16 April 2010: I was so looking forward to getting out of this miserable bipolar weather in Hong Kong, even just for a week. Then came the news of volcanic ashes grounding flights to Europe! Just perfectly ironic that the region in France we were trying to visit is currently ensoleillé, doing 24℃ with a clear blue sky! So back to the fog, humidity, sudden drops and rises in temperature and general dreariness in Hong Kong.
To commiserate, we decided to treat ourselves to dinner at Petrus at the Island Shangri-La in Hong Kong. Before heading for the restaurant, I made a short stop at Watson's Wine Cellars and picked up a bottle of 2004 La Mission Haut-Brion for the dinner. We started with two delicious glasses of 2002 Cristal. We ordered a half bottle of 1999 Riesling Kitterlé Grand Cru by Zind Humbrecht. I could not be sure whether it was the mature honeyed character which was insisted by the sommelier or that the wine was slightly madeirised (but retained some mature honey character), which made the experience rather unpleasant and disappointing. I was further disappointed by the watery green salad which turned up....(I should have stuck to the menu items!) The 2004 La Mission Haut-Brion was a delightful drop, full of young violet, blackcurrant, blueberry, cedar character and well-balanced and structured! And it went very well with the pigeon dish which was tasty and well executed! Richard's beef dish was rather bland and indifferent. Good cheese selection. The restaurant now serves meticulously cut fruit at the end as part of the petits fours.......an interesting touch but I guess popular with Asian clients.
Our second night of holiday at home.....we had drinks at a friend's before dinner. We were served a 2007 Puligny-Montrachet Champ Canet by Etienne Sauzet. It was really yummy, with plenty of green apple, softened mineral, and citrus character, and very approachable. Then we went back home to open a 2006 Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet by Leflaive. Quite the contrary, the wine still tasted a little closed, extremely minerally, very lemony, with a much higher acidity level. It could do with some decanting to release its bouquet and richness - hopefully, it will be better tonight, having had the benefit of some oxygen creeping into the wine over night.
We cooked at home to enjoy a perfectly matured 1982 Château Haut-Brion. My tasting note reads:
Tasted 17 Apr 2010: Ruby core, with slightly garnet rim. An intense nose of tobacco, violet, blueberries, pencil shavings and spices. On the palate, still very fruity in character with a good level of acidity and well-integrated tannins. Very attractive and elegant. Lingering finish. At peak now and expected to drink well for another 5 - 8 years before showing decline. Score: 18.5/20
Woke up to another miserable day in Hong Kong.......what joy!
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