A classic Bordelais evening

About two hours after landing in Hong Kong, I found myself back at the Grill Room of the Hong Kong Country Club... ready for another blind tasting with the MNSC boys.  After a weekend of dining in Singapore, I really couldn't care less about the food tonight.  Hell, I came for the wines!

The amuse bouche was crab meat and celeriac.

The sweetbreads were very milky, while the pickled fungus was crunchy and acidic.  There were some blue cheese flavors there somewhere...

Caesar salad

Lobster Thermidor - this was really tasty and satisfying.  Yum!

The lamb rack came with a nice and crispy top... like confit duck skin.  Wonderfully fatty and delicious.  Definitely some rosemary there...

Banana pancake - too much lemon juice, which made things a little bitter.

But tonight the focus was squarely on the wines.  We were really curious as to what Juliano would serve up...

1986 Ramonet Batard-Montrachet - so sweet and caramelized on the nose, still some toasty notes here, and nuttiness, with coffee and Chinese licorice.

First flight: decanted 2½ hours after opening, served 3½ hours after opening.

1982 Margaux - very smoky, a little dirty, not as pleasant.  Less dirty and pungent after 10 minutes in glass, with cigar smoke.  94 points.

1982 Palmer - tons of smoke, a bit of green pepper.  Lean and powerful, with a little tea leaves and leather.  95 points.

Second flight: decanted 2½ hours after opening, served 4 hours after opening.

1976 Lafite-Rothschild - smoky, a bit more fruity, almost orange citrus, and a little exotic vanilla.  96 points.

1995 Lafite-Rothschild - smoky, not very open, lean, with green pepper notes. 94 points.

Third flight: decanted 2½ hours after opening, served 5 hours after opening.

1995 Petrus - smoky, black pepper, grilled meats, a bit sweet on the palate.  Classic and beautiful.  98 points.

2003 Petrus - a little burnt rubber, exotic, funky, orange, really ripe and concentrated.  Beautiful!  98 points.

Fourth flight: decanted 2 hours after opening, served 5½ hours after opening.

1990 Haut-Brion - really smoky and bretty, like hospital disinfectant.  Alcohol still sharp.  94 points.

1990 La Mission Haut-Brion - bretty, smoky, a little savory.  Pretty nice after the brett fades a little.  97 points.

What an incredible lineup of wines! Many thanks to Juliano for being the ever generous host.