. Cloudy on appearance, exhibiting a strange brickish colour - aesthetically not pleasing - wondering if it is just this odd bottle! Tasted some citric tartness, good fruits and holding some smooth tannins - fairly decent length on the finish. Will try the same bottle again next year.

10/3/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

After reading WA's take that it has past it's peak in 2009, am glad to find that it is still drinking well. Decanted for 4 hrs, during which time it diffused a mature claret air, fruit and some grip is still clearly intact but kind of whiffed off after twirling the wine inside the decanter. Nice dark garnet with only little hints of bricking - good sign! Earthy and backward on entry, wine body exhibits signs of damp forest gum, dark fruits, mushrooms. Tannins have melted away leaving a medium body. A little light on the finish but overall pleasant. Still drinking well but will not improve or keep for too much longer. Reasonably good value for a 16 year old wine at S$62.

10/3/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

Best of the 2003 TE Clarets. Light interesting red fruits, tomatoe bolognese nose. Medium body and smooth entry, somewhat similar to a good French cru bourgeois, red fruits not too forward, just nice. Good lingering finish! Not sure whether it was designed as a daily drinking wine but sure serves this purpose. Good wine that has not evolved in the last 3 years. Will keep but drinking well now.

9/25/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

Picked up 6 bottles in OWC at a bargain price. Nice mature claret. The tannins have melted away leaving a very smooth, light finish, almost no alcohol detected. Mellow red fruits and holding up but needs drinking up as it would appear to be slightly past its peak.

9/25/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

A friend generously shared this bottle. Popped and drank at the wine merchant without food. Damp forrest earth, blackcurrent and bacon meat nose. Truffle, almost meat stew on entry, graphite, black fruit, toffee and creme de cassis palate. Good finish. Many years left in this gorgeous bottle.

9/25/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

Half bottle is drinking beautifully. Certainly seems to be at its peak, but can hold for another 5+ years. Not sure if it will get better though.

9/25/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

I had a Chateau Roumieu 2006 and Carmes de Rieussec 2008 3 days apart and hence could draw comparisons between the two. Both are priced attractively and are good entry level dessert wines for any occasions. Very fresh and fragrant, little signs of botrytis though. Roumieu exhibits distinct citric pineapple, honey syrup, light cinnamon flavours. Carmes de Rieussec is slightly lighter on the acidity, carries sweet zesty lemon, white peach and honey. Both wines finishes off firmly, the Carmes de Rieussec has an edge on the aftertaste as it holds the flavour more convincingly.

9/25/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

I had a Chateau Roumieu 2006 and Carmes de Rieussec 2008 3 days apart and hence could draw comparisons between the two. Both are priced attractively and are good entry level dessert wines for any occasions. Very fresh and fragrant, little signs of botrytis though. Roumieu exhibits distinct citric pineapple, honey syrup, light cinnamon flavours. Carmes de Rieussec is slightly lighter on the acidity, carries sweet zesty lemon, white peach and honey. Both wines finishes off firmly, the Carmes de Rieussec has an edge on the aftertaste as it holds the flavour more convincingly.

9/25/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

Read from reviews that all the good stuff went into this baby in 2008 and was eager to try it out. Nothing wrong with this wine, dark purpleish viscous appearance, very lush on the nose, gammy, heavy, fruit-forward and very exaggerated plummy, black fruits, licorice liquor characteristics throughout. Although I can't help but to describe it as a cough syrup. There is a distinctly medicinal smell and taste to it and it was very difficult to look beyond. It would come across that many more years of bottle age is required to mellow it down. I would leave the rest of these 08's and 09's in the cellar for at least another 5 years.

9/25/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

Somehow I have not had much luck with Cote Roties. Although I have not chanced upon the 3 big Guigal's "La's", the bottles I've had are made by supposedly good producers such as Bernard Burgaud and Rene Rostaing but they have fallen way below what one would expect from a prestigious french label. This particular one showed much promise on the nose, although there was a persistent hint of acidity and fruit vinegar throughout 5 hrs of aeration. Slight browning on the edges at first appearance, silky legs hanging off the glass. On entry, it was light yet had a fair display of red fruits & meat, smooth tannins but was hollow once pass the mid-palate and had very disappointingly short finish. I have a 2001 in the cellar and would hope it fares a lot better.

8/15/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

Musky and dull palate. Lack of liveliness on the nose. Seems to over the hill as almost all fruits are not traceable.

8/15/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

Good wine. Passed it through a Vinturi Aerator and it's ready to go. Welcoming nose of raspberries, bubblegum (if there is smell to bubblegum), theme. Classic Tuscan body, obvious sangiovese character, abundance of red fruits, earth. Pity the finish is a little short, otherwise it would be a beautiful food wine. Having said that it was good on it's own.

8/15/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

The bottle opened up with a flowery aroma and hints of cherries; very elegant. Used a Vinturi on serving. Light ruby color, clear and transparent appearance. Very soft on the palate, although the tannins are present. After 2 hours of slow consumption, traces of red fruits, flowers, earth and hints of truffles began to emerge. Medium finish. Convinced it has more to offer with another 3 - 5 years of bottle age. Charming wine.

