We have come to learn about it, the 1855 classification of wines in France by Napolean, about the selection of the best wines in world (which was France in 1885). And there were 4 candidates, 4 'first growths, the creme la creme, the best of the best, with the latest addition of Mouton, there're the 5 super stars of wine. Every grape ever harvested on the planet seeks to become a first growth , or by the ill fortunes of poor locations, weather, ie sucky terrior, most will never be close to a first growth. Magazines talk about how lavish first growths wines are, and with annual harvest surrounding the release of the first growths, as wine investors and critics....
Ok, this is it! The Haut Brion 2001 was on the table, courtesy of Michael, and my virgin night was starting to be exciting...... with a starry cast lined up, with wonderful food from Ming Kee life seafood, this was a night to remember!!
Comtes Champagne Taittinger 1995
Chateau Haut-Brion 2001
Chateau Leoville Barton 1989
Chateau Smith Haut Lafite Blanc 1999
Chateau Gruaud Larose 1989
Laflaive Puligny Montrachet 1Er Cru Les Pucelles 1994
First off, the Barton and Gruaud were chosen by Morgan from a book (Michael Broadbent's book of vintage wines) with vivid masculine/feminine descriptions of the wine. The Gruaud was just masculine, raw, thick, leather, smokey, with appreciable length. The suckling pig dish (perhaps the best ever I've tried), was truly a match in heaven with the Gruaud. The Barton was more subtle, with a more usual St Julien flavour, with complexity.
I opened the Smith Haut Lafite Blanc around 3 hours before the dinner, it was considerably sour. ~4-5hours after decanting, it was smooth, but against the other powerhouse wines, the SHL Blanc was considerably muted.
Ok, this is it! The Haut Brion 2001 was on the table, courtesy of Michael, and my virgin night was starting to be exciting...... with a starry cast lined up, with wonderful food from Ming Kee life seafood, this was a night to remember!!
Comtes Champagne Taittinger 1995Chateau Haut-Brion 2001
Chateau Leoville Barton 1989
Chateau Smith Haut Lafite Blanc 1999
Chateau Gruaud Larose 1989
Laflaive Puligny Montrachet 1Er Cru Les Pucelles 1994
First off, the Barton and Gruaud were chosen by Morgan from a book (Michael Broadbent's book of vintage wines) with vivid masculine/feminine descriptions of the wine. The Gruaud was just masculine, raw, thick, leather, smokey, with appreciable length. The suckling pig dish (perhaps the best ever I've tried), was truly a match in heaven with the Gruaud. The Barton was more subtle, with a more usual St Julien flavour, with complexity.
I opened the Smith Haut Lafite Blanc around 3 hours before the dinner, it was considerably sour. ~4-5hours after decanting, it was smooth, but against the other powerhouse wines, the SHL Blanc was considerably muted.
A 3 kg Soon Hock fish! Thick and succulent, we also had a raw Laflaive, a great burgundy white, from a famous 1994 vintage no less, and this was a chardonnay like no other, very smooth and pleasing, rather muted on the nose, this wine was graceful and superbly balance through th palatte. Simply amazing!! We also had the previlage to try the Comtes Champagne Taittinger 1995, an aged champagne. Simply delicious!Tp Thanks Albert!!
Towards the end, the First growth was out. Tasting very young, even though it spent 8 years in the bottle, this is a virtue of great wines with the ability to age in excess of 40 yrs! Layers of dark fruits complexed with balanced palette and short finish, this was a delightful way to end of a night. This is what wine drinking should be! Friends, Food, Fwah!!!
