Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

This wine has been in the wine fridge for almost 3 years. Smell of dark chocolate, berries and hint of menthol. Very smooth wine with taste of chocolate and berries. The wine evolved over the 2 hours family gathering. In my last glass, I tasted sweet fruit core. Very interesting wine. Went well with honey baked ham, roasted Kurabuta Pork Loin and Pork Ribs. In fact it compliments the chocolate cake too. May be need to decant it for an hour the next time I drink again or age it like a Latour.

Marabino Carmen 2008

This wine is made from 100% Nero D'avola. The grape is native in Sicily. It has a BIG brother - the Archimedes, aged 2 years in Oak Barrel (not tasted yet).

On the nose, this wine smell of flowers in a spring field. It gives you a sensation that you are walking through a field full of flowers, very floral indeed. On the palette, it is fruity. But very short. The owner mentioned to me that this is his daily drink. I have to agree with him.

Penfolds 389 2006

Bought 10 bottles in Nov'09 owing to the fantastic offer price in NTUC and very good promotion from Penfolds. Basically, for purchases of S$600 and above, Penfolds will give you 6 bottles of Bin 28 free and a free Penfolds book - The Reward of Patience. You will not find this book in the Singapore Bookstores. On top of that, they throw in a wine carrier, cork opener and a drip foil. Not to mention the good price of S$63.85 each and with WineClub discount of 8% .... Do your Maths, this is probably the best price you will get for a Bin 389.

On the nose, the wine is spicy, smell of black fruits. Hmm.. Smooth, with hint of berries and plum aftertaste. After taste not long though ... Pure fruit extraction, not much oak.

Henry Drive's Reserve Shiraz 2004

Dark plum color, smell of spices. Very smooth and has an interesting soy sauce taste on the mid-palette. After taste not long, has hints of plum, berries and cedar wood. Right time to drink the wine now. Very different from what I tasted 2 years back.

Woodstock - The Stork 2004

Today I opened a bottle of Woodstock - The Stork 2004. It has been 2 years since I last have this wine. Hmm.. on the nose it has lot of spice, complex nose of berries etc. The palette was good. Very good taste of cedar oak, berries and plum. The aftertaste is long. Taste of plum and long cedar wood with hint of vanilin. Very good indeed. Unfortunately my stock is diminishing fast ....

Baltlgasar Ress Schloss Reichartshausen Rheingau Riesling 2006

After a hectic 2 days of wine warehouse sales, I opened this wine during dinner. My wife has now this craze of cooking "restaurant" food. We hunt down nearly the whole Singapore to get truffle oil, caviar, angel hair pasta. So dinner was Angel Hair's pasta with caviar (some cheap brand).. The cost of caviar really shocked me. I was shown a can of S$2000+ Caviar (~100g).

Ok. Back to the wine. This wine was purchased from SUTL during their warehouse sales. It is golden straw in colour, very much like chrysanthemum tea. It has a very complex nose of lime, mango. Very good mineral on the mouth - honey suckle, mango and hint of hazel nut. Hmm... this is good. It tasted even better in room temperature.

So what have I been buying for the last 2 days. 2 wine sales - Top Wines and Cellar Master.

Top Wines - just move to Tembeling Road (in front of public Car Park just beside the Chinese temple)

1. Duval Leroy Femme 1996 Champagne 500ml (best buy considering the price/ml, but got to drink earlier than the 750ml or the Magnum)

2. Mt Langi Ghiran 2005 Shiraz

3. Woody Nook 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon

4. Galante Red Rose Hill Cabernet Sauvignon

5. Marchesi Moscato

Cellar Master (Henderson Industrial Park)

- Buy $350 and you get a free pair of Riedal Flow Stemware (retailing at S$98)

1. Hermann Donnhoff Riesling - Oberhauser Brucke Spatlese 2006, Kabinett 2006, QBA 2007 and Oberhauser Brucke Aulese 2006

2. St Halett 2006 Shiraz

3. Bruno Giacosa, Dolcetto d'Alba Falletto 2007

4. Alain Brumont, Chateau Montus 2004

5. Kanonkop, Paul Sauer 2005

4. Primo Estate Joseph Moda and Angel Gully Shiraz 2007

I think that will be my wine stock for the whole of 2010 unless something more interesting turns up.

Wooying Tree Pinot Noir 2007

Wooying Tree Vineyard is located in Central Otago New Zealand. Having tried various Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Gibbston Valley, Isabel etc, naturally I got attracted to this Wooying Tree 2007 with its "golden" track record as described in Wine Exchange Asia's newsletter.

