1970 Lynch-Bages, 2004 Mouton Rothschild, 2000 Léoville Las-Cases, 2016 “Y” d’Yquem, 1989 Coutet

Sanjay very graciously hosted a lovely dinner on 25 July 2022 at Shang Palace, Shangri-la Singapore, generously curating the entire wine line-up as well. It was reassuring to know that standards at this venerable institution have remained undimmed in spite of the untimely passing of Chef Mok last year. Many thanks, Sir !

2004 Champagne Dom Pérignon Rosé. Fairly deep in colour, proffering notes of mandarins and grapefruit with a faint whiff of cordite, showing excellent dry presence and elegant darkish depth as it fleshed out with refreshing glacial tones.

2016 “Y” d’Yquem. Pale but highly enticing in its bouquet of green fruits, distant fig and tropical fruit. Medium-bodied. Seamlessly rounded with cool vanillin, fleshing out with a velvety fullness laced with overtones of jackfruit.

2001 Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte Blanc. Deeply coloured. Dense bouquet of cinnamon, cedar, honeyed toast and brioche. The medium-bodied palate offers great clarity with its fruit of mature apricot set rather backward, slightly oxidative in character, improving in balance over time though the finish is short. Time to drink up.

2004 Château Mouton Rothschild. Bright crimson. Lovely glow of raspberries, dark currants and mulberries, exuding a silky earthy pungency. The medium-bodied palate is rounded with fleshy suppleness, rather elegantly placid and smoothly delineated though unexpectedly short.

1970 Château Lynch-Bages. Bright crimson. Distant glow of mature claret with a mild reductive pungency. Still quite lively with a fairly deep core of strawberries, cinnamon and star anise set slightly backward, displaying subtle Pauillac character. Still holding on but I’d drink up.

2000 Château Léoville Las-Cases. Deep purple. Effusive in mulberries, raspberries and dark fruit, effortlessly lifted. Medium-bodied. Seamlessly integrated and open with a fleshy suppleness, evolving into its unmistakable Saint-Julien character with further notes of camphor underscored by austere ferrous elements, tapering with subtle biting intensity to a finish that’s just a little short.

1989 Château Coutet. Deep tea-colored. Lovely effusive notes nectarine and honey. Richly imbued but not too luscious, displaying fine agility with understated acidity, exuding white incense with mild medicinal overtones. Impeccably proportioned and balanced. Very successful.