March 2017: 2012 Clos Saint Jean CdP, 2013 Olivier Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet Champ Gain

1996 Domaine de Montille Volnay Les Champans 1er (courtesy of Fatty), 06 Mar 2017, at the office of Domaine Wines. Tasted blind. Mildly medicinal on the nose with a trace of old leather, displaying good concentration with dryish textures and good acidity feminine on the palate, quite seamless, well-crafted and delicate enough but missing in structure.

2005 Domaine de Montille Volnay Les Taillepieds 1er (courtesy of Alvin), 06 Mar 2017, at the office of Domaine Wines. Tasted blind. Significantly younger than the preceding Montille but remarkably similar in profile though the bouquet displays a bolder tone of rose petals, potentially rich with some plums amidst traces of black pepper, its feminine character enhanced by subtle acidity and seamless integration on the palate, soft and rounded, again missing in structure.

2002 Nicolas Potel Vosne-Romanee Les Gaudichots 1er (courtesy of KG), 06 Mar 2017, at the office of Domaine Wines. Tasted blind. Dark reddish brown, displaying very good concentration and depth particularly on the mid-palate with soft subdued minerals and fine seamless integration, finishing well with plums and warm fruits. More and more lovely on the nose over time. Delicious

2006 Domaine Jean Grivot Clos Vougeot Grand Cru (courtesy of Jonathan Chan), 06 Mar 2017, at the office of Domaine Wines.mature color. Lovely floral fragrance emerging from the excellent ripe fruit, displaying dryish textures with very good concentration and depth supported by ferrous minerals, fresh and exciting but lacking in structure, finishing short with a trace of sweetness.

2004 Domaine Christophe Perrot-Minot Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru (courtesy of Li Fern), 06 Mar 2017, at the office of Domaine Wines. Well evolved with a deep reddish brown, exuding a deep rosy fragrance, rounded with excellent concentration with mild saline minerals and subdued tannins, not much in the way of structure, a tad short.

Bruno Paillard Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru disgorged July 2013, popped and poured at Ming Kee Live Seafood, 10 Mar 2017. Full-bodied and lively with a forward balance of lime and clear citrus, imbued with a lovely sheen of creme and chalky minerals, not too dry. Very fine.

2012 Clos Saint Jean Chateauneuf-du-Pape, SGD115 from the list of Le Bistrot du Sommelier, 11 Mar 2017. Decanted on-site. Red and dark fruits dominate with rose petals, camphor, black pepper, spice and traces of enamel. Gentle but firm on the palate with high-toned earthy minerals, grippy tannins and excellent concentration of fruit, opening up with further notes of chocolate and a hint of licorice. Surprisingly open and highly accessible in spite of its 16% alcohol!

2004 Belle Epoque Perrier-Jouet (courtesy of Dr Wang KW). Popped and popped at Fat Cow, 14 Mar 2017. Forward with deep lovely aromas of dry toast, citrus, smouldering ember and yeasty overtones, quite lifted with delicate white plums on the palate that displayed good weight and presence, layered with complex minerals amidst bubbles that are very fine. Quite superb in sophistication and complexity.

2013 Domaine Olivier Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet Champ Gain 1er (courtesy of Dr Wang KW), poured after  some brief aeration in bottle at Fat Cow, 14 Mar 2017. The nose is enveloped in deep dense floral aromas that led to white flowers and creme de la creme, its gentle chalkiness matched superbly with subdued acidity and a highly elusive minerally palate that grew in intensity over time, displaying great definition,poise and confidence. Excellent.

1991 Paul Aine Jaboulet Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert, poured after some aeration in bottle at Fat Cow, 14 Mar 2017. My second tasting in as many month, with consistent notes. Glorious soft red fruits and rose petals dominate with mild overtones of tangerines at the core, richly layered with black fruits on the palate that is still very fresh with great presence and concentration, finishing well with gentle ferrous elements amidst subdued intensity and acidity from the fleshy soft tannins. Still going strong. Excellent.

1991 Penley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, decanted on-site at Wah Lok, 18 Mar 2017. There is an abundance of aged cinnamon, red plums, balsam and complex sweet herbal tones on the nose, replete with a dash of spice and ginseng, still carrying great concentration and acidity, gaining in port-like character over time, finishing well.

2013 Layer Cake Pinot Noir, at SGD58 from PS Cafe, Paragon Singapore (before SGD30 corkage at the restaurant!), 31 Mar 2017. Forward notes of raspberries, dark currants and red fruits. Imbued with great concentration but surprisingly gentle for a young New World pinot, leaving the palate with traces of burnt and some earthiness but lacking in complexity.

The best steak in Singapore can be found at Bistrot du Sommelier. Truly authentic in the French manner.