Having been out of town for almost 1 month, I opened a bottle last Thursday with my wife at Dolphin Tavern. On the nose, you can smell of cherries and plums with hint of spice. Spices when it roll down the tongue and then huge massive after taste of plum and cherries follows. Very smooth and full body... At 14.5% alcohol, it will knock you out after half to o.75 bottle. My wife likes it as it is smooth and the tannin is ripe. Just came back from Europe, so trying to adjust myself back to the fruit forward, thick purplish liquid. Overall I would consider this to be very good.

BTW, 2007 is heralded to be a very good year for NZ Pinot. I am looking forward to the Mt Difficulty stock arrival. Will sure get a couple of bottles to tally against the Wooying....

Penfolds St Henri 2004

My stock of 120 bottles of Penfolds St Henri arrived 2 weeks back. I left 118 bottles at the storage locker and brought 2 bottles back home.

Yesterday night, I opened a bottle to check out the taste. Crimson red in color, smell of berries and hint of spices. On the palette, it has taste of dark chocolate, berries and plum. Smooth tannin. But the aftertaste is not long... Hmmm may be it is not "opened" . I vacuumed seal the wine and kept it for tomorrow.

Here I am, sipping the wine. The pepper spice is less pronounced now. The plum taste takes the pole. What's extraordinary about this wine is the after taste in your month and the "fumes" coming from your stomach. It has that hint of plum and vanillin... Perhaps I should let it heat up to room temperature. May be it is still cold right from the wine fridge...

Cooperage Organic Black Shiraz 1999

Last Friday, I pulled out a bottle of Cooperage Organic Black Shiraz 1999 and went to Dolphin to have dinner with my wife. This is a wine from Western Australia Margaret River area. The owner claimed that the vines for this wine are the oldest in that region.

Probably the earlier storage by the store G'day Mate has not been good. The cork disintegrated. The first glass was filled with remains of cork. The wine was still cold then. The nose is closed but the 1st sip reviewed complex coffee, prune taste and the aftertaste was great - cedar wood, vanilla etc.. Hmm... very complex, still have room for improvement.

I asked the supervisor to try the wine. He has a wealth of experience in wine having been importer of Bordeaux and Brugundy wine back in the '80s. Big is the word to describe the wine.

After an hour, the wine becomes rounder... This is the 3rd bottle I have opened since I bought 2 years back. The pronounced "salty" taste is back at the mid-palette and has an aroma of pepper and spices... Is the vineyard near the sea absorbing all the sea salts ?? Sometime I wondered how the wine would have been like if it has been properly stored. I would dare say it may even rival a Grange ? I like this wine. BTW, limited production for 600+ bottles each year.

Wine Storage

I chanced upon Extra space wine storage when I collected some wine from Wine Exchange Asia. After one month of wait and 2 visits, I was finally allocated a 24 cases locker ~ S$80 per month. Packed half of my ageable wine collection and cart it to the warehouse over one Sunday.

I have also shipped back my Penfolds St Henri 2004 from UK warehouse. In case any one interested, I can share some of more stock at good decent price. I have 120 bottles of 2004 and 24 bottles of 2005.

Burgundy Wine - Domaine Cornu Ladoix Premier Cru 2004

I bought this wine during Denise Warehouse sale. Opened this wine when I was in Saint Pierre with Siew Peng and Pei Ying. Yes, a birthday treat for me...

I have wanted to try a good Burgundy. But they are just so expensive... Characteristics of a good burgundy quoted from wine critics is that it evolves from the time you opened the bottle. The frangrant and taste changes from the first sip to the last drop.

This wine is crimson in colour, smells of small berries, taste of cherries and berries... Hmm nice aftertaste. Looking forward to try some Grand Crus. Next year, I will buy some Burgundy En Primeur.

Chateau de Pibarnon Bandol 2004, Isabel Estate Pinot Noir 2006

I was at Duty Free Shop at Charles De Gaulle Terminal 2E when I saw this stack of wine from Bandol. I have no clue how the wine would taste or smell. So I bought a bottle of red wine from St Emillon. Guess what, I was offered a 5 Eu for the next bottle of purchase. I decided to ask the sales assistant for help. She told me the Chateau de Pibarnon is a must buy since they are hardly exported. I decided to take her advice and cart back 3 bottles.

Last Tuesday, during the dinner with Christopher Tan, Kwong Hau, Patricia and Dennis, I opened a bottle. Wah,... the wine smell so nice, floral, violet... deep purple crimson in colour. Almost 100% Mourvedere grapes, in some area called Mataro. Very fruity especially the mid-palatte -blueberries and cherry-like taste. Smooth and silky tannin. Should improve after a couple more years of cellaring.. Almost everyone on the table said they like the wine. In fact, I would say it has character reflecting much of the terroir - the sea breeze, sunny weather.

