2019 Meursault 1er Poruzots: Rémi Jobard, Antoine Jobard & Vincent Bouzereau & Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 1982, 1991, 2001, 2005, 2011, 2015

La Vigne d’Or of Singapore marked its tenth anniversary with a la paulée gala at Clifford Pier, Fullerton Bay Hotel, on 23 August 2025 where proceeds went to IDHealth, a community-based healthcare service for the intellectually disabled. Prior to dinner was a tasting promenade featuring a 2019 mini-horizontal of Meursault 1er Poruzots as well as a vertical of six vintages of Paul Jaboulet Aînè Hermitage La Chapelle, generously contributed by various individuals. This iconic Rhône has had its ups and downs since its seminal bottling of 1961, though it appears to be finding its feet again over the past decade with robust but sophisticated age-worthy efforts. Many thanks, Sandy!

2019 Domaine Vincent Bouzereau Meursault 1er Les Poruzots. Racy profusion of floral notes, almost beguiling. Layered with lovely fruit and slick acidity, pampering the palate with a certain lacquered tone. Highly integral and superbly balanced. Far from the steely reductive style that is the current rage. One of the very best examples of Poruzots. Reminds me of the domaine’s same wine of 2023.

2019 Antoine Jobard Meursault 1er Poruzots. Light greenish. Dryish lift of summer hay with stony overtones that render a bit of reduction, though the easy-going palate is most subtly nuanced with refined acidity and understated minerals that impart a bit of pebbly quality.

2019 Domaine Rémi Jobard Meursault 1er Poruzots. Pale. Very sleek, exuding subtle floral hues with a hint of reduction from its expanse of chalk and exquisite intensity of lime and clear citrus that lit the palate with refined clarity.

2015 Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle. Orangey crimson, exuding a lovely perfumed fragrance with a bit of waxy tone. Very lively, its darkish plummy presence underscored by incisive acidity that produce sharp attack and intensity.

2011 Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle. Strong note of enamel and caramelised crème on the nose that belies its slender linear structure, displaying with fine balance and clarity as it stretched out with a minty glow.

2005 Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle. Brownish red. Very good presence of ripe plummy fruit that has evolved with subtle shades, underscored by rounded velvety tannins and well-integrated acidity. Excellent balance. This may turn out to be a reincarnation of the 1991.

2001 Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle. Brownish hues. Rather reticent. The fruit is surprisingly recessed, while the angular tannins that I recall are now quite imperceptible, resulting in a relaxed rounded palate. Modest finish.

1991 Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle. Fully mature in colour and tone with striking autumnal overtones that recall traditional pipagao. Still wonderfully full and lively, imbued with superb acidity and enough heft in its fruit to produce slick teasing intensity, making up for its modest finish. At its very best.

1982 Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle. Poured from magnum. Brownish. Distinctly autumnal, exuding sweetish overtones of caramel, cinnamon and nougat. Still holding out reasonably well, displaying a placid feminine elegance and clarity with just enough fruit to match the refined acidity. Modest finish.

And at dinner…

Champagne Olivier Horiot Les Riceys NV. Clear golden. Nutty yeasty characters with overtones of brioche and honeysuckle. Lovely tension and intensity.

2017 Domaine Paul Pillot Chassagne-Montrachet 1er La Romanée, courtesy of Bernhard. Pale, proffering faint teasing floral hues. Relaxed medium presence of delicate citrus, yielding fine clarity with a growing intensity that led to a distinct salinity at its modest finish.

2017 Domaine Denis Mortet Gevrey-Chambertin Mes Cinq Terroirs. Deep crimson. Very lovely perfumed bouquet of red fruits and fresh floral hues, yielding refined detail. The medium-weight palate is beautifully nuanced in velvety red fruits and haw laid on lush tannins. Good finish.

1990 E Guigal Hermitage, courtesy of Melvin. Light purple. Gentle palate of mature red fruits marked with overtones of cinnamon and distinct balsamic elements. Fairly lush, still imbued with fresh acidity, tapering to a modest sweet finish. Delicious.

2012 Champagne Pierre Peters Cuvée Spéciale Les Chetillons Grand Cru, courtesy of Hui Jian. Pale golden. Generous in clear and yellow citrus, dried pears and peaches that produce a deep burnished glow. Wonderfully fresh and crisp, layered with superb definition. Immaculately proportioned. Highly inviting.

2022 Alex Moreau Chassagne-Montrachet 1er La Maltroie, courtesy of Robin. Somewhat restrained on the nose though the medium palate is open with lovely white tones. Very evenly proportioned and elegant, stretching out with excellent linearity.

2006 Soldera Case Basse, courtesy of Kok Hiang. Good colour. Warm expanse of delicious red fruits and haw. Very subtly layered and impeccably proportioned, just entering its secondary development. One for the long haul. From 100% sangiovese.

1982 Château Pontet Canet. Still deeply coloured with a profusion of forest floor, stems and vegetal notes. Quietly supple and fleshy, not drying out.

1982 Château Lagrange. Saint-Julien. Still deeply coloured, proffering a complex bouquet of vegetal notes, balsamic elements, earth and mature dark berries. Relaxed and fleshy with rounded contours, its acidity still amazingly fresh, imparting fine tension.

2013 Domaine Chantal Rémy Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru. Red fruits dominate with dense rosy hues. Well-structured with supple tannins, exerting a focused intensity throughout its glowing length.

2001 Domaine François Lamarche La Grand Rue Grand Cru, courtesy of Bernhard. Brownish crimson. Medium presence, the maturing fruit and tannins highly integral, producing quiet elegant charm.

2004 Domaine Bouchard Pére et Fils Clos Vougeot Grand Cru, courtesy of Peter Tan. Distilled presence of mature darkish plums and cherries, imbued with a lovely freshness underpinned by excellent acidity that impart fine definition.

1996 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Musigny Grand Cru, courtesy of Dr Kuang He. Deep garnet with some crimson at the rim. Generously layered in red fruits and dark cherries that carry an aristocratic air. Very subtly nuanced with undertones of earth and incense, effortlessly poised with supple grace and elegance. Modest finish. Highly successful and still going strong.

1994 E Guigal Côte-Rôtie, courtesy of Melvin. Evolved crimson. Fully mature with autumnal characteristics of red plums, wild berries, herbs, ash and bramble, the wine still full and amazingly fresh with superb acidity that teased with fleeting attack.