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.