The first bottle for the night was the 2006 Pinot Noir from Isabel Estate. The wine smell of spices and have good cherry after taste. Elegant and nice.

Duval Leroy Champange Vintage 1996, Hugh Hamilton The Rascal 2005

Yesterday, I organised a thank you dinner for my mentor together with 2 of my colleagues. We met up at Black Sheep Cafe at Mayo Street. As usual, I brought some wine - Duval Leroy Champagne Vintage 1996, Hugh Hamilton The Rascal 2005 and white Burgundy from Montagny.

We ordered the usual stuff - baked brie cheese, the duck confit/lamb shank and desserts - flourless chocolate cake and souffle. The Montagny was the 1st wine for the night. Has citrus aroma, buttery in the mouth. It has a aftertaste with hint of hazel nut. My colleagues enjoyed it.

The 2nd wine was the Hugh Hamilton The Rascal 2005, a Shiraz from McLaren Vale. Smell of black fruits and tasted of cassis, dark berries with rich plum aftertaste. The wine improves after airing for about 10 minutes - much smoother.

We opened the champagne for the desserts. The Duval Leroy was golden in colour, smell of honey suckle with fresh taste of citrus and green apple. "Very very good", that was the comment from my mentor. He enjoyed the evening, commenting the wine was good and the food excellent.

Penfolds Winemaker's Reserve Cabernet Shiraz 2005

Time for a get-together with my ex-colleagues at Dolphin Tavern at Seletar Hill. I brought along 2 bottles of wine - Penfolds Winemaker Reserve Cabernet Shiraz 2005 and a bottle of Tapestry The Vincent 2006.

I opened the Penfolds first. As usual I served a glass to the boss of the restaurant chain and then me and good buddy. Hmm... On the nose, smell of dark fruits with hint of spice. Very smooth on the palette with fruity taste and great aftertaste of plum. No bad for a S$38 bottle of wine. When my other friend - "wine critic" joined us, he liked the wine and commented that the bottle should cost in the range of S$60+. The best comment was from the usual quiet boss - The wine is good. This is the first time he commented on the wine I served him. 8 )

Next we tried The Vincent, as expected, much intense in flavour. Very fruity and has a lengthy aftertaste. I still find it lacking of mid-palette else my 2 buddies enjoyed it. Guess wines are individual....

Gran Araucano Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua Valley 2003

Tonight, I was at Dolphin Tavern again with my wife. Brought the Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon from SUTL with me.

This wine, Gran Araucano Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua Valley 2003 is pretty good. At a warehouse sale price of S$42, it is a good buy. It smells of dark berries, leather (?) and hint of menthol. On the palette, it is very smooth. Taste of berries, cedar wood and great length of after taste - strawberries and prunes. I told the sales lady that a S$40+ Chilean wine had to be good. She said certainly since the wine had wone a few Gold medals and one of them is from 2006 Annaul Wines of Chile Award. And true enough, good value for money. Perhaps I should drop SUTL a note and ask for a dozen.

Jordan Alexander River Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

I was at the SUTL wine warehouse sale last Saturday. SUTL carries Penfolds, Rosemount, Belmore, Pommery Champange, Wente and some Italy, French and Chilean labels. I was there at about 3.30pm and was fortunate to be guided around the wines available for sale. The lady in-charged introduced me to the California Vineyard Jordan. For a S$72 a bottle Cabernet Sauvignon from original of S$104, I thought why not.

It was my father in-law birthday that night. I decided to open a bottle of Jordan Alexander River Cabernet 2004. On the nose, it has a complex aroma of berries and hint of spice. I took the first sip to check for freshness. Hmm... it is smooth and has very strong vanilla taste. After swirling and airing it for a while, it tasted of berries upfront and vanilla towards the end. It has a plummy aftertaste. But something seems to be missing - mid-palette to make the wine balance?. It is similar style to Dominus Napanook. Would I rush back to grab another few more bottles the next day ? Maybe, but not for S$72 a bottle...

Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec 2005

I opened a bottle of this wine for dinner with my wife at Blue Dolphin. Served at room temperature. Deep purple colour. Complicated fragrance of coffee and dark fruits. It tasted of dark cherries and has a plum aftertaste. Smooth at the middle palette but had to "swallow" it. Seem to have a "spike" near the throat. I would say it is good value for money ~ S$32. It went well with the baby back-rib.

