Community Tasting Note

Paul S wrote:

Friday, November 22, 2019 - Kelvin T's 40th Birthday (Imperial Treasure Teochew, Tanjong Pagar): Not quite as strong as the last bottle I had, but this was still a really, really nice wine. It had a classic La Chapelle nose of dried blueberries touched with violets and garrigue - almost lending it a gentle lilt of soapy floral perfume at points - and then more savoury notes of dried earth and meat. Complex, but subtly so; this was a lot quieter and less in-you-face a bouquet than say that of the 1996 Guigal La Mouline that was served alongside. The palate felt a little less developed than the last bottle from a year ago - this was marked with super-bright, almost lemony acidity and fine tannins, which lent the wine a really clean, minerally and defined feel, with a real spine running through its flavours of blueberries seasoned with cracked pepper and sprigs of fresh mint. On the midpalate, the more savoury notes first picked up on the nose came out again, with smoked meats and mineral, and a characteristic La Chapelle twang of olive tapenade pulling away into a long finish. While there was certainly a quiet authority and depth on this though, it somehow seemed to be just a tiny shade leaner and less complete than the last bottle I had. This clearly still felt like a wine clearly in its adolescence, waiting for time to reveal its depth - I would set this aside for another decade or so at the very least; it is almost a waste to drink it now. I should also add that the last bottle was double-decanted half a day before serving, while this was popped and poured, which may have affected out it showed. That aside, this was a really solid wine - really food friendly given its freshness, but at the same time full of subtle complexities that called for slow enjoyment and contemplation.

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