8/14/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

Taste side by side with a Barton '95 after 10 hours of decanting, although both St Julien, each exhibited different characteristic, Amazing! The nose on the Barton was more Pauillac, rustic, earthy but carries finesse, the Ducru Beaucaillou was very feminine, almost too shy to speak but extremely sexy! Crimson color with slight browning on the edges, seemingly entering into drinking window but I am convinced it is not yet ready. Soft tannins, solid body of comprising of lush blackberries, light pepper, anise. Fairly long finish. Great Bordeaux! 93 points

8/14/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

Did injustice to this long lived beauty by opening maybe 10 years early. Decanted for 10 hours and the nose seems to give away a Pauillac identity, absolutely awesome nose with nuances of ripe black fruits, lead and truffles, exhibiting a much more engaging aroma than the Ducru-Beaucaillou '95 opened together. It was uncanny that it tasted like a wine fresh from market release. Alcohol was very present and even after another 5 hours of aeration, the taste didn't rise beyond a young tannin, robust body. There is definitely immense potential but may only surface in another 10 years time. No rating given.

8/14/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

Absolutely stunning! Had it beside a '96 D'Yquem (which was opened way too early), and it was a much better pairing with pan-seared fois gras. Finished the bottle at the end of the lunch course with roquefort. Beautiful balanced smokey honey nose. Very precise taste of truffle honey, orange peel, apricot, creme brûlée, with each flavour coming through distinctly. Drinking at it's peak but will seemingly have another 5-10 years of enjoyment ahead. 94 points

8/14/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

Synthetic rubber aroma but mellowed down to del Monte pineapple nose after the temperature dropped. Little hints of botrytis as it may still be too young. Some hints of apricots, peaches, marmalade bittiness and obvious honey but distinction is not too precise. Good but not great. 85 points

8/14/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

Smokey oak is too overpowering for a tuscan wine. Drank after 5 hrs of aeration but only slight hints of ripe fruits coming through. Good medium body, Fine tannins and a smooth finish but the typical tuscan finesse cannot be detected. Can't help but to conclude that this super tuscan blend is over-rated. Still have 3 bottles, will try again in 2 years time. I will probably stick to what they do best next time. Next try on this producer will be their 2005 BDM. 83 points

7/26/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

Undeniable Tuscan/ Sangiovese character. Funky musky nose coming out of the bottle but quickly opened up giving an air of ripe fruits, rusty aroma (in a good way). Drinking beautifully at it's peak, medium to full body and displaying slight browning at the edges. Silky tannins and a smooth finish. Deserves a much better score than the average of 82+

5/21/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

Bottle well stored at carrefour cellars, immaculate condition! Browning off the edges, clearing into mature age. Drinking well and still seems to be at it's peak, but maybe just a few short years of life left before it goes downhill. Tannins are well integrated and nose has nuances of dried fruits and licorice. Passed the claret through a vinturi and decanter for 2 hrs. Strong alcohol was still persistent so maybe should have given it 4-5 hrs of aeration, the alcohol faded away towards the end of the bottle, by which time it should have been 4 hrs into the ordeal. Charming wine, with the sexiness you will typically fine from a classifies Margaux. Medium body with taste of raisins, dried prune and interesting a touch of pencil shavings. Medium finish but satisfying with the balanced acidity. Not a stunning wine but nonetheless good showing of a '95 vintage.

4/29/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

My first bottle of Pape Clement, grand vin or second wine. Brilliant red color. Fine legs off the glass. Aromatic nose comprising of vanilla pod and interesting nuances of sour dough. No big burst of berry fruits but instead a very smooth dark grape body. Velvety medium finish that is very classy. A longer more complex finish would have warranted a higher score. Nonetheless an excellent wine!

3/2/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

One of the better second wines I have tasted. Obviously helps to be made out of a good vintage. Nice nose of berries and pleasant oak. Balanced and forward on the palate, distinctly medium body Bordeaux. Traces of blackberries, truffle and leather. A little short on the mid palate though and the tannins seems to have smoothened out so i don't foresee any further improvements with added cellaring, although there seems to be at least 5 more years left in this bottle.

2/27/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

Nose is very fruity, almost ribena at first instance. After some whirling around some meaty, port like alcohol starts to effervesce. On the palate, definitely nebbiolo. Not an easy wine to appreciate because it has this musky and tannic structure and it is difficult to find the spicy fruits at the mid palate before it closes up quickly with some bitterness, not unpleasant though, just some character of a wine. Somehow I have a feeling this wine has more to offer but can't seem to detect it. I will hold the last bottle for another 6 to 12 months in hope that the Starderi terrior will not fail to put up a better showing.

7/17/2010 - Leon Chan wrote:

Hosted a blind tasting of 3 year 1999 wines for my drinking buddies - St Henri, Anforio Barolo & Chateau Lynch Moussas. The Barolo was disappointing on both the nose and body, probably slightly past it's prime (83 pts) St Henri was a big wine, still tannic and was bursting with berry fruits, great on the mid palate but short on the finish (88 pts). Surprisingly the Lynch Moussas being the lowly Grand Cru came out tops. Great truffle nose followed up with an elegant display of earthy tones, mellowed tannins and a respectable finish (90 pts). Looks like it still has a good 3-5 years left. I suspect the St Henri will perform better in another 5-8 years time.

2/14/2011 - Leon Chan wrote:

Brilliant purple red color. Ran it through the Vinturi aerator. Smell of black currants, earth. Initially tasted more like a grenache based cotes du rhone than a merlot based wine.. It eventually opened up to resemble a pomerol with a full fruity body, polished tannins, nuances of pencil lead, leather and round off with a medium finish. Lacking in complexity in the mid palate though. Still signs of 3-5 years ahead. Will wait a couple of years before opening the next bottle.