Goundrey Homestead Cabernet Merlot 2006

NTUC Fairprice Plus in Ang Mo Kio was having an Australia wine promotion. I went there last Sunday 3rd May 09. On the shelves were familiar names such as Rosemount, Jacob's Creek, my favourite Taylor, Warburn etc. I spotted a half empty spot on one of the shelves displaying this wine Goundrey. This is a Cabernet Merlot from Mt Barker in Western Australia. Hmm... at S$28 for a Carbenet Merlot from Western Australia, worthwhile for a trial. I grapped the last 2 bottles from the shelf and as usual load up the Taylor's Shiraz.

I untwisted the screwcap on Friday, 8th May'09. The initial sniff from the glass was overpowering... fumes of alcohol.. it must have been more than 15%. Well it is only 14%. After 15 minutes, the nose smell of complex black fruits with hint of pepper and leather... Maybe the label was wrong.... a Shiraz instead ? On the palette it is smooth like velvet. Full of ripe fruits, hint of leather and dark chocolate. The after taste is pretty good too - taste of berries. Not bad for a S$20+. Ready to drink. This is going to be my regular table wine together with Warburn Shiraz and Taylor's Shiraz. Good for present too.

Lanzaga 2004

I went around Geneva to hunt for some wines last Saturday 18th April 2008. The staff at Movenpick hotel recommended Globus and Manor.

Globus has quite a good selection of wines. Most of them out of my drinking budget (~30SF). Eventually I bought their housebrand - Lanzaga 2004, a spanish wine with limited 4000 bottles production using Tempranilo grapes for 20SF.

On the way back to the train station, I found the wine shop - Lavinia which is opposite the departmental store Manor. Pretty good collection of French wine - Bordeaux, Burgundy and some Rhone wine. I bought a bottle of Saint Emilion Grand Cru, Domaine Chante Alouette Cormeil 2004 for 30SFF.

That night, I asked for room service and ordered a pizza. Opened the Lanzaga 2004 while watching Kami no Shizuku. The wine smells of flowers and dark fruits. On the palatte, it tastes of cherries, prunes and dark chocolate. Very long finish. It goes very well with the ham and cheese pizza. I think this is good value.

Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir 2005

Bought 2 bottles of Pegasus Pinot Noir 2005 during Denis Wine Warehouse Sale. These are the last 2 bottles.

This is a Pinot Noir from Waipara area in New Zealand. The wine is red-purple in colour. It smells of dark chocolate and berries on the nose. Tasted of dark chocolate and cherries. Long aftertaste with hint of spices.

Two Hands Bella Garden 2005, Keller Auslese 2003, Branson Coach House Shiraz 2005

Two Hands Bella Garden
I had dinner at Universal Wine Bar and Restaurant last Thursday. Chose the Two Hands Bella Garden as the wine for the night. On the nose, it had complex aroma of mocha, berries. It glides down the throat. Tasted of berries, plum. The tannin coated the whole mouth with long aftertaste of plum, cassis and black berries. Bought another six bottles at Denise Warehouse Sales.

Keller Auslese 2003
Bought 2 bottles of Keller Auslese 2003 from the Denise Warehouse Sales. The cork gave way while pulling out. Probably due to prolong display on the shelf in an upright position. On the nose, it smell of cameralised apple. It tasted of honey and apricot. The finishing is pretty good. Honeysuckle aftertaste.

Branson Coach House Shiraz 2005
Over at Denise Warehouse Sales at Turf City, I picked up 6 bottles of Branson Coach House (BCH) Coach House Block 2005. The bottle is heavy and has the wine label silkscreened on the bottle. High alcohol content 15.6 degree. On the nose, it smells of jammy blueberries and you can feel the alcohol. On the palette, it taste of dark chocolate, lots of black berries and plum. It finished off with spices and the aftertaste is long with hint of vanilla oak.

Shaw and Smith Adelaide Hills Shiraz 2006

I saw a review in January on this cool climate Shiraz and decided to hunt it. And last Sunday, while my wife was shopping in Takashimaya, I popped by Culina Dempsey and grabbed 7 bottles. 6 bottles to be delivered from their warehouse and 1 off the shelf. At S$56, price quite reasonable considering it is selling in Australia for about Aus$38.

So I packed the bottle in my luggage and brought it to Philippines. I twist opened the screw cap today and started sipping it while I read my mail.

