Sadly, Past President Michael Riedel’s posting to HCMC reached an end in 2011 and he was required to return to the US before a new posting in 2012 to Beijing. Clearly we were to lose our wonderful President! We chose ‘La Villa’ for his farewell party. ‘La Villa’ is located in a very elegant French villa in Ho Chi Minh City and is a relatively new French restaurant. Welcome cocktails were held beside the swimming pool with glasses of Champagne Jacques Picard.
With dinner we tasted the 2004 and 2006 Château Brane-Cantenac. The 2004 was rated 90 points by Robert Parker while the 2006 was rated 94 points. We enjoyed both wines immensely – they were beautifully concentrated and stunningly balanced. The wine was a great match with the thyme dressed roasted Australian rack of lamb, served with a tian of rosemary flavoured vegetables Provençal with orange ‘corsé’ juice.
It was a fabulous night - however we do miss Michael! The dinner was co-hosted by JB Baudron and Taki Sato.
Please view the menu here.