1969 Ch Lafite Rothschild

Another casual dinner on 18 July 2019 threw up a wonderful line-up given that no theme had been set. The Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck at Paragon Singapore is truly an outstanding venue for refined Cantonese cuisine. Try ordering some off-the-menu items (very nicely arranged for this occasion by LF): glutinous duck rice, salted fish tofu in claypot, and the razor clam cooked side-table in superior broth (pictured left).

2005 Domaine Roulot Meursault Les Luchets. Light golden lustre. Rather shy, proffering only white fruits and floral mint with some mild salinity. Rapidly gained depth and body as it warmed up, developing lightly peppery tones with traces of nutmeg as it gradually blossomed with fine detail and delicate intensity, taking on a more distinct saline minerality whilst maintaining its subtle richness as it tapered to an open minerally finish. This is Meursault at its finest, amazingly from a village.

2014 Peter Michael Belle Cote, courtesy of Kieron. Lovely luminosity. There is an attractive hint of oiliness on the nose matched by lifted tones of bell pepper and dense morning dew from the solid concentration and depth of fruit, revealing excellent sophistication and detail as it stretched over time to an extended chalky finish before receding beneath a waxy sheen. Excellent.

2014 DuMOL Finn Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, courtesy of LF. Deep ruby. There is a faint trace of paraffin amid the delicious expanse of red cherries on the nose. The palate is rounded and open, revealing a deep intense core of ripe fruit that exuded lovely charm and elegance with excellent linearity. Very well-balanced and integrated, finishing with youthful vigour and richness.

2009 Domaine Armand Rousseau Mazy-Chambertin Grand Cru, courtesy of Kieron. Glowing irresistibly with glorious red fruits, rosy hues and ripe strawberries, this wine is superbly open with great inner definition, revealing shades of gravelly minerals and sweet structured tannins that impart great feminine charm with fine subtle intensity, fleshing out very well with great roundedness and sophistication. Excellent.

1969 Ch Lafite Rothschild, courtesy of Vic. Displaying an almost pinot tint, this Lafite is still imbued with excellent fullness in spite of its rounded mellowed softness, yielding a lovely lifted pungency from its core of aged plummy fruit and sweet melted tannins. What a wonderful surprise for a casual dinner! One cannot ask for more from this wine nor from its generous owner.