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.