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We did not expect the response to be so overwhelming.

Chateau Petrus 1996 Dinner 28 January 2021 was fully booked even before the menu (and the other wines) were made known.

Only 5 seats were available, but 8 of you made reservations.

Which meant three were unsuccessful. Then also followed another three enquiries. 

As a result, we organized a second Petrus 1996 Dinner 3 February 2021.

Ex-Chateau Petrus

Both bottles are directly from Chateau Petrus.

Here in Singapore, I keep my wine in three locations.

While I purchase champagne, white, rosé and red wine from distributors, all my Bordeaux wines are from Bordeaux, all ex-chateau. 

Last night, I emailed Jean-Claude Berrouet concerning how long 1996 should be decanted. He counsels an hour.

Jean-Claude was responsible for making Petrus from 1964 to 2008 when he retired (and his elder son Olivier taking over the reins).

At the time he started, Jean-Claude was only 21.

In his 44 years at Petrus, only two vintages were not produced. Before his tenure, 1956 was also not made.

I have known Jean-Claude for more than 20 years.

At the two Singapore dinners, apart from speaking about the wines, I will be sharing anecdotes with participants, including a trip Jean-Claude and I made together to Scotland.

Wine is more interesting when about people whose lives are intertwined with it. 

*You must reserve table via wineguru.com.sg to enjoy this offer

Click here for Silk Road menu.

My favourite Sichuan restaurant in Singapore is Silk Road.

I have patronized it for more than a decade.

And visit regularly.

Next week – Wednesday 16 December 2020 – wineguru.com.sg has secured a special arrangement with Silk Road.

When you make a reservation through us – for lunch or dinner – each person on your table will be entitled to bring a bottle of wine with FREE CORKAGE. 

Myself will be rounding up four friends to make a table of 5.

We will each bring a bottle which will not be charged any corkage.

Tables will, of course, be socially distanced.

We are not allowed to mingle either.

But, we can wave to each other from our socially distanced tables.

We hope you will join us to support Silk Road.

And enjoy FREE CORKAGE for your bottle.

Looking very much forward to seeing you on Wednesday 16 December 2020.

Cheers,

Poh Tiong

As with Champagne Duval-Leroy Douceur Dry Reserve (25 g/l) which we offered last month on wineguru.com.sg, Champagne Duval-Leroy Demi-Sec (45 g/l) has the incredible benefit of 5-year extended Bottle Age. 

DOSAGE

Dosage is the final step before a bottle of champagne is corked, wired up, rested for some time, and then sent out to the waiting world.

The quantity of the dosage is strictly regulated.

• Brut Nature/Zero Dosage No dosage added. It is, however, natural that even after the first and secondary fermentations a champagne will contain a tiny amount of sugar which is unfermentable. Because of that, less than 3 grams per litre ­– written as 3 g/l – qualifies as Brut Nature or Zero Dosage
• Extra Brut less than 6 g/l
• Brut less than 12 g/l
• Extra Dry 12 to 17 g/l
• Sec/Dry 17 to 32 g/l
• Demi-Sec 32 to 50 g/l
• Doux more than 50 g/l

BOTTLE AGE 

After a champagne has been disgorged and bottled, if the wine stays in the same bottle for a longer time, it becomes more evolved, complex and more delicious.

The originally frisky bubbles become tamed. 

The fruit shines more radiantly.

Bottle Age is a magical transformation.

It is to live, drink and to die for!!!

TASTING NOTES

Champagne Duval-Leroy Demi Sec NV 

Honeyish, brioche, and slightly nutty. Delicious fruitiness that shines over the sweetness. Dominated by 90% Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier with Chardonnay making up the 10% balance, Duval-Leroy was founded in 1859 and remains proudly family-owned and family-managed. In 2007, Carol Duval-Leroy became the first woman ever to be made Chairman of the Association Viticole Champenoise, the region’s association of winemakers.

Champagne Duval-Leroy Femme de Champagne Grand Cru Brut

Although the vintage is not reflected on the label, this is the 2004 harvest. Femme de Champagne is the prestige cuvée of the house. Ripe appley cider and citrussy fruit. Brioche and a shade of nuttiness has set in. Richness, complexity, persistence, and loads of vivacity in the same sip. The wine had a minimum 8 years on lees in bottle. The blend is 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir, all of which is from Grand Cru villages: Avize, Chouilly and Le Mesnil sur Oger for Chardonnay, and Ambonnay for Pinot Noir. 

Champagne Duval-Leroy Femme de Champagne 2004 (375 ml half-bottle)

Although both wines are of the same year, a slightly different expression from the Grand Cru Brut. So too the blend which is 87% Chardonnay and 13% Pinot Noir. Being half-bottle, the evolution is slightly more advanced. Bright mid-gold. Tiny, persistent, irrepressible bubbles. Brioche, hazel nutty, intense lemon peel, and sandalwood. Complex, firm, dry and very fresh. Wonderful Bottle Age!