Brasserie Birthday

I hosted a dinner at Brasserie on the Eighth at Conrad Hong Kong for the MNSC boys to celebrate my birthday, and invited a couple of ladies to attend. Chef Kong set a menu for me and we were given the private room.

Hot purple white asparagus

Confit of pork belly

Steamed gooseliver custard soup with black truffle

Pan-fried U.S. black Japanese beef sirloin with sesame soy sauce

Chocolate pave with fresh raspberry and fig coulis

Wines were mostly from 1970, of course...

1985 Krug - this was well-received. Very nice and crisp. Great way to start.

Bought from Farr Vintners for GBP 71.

1970 DRC La Tâche - everyone thought it was a Rhône, a Côte-Rôtie. If I didn't know what I brought, I would have sworn it was a La Turque, except there was no La Turque in 1970! The nose was very sweet, strawberries, leather, roasted game meats, cotton candy. The color was light brown with amber edge. Obviously showing its age. Clarity was low, as if all the sediment couldn't be removed. Acidity was obviously high. Wow! This was an unbelievably sexy wine. Everything great about old Burgundies... soft, supple. Gotta get more of this! My vote for the wine of the evening.

Bought from 易元 for TWD 14,000.

1970 Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve - nice nose of cotton candy and toffee. Palate was very nice and rich, better than last time. But after a while a bit of chalk developed in the nose.

1970 Vega Sicilia Unico - this was my first Unico, and I wasn't disappointed. The nose was very sweet and forward, very Californian. Hint of caramel, color was medium ruby, amazing for its age. Still very powerful on the palate. This was really good, my second favorite of the evening.

1970 Latour - very disappointed. Very typical Bordeaux, nose was full of earth, sweet grass or hay, vegetal. No sweet fruit at all. This is just like Parker said of his recent tastings. Color was very ink-like still. Still powerful, but not ready.

1959 Huët Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Moelleux - nose was full of toasty oak and straw, a bit like vin de paille. Not very sweet on the palate. Elegant. Not bad, but I thought it would a great old "sticky" so I guess I was a little disappointed.

A very fun evening with quite a few surprises. So happy to have hosted this dinner.