Vincent Girardin - Meursault 1er Cru - Les Charmes-Dessus

I was in Gunther's restaurant on 23rd Dec for a dinner with my wife. I booked this restaurant one month back to secure the place... Very "hot" place. As expected the restaurant was packed to the door.

We chose Snow Crab as our main course and decided to pick a white wine to go with the dinner. Nicholas was the sommelier and recommended me to drink one of the more "reasonable priced" burgundy - Vincent Girardin Mersault.

This 2005 smell of flowers and has great minerals, hints of citrus taste. Nicholas decanted the wine to bring out the flavors. The wine did taste stronger, smoother. Went well with the crab but a tad too expensive in my view.

Comte Senard - Corton Bressandes Grand Cru 1999

This is the season of celebration. It is Christmas Eve celebration with my wife's family. I bought 6 bottles of Comte Senard - Corton Bressandes 1999. The offer of 1-for-1 from Straits Wine Company is too great to miss.

Eager to check out my purchase, I opened a bottle in the evening. The wine smell of spices, a bit of flower and taste... Hmmm very close... Cannot taste anything other than spices. It took almost an hour later to taste the berries and plums.

Domaine Michel Voarick - Corton Bressandes Grand Cru 1990

I opened this bottle yesterday. Having drunk the wine 3 months back, I am eager to taste it again. In the previous occasion, I remember the sweet fruit core, leather scent and very long plum aftertaste.

Tasted this yesterday with my cousins. It was a gathering that we had after almost 20 years. The wine smell leather, I am not sure whether it is the exposure to different temperature, the wine has huge amount of sediments. I cannot taste the fruit core yesterday. Perhaps, the Barolo earlier overpowered the taste of this wine. But the plum after taste is still there. My cousin like it. After all it is a twenty years old wine.

Enzo Boglietti Cabernet 2007

Barolo, king of wine, wine for the king, is known to use Nebbiolo grape for their wine. I was surprised to be offered to taste a "Magnificent" Cabernet Sauvignon in La Morra.

According to the shop owner, Danilo, Enzo planted 2 rows of Cabernet just at the edge of his Langhe vineyard. Y'07 was the best. Indeed, the wine is dark violet almost black in colour. Compared to the red violet Barolo, this looks to be very BIG. The wine has a complex nose (I am going to drink and study a few more bottles before commenting). On the palette, it just explodes with complex taste of plum, cherry, chocolate etc. And has smooth tannins with hint of plum. This is the 2nd time in this year that I tasted such a wine. The last was a 20 years old - 1990 Corton Grand Cru.

The structure of the wine carried the wine very well though alcohol content is 16%. It spent 24 months in Oak and 3 months in bottle. My French and Maltese friends loved this wine. Now I have to wait for my new stock to arrive from Italy.

Cullen Diane Madeline 2004 Magnum for Sale

I have 60 bottles of Cullen Diane Madeline 2004 Magnum up for sale. Tax fully paid. There are 3 bottles in each of the wooden box. Selling at S$300 per bottle. For a case of 3, you pay only S$850. Typically, a magnum is charged at 1.5x of a 750ml in Australia. Market price is around S$120 - S$140 per 750ml bottle.

Why I am selling the wine? I decided to withdraw my portfolio from my Wine broker in case they shuttered their door. The wines are stored in climate controlled warehouse since arrival in Singapore.

Interested buyers can e-mail me at thk@pacific.net.sg.

New Zealand Wine Tour #2

The next stop for vineyards visit was at Blenheim for Marlborough wine trail - http://www.wine-marlborough.co.nz. You can download a free map detailing the various vineyards in Marlborough. Address, telephone, e-mail, website, opening hours for cellar doors, wine varieties, facilities and special features are clearly listed. My only regret is not to have the map earlier. I have a copy only at Wither Hills, my 1st stop.

It was still raining when I visited Wither Hills. They have a restaurant near the tasting area and a very nice fire place. The hostess was very friendly. She served Sauvignon Blanc from different sites - one near the sea (tasted of bell-peppers) and the other just off the cellar door (tasted of Guava, hint of pineapple). And then I move onto the Pinot Noir. Tried the Y'08. Tasted of berries and cherries. Now they have magnums for sales - Y'05 and Y'07. Y'05 according to the hostess is one of the best year. At S$65 for a Magnum which is about the same price as that of a typical 750ml in Gibbston Valley, the choice is clear. No sample for Y'05 and Y'07, as the 750ml are sold out. I bought 3 magnums of Y'05 and x01 magnum of Y'07. The hostess was very kind to answer my query on which other vineyards to visit - Fromm and Framingham.