On the nose, it smell of spices. At 14 degrees, it is one of the lower alcohol Shiraz that you can find on the shelves. The first gulp, I tasted the toasty oak. Subsequently as it opened up, I tasted plum. The after taste was long. The wine is not as "thick" as those from Clare or Barossa Valley. It is "light" and has that bit of aniseed taste lingering at your throat. I think I have made the right decision to purchase half a dozen. Maybe when I cleared up my wine fridge, I will stock up more. Or wait for Culina's monthly special offer....

Dominus Napanook 1999

I am now in Manila. Bought a bottle of Dominus Napanook 1999 from Bacchus in Shangri La Makati.

Opened the bottle yesterday. The wine smells good - dark chocolate. Taste dark chocolate, hint of menthol, lots of berries. It just fill your month. Very smooth.

Now I want to hunt down the main wine Dominus....

Dr Loosen "Dr L" 2007, Domaine La Rouviole - Minervois La Liviniere 2004, Tapestry The Vincent 2006

Dr Loosen "Dr L" 2007
- Bought 6 bottles from Carrefour on Friday. Screw Cap now. Opened one bottle yesterday afternoon over lunch. Fruity fragrance, refreshing on the palatte. Tasted a bit bland but elegant flow. Sweet, not much after taste. The last 2003 that I drank had hints of peach aftertaste. Hmm... not for the 2007. May be need airing. The sip half an hour later did taste better. I still prefer the 2003. Unfortunately, cannot find anymore. I still have a couple of bottles of 2003 Kabinett. Guess have to conserve them ... BTW, this is a ladies "killer", my sister in-law and my wife love this.

Domaine La Rouviole - Minervois La Liviniere 2004
- Opened this over dinner with my family. Smell of dark chocolate. The wine flow over the tongue like a piece of velvet. Taste of blue berries and plum in mid palatte. Spices towards the end. Elegant would be the word to describe the wine.

Tapestry The Vincent 2006
- Popped this after the Domaine La Rouviole. Smell of Oak, dark fruits. Very silky and plum taste towards end of palatte. Has vanilla oak aftertaste. This is a 100% Shiraz from McLaren Vale. I missed the fruit core at the mid-palatte.

A bordeaux 1997 and Penfolds St Henri 2002

Today is family dinner at my place. Opened a Bordeaux - Dorthe Dame de Belgrave 1997, bought many years back from Hong Kong Duty Free Shop. Lots of sendiments. The nose is good. Smell of roasted coffee and black fruits. Light reddish brown hue. On the palate, it is flat, medium body. Has a bit of berries after taste...

For the 2nd wine for the night, I opened a Penfolds St Henri 2002. On the nose, it smell of dark fruits and cedar wood. Violet red. Taste of berries and plum on the mid-palate and spices, plum towards the end. Great acidity. Quite long aftertaste. Supposed to be Burgundy styled Shiraz. Did not drink much of Burgundy to be able to comment on this.

I am now quite firm on the style of wine I liked - Full bodied, complex, "thick" with layered fruits and long after taste. Hmm... Let me recall what I have drunk thus far that meet these criteria :-

1. Kilikanoon Oracle 2004, 2005
2. Penfolds Grange (Drank once the 1993 and my 2002 are still in wooden crates)
3. Two Hands Gnarly Dude, Bella Garden
4. Mitolo GAM (Y05 & Y06), Savitar Y05
5. Tapestry Vincent Y06 <- Will confirm next week when I open it
6. Mount Pleasant Maurice O'Shea Shiraz Y05
7. Yarra Yerring Dry Red #1 - Y02
8. Taylors Shiraz Y06
9. Warburn Premium Reserve Shiraz Y06 <- Very fruit forward



Rgds, HK

Duval Leroy 1996, Kilikanoon Oracle 2004, Muller Catoir Kabinet 2007

Today is Chinese New Year Eve. Have the opportunity to drink 3 wines with my family.

1st Wine - Duval Leroy 1996 Champange Cuvee Femme
Taste of tropical fruits, yeasty aftertaste. Comments round the table were good.

2nd Wine - Kilikanoon Oracle 2004
Cedar wood and dark fruit aroma. Taste of black berries, and plum. Great after taste with a tinge of vanilla. Comments from my family :" This is very GOOD." This wine has matured with all elments blended in harmony - oak, fruity acid, and smooth tannic. Compared to the 2005, this is more fruit forward and well balance. Y'05 has a jammy taste, probably due to the "hot" weather.

3rd Wine - Muller Catoir Kabinet 2007
Smell of apple, tropical fruits. Refreshing on the palate with taste of pineapple, apple... Y2007 is a good year for German Riesling. Perhaps... But have yet compared to the other years.