Apr 2024: 2010 Henri Gouges NSG Pruliers 1999 Château Palmer, 2020 Ch Béchereau, 2000 Montrose, 2006 Léoville Las-Cases

2010 Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Pruliers 1er. Aired in bottle for two hours ahead of dinner at Otto Ristorante, 02 Apr 2024. Displaying a classic pinot tint, this wine proffers a beguiling gentle fragrance of ripe strawberries and rosy hues tinged with rhubarb and floral bloom matched by brilliant red tones on the medium-full palate, boasting exciting verve from the sublime acidity and exquisite supple intensity. Very seamlessly integrated, developing more of the NSG ferrous minerality over time though still rather subtle, overshadowed by the lovely layered complexity. Highly enticing. Superb!

1999 Château Palmer. Aired in bottle for three hours ahead of dinner at Chef Chan Private Dining, 06 Apr 2024, on the occasion of M’s twenty-fifth. Deep garnet. This wine still exudes youthful intensity with some early complexity that recalled balsamic elements and cedar. Beautifully structured, vibrant and energetic, carrying layers of copious dark fruits that impart cool elegance within a frame of exciting tightly knit tannins supported by a subtle vein of minerally elements that lend an austere trace. Fairly lush, just missing that last ounce of opulence. Excellent.

2006 Fontanafredda Barolo La Rosa, aired in bottle for five hours ahead of dinner at the in-laws, 07 Apr 2024. Opaque crimson, proffering a gentle rosy fragrance of cherries and red fruits from a medium presence of velvety fruit laced with refined acidity, exerting mild supple intensity. Drinking well.

2018 Domaine Rapet Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Sous Frétille. Tasted after a brief aeration at home, 17 Apr 2024. Pale. Restrained white tones on the nose tinged with brioche. The medium palate is similarly backward, fleshing out only a little more in spite of persistent coaxing, finishing with distant overtones of nutmeg and white peppery spice. Could do with more fruit to the fore.

Champagne Louis Roederer NV at Atout, 23 Apr 2024. Pale. Bright clarity of clear citrus and lemon that exert focused dry intensity. Slightly reductive but highly inviting. Drinking well.

2021 Coldstream Hills Chardonnay. Popped and poured at Eastern House of Seafood, 26 Apr 2024. Pale. Rather reductive with a crisp chiseled tone, taking a long time to evolve eventual notes of fig, green melons and dense white citrus with a focused intensity, finishing with after notes of bitter lemon.

2020 Château Béchereau, from the list of Cafe Gavroche, 27 Apr 2024. Decanted on-site. Deep garnet. Ample in dark currants and black fruits, alluring on the nose while the gently oaked palate boasts a glowing lithe intensity laced with excellent understated acidity and unobtrusive tannins, briefly disrupted by a streak of austere minerals before morphing into a sleek integral medium-full presence, displaying lovely balance and refined intensity. Quite excellent. From the Saint-Émilion satellite of Montagne.

2018 Stags’ Leap Karia Chardonnay. Aired in bottle for two hours ahead of dinner at Yang Ming Seafood (Bishan), 30 Apr 2024. Luminous light golden hue, exuding slightly resiny tones with a hint of cinnamon. Generously proportioned with moderate depth and lithe presence, showing good refinement though the white fruits appeared to recede over time.

2018 Sandhi Patterson Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay, courtesy of LF at Yang Ming Seafood (Bishan), 30 Apr 2024. Pale. Faint nose of brioche though the palate is surprisingly full with a rounded tight intensity of citrus fruits imbued with high-toned acidity. Very refined and integral though narrow in spectrum.

2005 Müller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten Spätlese Riesling, courtesy of Vic at Yang Ming Seafood (Bishan), 30 Apr 2024. Luminous deep golden hue. Effusive nose of white incense and paraffin. Open with moderate intensity and understated sweetness, showing lovely riesling character with an early caramelised tone.

2012 Occidental Running Fence Vineyard Cuvée Catherine, courtesy of Sir Bob at Yang Ming Seafood (Bishan), 30 Apr 2024. Forward nose of delicious raspberries, currants and mulberries. Medium-full, exerting youthful freshness and intensity.

2006 Château Léoville Las-Cases. Aired in bottle for two hours prior to dinner at Yang Ming Seafood (Bishan), 30 Apr 2024. Deep garnet. Powerful nose of early tertiary characters. Fullish with supple layers of lovely fruit that inpart sleek intensity. Highly integral, seamlessly structured with refined tannins that impart superb agility and glowing elegance thoughout its length. Excellent.

2000 Château Montrose, courtesy of Sanjay at Yang Ming Seafood (Bishan), 30 Apr 2024. Popped and poured. Deep garnet, exuding an elegant velvety fullness tinged with tobacco leaves. Generously proportioned with ample depth of black fruits that exert open supple youthful intensity, yet highly elegant and integral. Finished with glowing length. Very lovely but still far from peak maturity.

2013 Kosta Browne Keefer Ranch Russian River Pinot Noir, courtesy of LF at Yang Ming Seafood (Bishan), 30 Apr 2024. Ample presence of dark plummy fruit with pruny characters, laced with a distinct sweetness. Big and weighty, almost port-like.