Chateau Canon la Gaffeliere 2002

Another shot treated by Mr. Hennesy. Excellent recommendation from his colleague, Ms. Marina from Chateau La Lagune. She pointed out the reason why I have strong feeling of tannin to Montrose is because I am fond of tender wine, e.g. Merlot instead of Cabernet Sauvignon.

That is so true. Comparatively speaking I prefer right bank than left bank of Bordeaux. Canon, whihc is from St. Emillion sounds more attractive to me as a drinker.

Elegant palate. Peppery tannin with hint of plum and raspberry (?!) Firm oak and well structured. I would see both Montrose and Canon to have similar potential, with Canon to mature earlier than Montrose.

Canon is called canon, now I guess it's probably about the strong backbone power n post attack length that's left in mouth.

I become one of the "victim" from it's powerful shot, "suffering" from it's aftertaste

Chateau Montrose 1996

The last wine tasted in Watson's Cellar. $60 for 25cc. Thanks Mr. Hennensy for his treat.

Recommended by another visitor on spot. He was the winery owner from Bordeaux coming all the way to explore further opportunity of deals with the east.

Learn a few tips from this authentic owner. He could tell right directly the approximate age even the wine itself looks young n needs maturation. His tip is to tell the length n brightness of the rim. The longer n brighter of the rim, the older the wine is. Undoubted true that with 13yrs vintage, it is difficult to justify from it's ruby red body.

Long tears. From it's smell of unopenness, vaccum flavor would allow you imagination of it's potential behind. Dominated by licorice n leather flavour.

I personally am not a big fan of leather, around 90% of these wine are long-lasting tagged with astronomy price.

Alsace Wine Fair

Alsace Wine Fair

29 Aug 12:30 - 5:00 pm

Star Room 42/F, Langham Place Hotel Mongkok

With more than 23 fine wine stores displaying their Alsace exclusive wine for wine tastings, I myself is only one of the small drunkard wandering around for great wines.

Age range from 21 to 60, French, portugese, hongkongese...all are attracted by gorgeous riesling, gewurztraminer, pinot gris, pinot blanc, muscat...wowwww~~

Thanks for my fds recommending me to such a nice tasting event~

White wine used to be female's favourite, no wonder most guys are companying their girlfriends. Foccasia, brie cheese, celery, carrots and cucumber which fills the guests' lunch even though drunkard like me challenge the wine with empty tummy can still stay "sober" for a while.

I used to love Riesling's pear and green apple flavour. In this wine event, most riesling are covered with plastic cock smell (though France normally adopts oak cock, that's weird),

Gewurztraminer's peach flavour is surprisingly giving me a wide exposure of how grapes can be that revoluntionary. Tried at least 16 shops' gewurztraminer, some are crystalized like dessert wine because of late harvesting, some are aromatic in smell yet light and crispy in body, some are typical peach with mineral hint of palate. You can't imagine they are from the same origin with same characteristics.

I ended up bought Hugel & Fils VT Gewurztraminer 2002 & Albert Mann Gewurztraminer 2007, with free Vintec 12 bottle wine cabinet yey~~~

D'issan Wine Tasting - Vertical tasting

Got ditched by Dad, woo woo...

Originally intended to join D'issan wine dinner, indeed a bit unaffordable on that, wine tasting would be a humble and preferable choice.

The list tonight is:

1. Blason D'issan 2004
2. Blason D'issan 2001
3. Chateau D'issan 2004
4. Chateau D'issan 2001
5. Chateau D'issan 1999

The wine grower, who is also the managing director of Chateau D'issan flying one-third of his year from Finland to other countries, promoting on behalf of D'issan. He gave us a description of how he defines the wine when drinking, I believe his precise description should be from countless times of vertical drink

These 5 drinks do share the same characteristics of spice and oak, smooth tannin and black current flavour. However in terms of finish, fruit flavour, other smell, alcoholic content, potential drinking time, we can distinguish between years and identify differences naturally, they vary and quite distinct in their own style and quality.

1. Blason D'issan 2004
- Black Current, strong spice on palate
- Long finish and aftertaste
- Powerful game and oak aroma

As a 2nd wine, this is really impressive as a start.

2. Blason D'issan 2001
- Same level of spice as year 2004
- Strong punch of fruit, balance, mild wine
- Short finish, not much aftertaste

3. Chateau D'issan 2004
- Strong tannin
- Even spicer than Blason
- Watery, blackcurrant
- disappointed, not as full body as RP's comments.

4. Chateau D'issan 2001
- See a potential after decantage, but it is presented direct from bottle
- Smoother than 2004, and more balanced.
- Stronger fruit and spice
- Still short finish.

5. Chateau D'issan 1999
- The best our of the 3 1st wine.
- More robust in terms of wine structure
- strong tannin and well body balance
- Ready to drink
- Spicer than the other two.
- finish is long, yet shorter compared to Blason '04

Overall I found Blason 2004 in fact is the most impressive among all, unfortunately bearing the brand I am reluctant to spend much as these features could be found elsewhere in cheaper wine. The price offered is quite cheap though compare to those I saw in other cellars yet still marked up.
The wine tasting is really good occassion for you to understand more about how the wine grower thinks and what message they try to conceive through, and it's safer for you to test before buying, rather than blindly chasing for brand names.