2008-04-28 @ Le Mieux Bistro

This is one of the best dinners at Le Mieux Bistro and
the standard is very close to Scala's in the past.



The Foie Gras Terrine Toast is delicious! Perfect match with 2001 Chateau De Malle, Sauternes

Scallop is slight spicy but fresh, White Asparagus is very fresh and chewy. Iberico Ham is as good as usual.

Perfect dish and all participants agree that!

Truffle Veloute, full of truffle smell and taste, at least four different types of mushrooms are found. Not so heavy and creamy and I like it.

Another perfect dish, Quail, one of the signiture dishes by Ricky.

Lamb and King Prawn, very good but we were pretty full after the Quail dish.

Vanilla Ice-cream, so fresh and not too sweet. Quite good.

And we drank

Bollinger Special Cuvee NV

Verget Pouilly Fussie Terrior de Vergisson "La Roche" 2002

Gros et Fils Vosne Romanee 1er Cru 2002

Chateau Gloria 2003, Saint Julien

Chateau De Malle 2001, Sauternes

As good as usual, very pretty welcoming drink.

Wow, mature and nice white burgundy. Goes very well with Salad and seafood!

One of the best favourites, goes very well with Quail

As good as usual, especially quite matched with lamb dish.

BTW, in May Ricky designs another Le French May menu, $650 per head + 10% charges. They are the first time to cook duck confit at Le Mieux Bistro and it worths attention. Below is the promotion menu in May.

"Click picture to enlarge"

2005 Dugat Py Gevery Chambertin VV & Couer du Roi

Finally the long waited 2005 Dugat Py Gevery Chambertin Vieilles Vignes & Couer du Roi arrived. And found that they've changed a new label design!

Below is Burghound Tasting Note

Domaine Dugat-Py (Score: 92)
2005 750 ml Gevrey-Chambertin "Coeur du Roi" Villages Red

Note: from vines of 50 to 95 years of age situated in Epointures, Combe du Dessus and Les Marchais aged in 65% new wood and vinified with 65% of the stems

Producer note: Bernard Dugat, who now manages 10 ha with the additions of several recent purchases and some vineyards from within the Dugat-Py family, including 3 appellations producing whites (the reviews for which will be in Issue 27), said that "we had beautiful weather in the spring that continued into June and July. August was not overly hot, which helped to preserve acidity and then September was absolutely magnificent. On the 6th we had 24 ml of rain, which was just enough to give the vines a drink before the final push to perfect ripening. We had no problems at all save for our new parcel of Chassagne that was hit pretty hard by hail so we declassified it to Bourgogne. We began the harvest on the 15th and it's always a good sign when the grapes are so delicious that it's hard not to eat them while picking. There was essentially no sorting and we had normal yields of around 32 hl/ha with sugars in the 12.8 to 13.1% range. The stems were also quite ripe and I utilized between 60 and 100% depending on the wine. We had normal vinifications though the malos were very long and the Petite Chapelle only just finished and as a result is very reduced [it was not presented]. Overall, 2005 is really a dream vintage as it's hard to imagine getting much better fruit quality than what we obtained." Bernard Dugat rarely misses so it's no surprise that his '05s are terrific but I was honestly stunned at just how good they are. While there are other vintages where an individual wine might be better, the 2002 Chambertin for example, I have never seen the across-the-board quality that he produced in '05. One essentially cannot go wrong buying any of them and as readers know, it's exceptionally rare that I give blanket endorsements. (Peter Weygandt, Unionville, PA; Lea & Sandeman, Tanners, Uncorked Ltd and Thorman Hunt, UK).

Tasting note: A deeply pitched and slightly riper nose of cassis and spiced plum adds nuance to the intensely earthy aromas where the earth character can also be found on the rich, full and voluminous flavors that are almost opulent on the mid-palate yet the finish is borderline austere. This is a very serious effort that has a velvety texture but tightens up quickly on the backend due to the buried structure. Terrific potential here in a "built for the long haul" package that delivers amazing quality for its level.

Tasted: Jan 01, 2008 Score: 92 Drink: 2015

Domaine Dugat-Py (Score: 90)
2005 750 ml Gevrey-Chambertin - Vieilles Vignes Villages Red

Note: vinified with 60% stems

Tasting note: A very ripe but reserved nose features warm earth and hints of game on the intense red berry fruit aromas that merge into rich, full and delicious flavors supported by suave tannins and a concentrated and driving finish. This is a big and high quality villages that is balanced and deep.

Tasted: Jan 01, 2008 Score: 90 Drink: 2013+

2008-04-21 @ Manly

1990 Chateau La Dominique, Saint Emilion*
1990 Chateau La Grave A Pomerol, Pomerol*
1992 Chateau Leoville Barton, Saint Julien
1993 Chateau Trotanoy, Pomerol*
2000 Chateau Batailley, Pauillac
2000 Chateau de Sales, Pomerol
2000 Chateau Canon la Gaffeliere, Saint Emilion
2000 Chateau Monbousquet, Saint Emilion*
2002 Domaine Jean Grivot Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru "Les Boudots"*

* very good

Work in Progress - Coming Soon

2008 The First Hong Kong Wines Auction

I just received the catalogue from Bonhams. They are going to do the Fine and Rare Wines Auction in Hong Kong on 24 Apr 2008. I read the auction catalogue quickly and find some of the interesting wines. The prices can be reasonable (Auction price + 19% buyer premium). Such as

Lot 36# 1985 Las Cases - 5 bottles Est HK$3900-5000
Lot 110# 1990 Comte de Vogue Musigny x 1 bottle Est HK$3900-5500
Lot 111# 1990 Gros Feres et Soeur Clos Vougeot Musigni, owc 12 bottles Est HK$15600-21500
Lot 123# 2000 G. Roumier Bonnes Mares 3 bottles Est HK$6600-8500
plus a lot of Bordeaux 1st growths.




If you are interested, you can read the online catalogue from http://www.bonhams.com/

61 Palmer & 82 Lafite

2008-04-10 @ Manly

Finally, I've a chance to taste 1982 Lafite and 1961 Palmer, two lengendary wines.

Wine List
Burgundy

1995 Domaine Verget Puilgny Montrachet Enseigneres

1995 Domaine Verget Puilgny Montrachet Sous le Puits

1999 Domaine Jean Grivot Echezeaux

2005 Domaine Coche Dury Meursault *

2001 Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues Batard Montrachet *

2004 Domaine Lucie et Auguste Lignier Morey Saint Denis Les Chaffots

Bordeaux

2005 Chateau Carbonnieux Blanc Graves

1993 Chateau Trotanoy, Pomerol

1995 Chateau Moulin Saint Georges, Saint Emilion *

1995 Chateau Angelus, Saint Emilion x 2 *

2000 Clos Dubreuil, Saint Emilion
2000 Chateau La Fleur de Gay, Pomerol *
2001 Chateau Larmande, Saint Emilion
2001 Chateau Pape Clement, Pessac Leognan *

1982 Chateau Larmande, Saint Emilion

1986 Chateau de Fiezal, Pessac Leognan

1982 Chateau Lafite, Pauillac

1961 Chateau Palmer, Margaux *
* very good