Bryan Family Xmas Dinner 2003: kk, x, pau, vicky, lim, sherry, etienne, puisana, me, fe; kko and bigland joined after dinner 2003/12/25

Year	Wine	Price	Rating
1988	Piper-Heidsieck Rare, Champagne Bryan Family Xmas Dinner. pau's contribution. A very fruity champagne with fully body and great concentration. Long finish. More vibrant than the 90 Dom Perignon, perhaps less bubbly. I do think the Dom has nicer color. - so - ws	60	*****
1997	Silver Oak, Napa Valley Bryan Family Xmas Dinner. tang's contribution. Softened and much more opened than last tasting. This is now showing nice black fruit and a touch of dust. Long finish. - so - ws	100	*****
1995	Leoville Las Cases, St. Julien Bryan Family Xmas Dinner. lim's contribution. Decanted for 3 hours, quite ready to drink. Elegant combination of herbs, green pepper, tobacco, blackcurrant, cedar, leather and earth. Complex long finish. One bottle is just not enough to judge fairly! Surprisingly well matched with beef tendon, my first attempt to match it with a red wine. The gelatinous structure of beef tendon married with the tannins and fruit seemlessly... better than the oxtail did. - so - ws	150	*****
1995	Opus One, Napa Valley Bryan Family Xmas Dinner. kevin ko's contribution, together with North Pole Clams and Weston Chardonnay. Wonderful complexity of earth, cloves, leather and cassis. Very well balanced. - so - ws	130	*****
2000	Rudd Estate Red, Oakville Bryan Family Xmas Dinner. my contribution. Powerful plum and cherry with complex spice and great extraction. Jammy, port-like. Ultra long finish - so - ws	80	*****
2001	HdV Napa Valley Red, Carneros Bryan Family Xmas Dinner. fung's contribution. Fruity merlot fruit dominates. Elegant and floral with plum, cherry, vanilla. Good finish. - so - ws	60	*****
1999	Arbios Cabernet, Alexander Valley Bryan Family Xmas Dinner. bigland's contribution. green pepper, berry. good concentration but simple - so - ws	40	***
1998	Leoville Barton, St. Julien Bryan Family Xmas Dinner. lim's contribution #2. currant and coffee. pleasant but simple perhaps being compared to other wines in the same night. - so - ws	40	***