Grape Wine Journey

First Growth

My goal is to taste the 61 wines of 1855 Bordeaux Classification, hopefully before I kick the bucket. To commemorate the journey, the bottles are displayed nicely in my dining room.

Last week, a couple of my friends sent me a note saying TVB is starting a series on French wine.  I watched the first episode on tvb.com – Bordeaux ! It will continue on to Burgundy and Alsace.  The hosts visited the First Growths – Chateau Lafite, Chateau Margaux and Chateau Haut Brion. Then, they went on visiting Chateau Lynch Bages ; the tasting was guided by Jean-Charles, whom I met at China Club not long ago.

Well, I didn’t have the chance to visit the First Growths this summer, but then I have tasted all at different occasions. 

My first taste of the First Growth was the 2001 Chateau Lafite.  I was visiting my family in the States and there  was a special occasion that deserved a special wine.  I bought a bottle of the 2001 Chateau Lafite to celebrate.  All I remember was the wine was very grassy and the tannin was high.  It was too early to drink, should have waited a few more years, what a shame!

Chateau Latour 1993 was my favorite, it was very complex and powerful.  It was full bodied with blackcurrant, grass, leather, dark chocolate and spice.   We served steak with the Latour and it was fantastic.

Chateau Haut-Brion 1994, was a birthday gift from a very good friend.  We tasted the wine in a cozy French restaurant in Sai Kung –  sat in the garden by the water in a sunny winter afternoon.  The wine was decant at 6 am and ready to serve for lunch.  The sad thing was I was quite sick on the day, so did not have any impression on the nose and palate. But my husband and friends all said it was the best they had so far!

The moral of the story ? Better stay healthy and finish my list before I kick the bucket!