Fromm Winery - www.frommwinery.co.nz is just located next to the Airport. It has a very clean cut tasting area - typical of Swedish original. I started with the Dry Riesling Y'08. Hmm, refreshing and tastes of citrus and apples. Next onto the Spatlese. It gives me a "Wah" sensation. Refreshing, maybe the right one is "clean". I would have carted a dozen if not for my already full boot. So I made do with only 2 bottles. The hostess told me to check out the supplier in Singapore else I could always order on-line. I thought - "why not?". The rest of the higher end labels - Clayvin vineyard are not available for tasting. I tried the La Strada Syrah - smooth with taste of plum and hint of spice. This is a cool climate shiraz not those near tar like style from Australia.

Last stop - Framingham - www.framingham.co.nz. Framingham is known for their aromatics variety - Riesling and Gewurztraminer. The Select Riesling again is the Mosel style - low alcohol and good balance of acidity and sweetness. The Gewurztraminer smells of rose, taste of lychee. Amazingly fragrant. And the Pinot Noir - SOLD OUT! Yes, someone actually bought out all their Y'08 stocks - 1000+ bottles. And the hostess was kind enough to check the nearby supermarket and reserved the last 5 bottles for me. Indeed the service at this vineyard is outstanding. They actually allowed me to pool those wines that I purchased from Gibbston valley and Wither Hills and arranged the forwarder to pick up the wines. No wonder, one of the hostess was selected to meet the Queen and the cellar was often called the loyal cellar.

New Zealand Wine Tour #1 - Gibbston Valley

It has been almost a month since I return from my holiday in New Zealand. We were there in end May to early June 2010. We experienced the heaviest rain recorded in NZ for the last 50 years (claimed by some locals), going through "car washes" and cold winter. Clocked about 1500km over 11 days... Drank 2 bottles of wine and tasted numerous wines in Gibbston Valley and Marlborough. So it is now time to make a record of what I have drank in that 11 days.

First vineyard visited - Peregrine. My B&B host at Dunedin told me this is a must not miss vineyard. I took opportunity of a delayed flight to Milford sound and headed to this beautiful vineyard. Nice cellar door and a little pond in front of the car park. The host at the counter was very friendly. He asked for the style of wine I liked and started pouring the wine into the glass. I started with the Rieslings - Charcoal Creek Late Harvest Y'09 and Ratasburn Riesling Y'06. These are not the dry style type but more of the German Mosel area - demi-sweet type. I like their freshness. Bought 3 of each. Next onto the Pinot Noir. Started with the Y'07. Hmm... taste of oak, cherries, plum and very heavy tannin. Very young, not for drinking now. Ok, how about the Y'08. Very different, it tastes "green". Personally, I like the more complex and "ripe" taste of Y'07, so the choice is clear - x6 bottles. The host was very kind to help me bubble wrap each bottle and packed them into a carton box. For the price of S$38, this Pinot Noir is a steal.

Just a forewarning to those who wants to ship wine back to Singapore - it is about NZ$170 per case, and NZ$135 per case if you ship > 3 cases. Note that this is not including the liquor tax about S$7 + 7% GST. So be prepared to pay S$20 extra on top of the price you paid to have the wine shipped right to your door step.

Next stop, Gibbston Valley Wine. I visited this vineyard almost 10 years back. Here I am back again. Wah, everything cost $$, from tasting to cellar visit. Not to worry if you are buying wine, it will be free for purchase above certain amount. Now, I bought a Y2000 Pinot Noir 10 years back and opened it in Y2006. That layered taste of cherries, plum still lingers in my mind. Naturally I opt for the library tasting of the Pinot Noir. 4 Pinot Noirs were served in a set of 4 glasses with label and tasting notes for each one of them. The first is the 2007 Pinot Noir. Still to be polished, pretty complex taste and good aroma. Next, Le Maitre 2008, it is more elegant, but closed. I can't really taste the fruits. The 3rd one, Le Mineur d'Orient Pinot Noir Y'08. The host just opened this bottle so it is fresh. Floral aroma, tast of cherries and plum and has a bit of earthy and plum aftertaste. Elegant, reminds me of a mix of Volnay and Pommard wine in Burgundy. The last one is the Reserve Y'08. Elegant in style compared to the Non-reserve. If the Non-reserve is an unpolished diamond, the reserved would be the Perfect cut. I went through the 4 wines again. And I drawn a conclusion that the #3 is for me. Guess what, the host and his colleague told me good choice. It was their favorite too. For NZ$55, comparing that to the Y'08 at NZ$50 and reserve at NZ$100, I find the Le Mineur d'Orient a better buy. Okay, one case. Any discount? No. But I was given a similar bottle to drink along the way. Worried about clogging up the car, I requested for delivery back to Singapore. GV wine actually subsidised NZ$20 and charged me NZ$150. Though the cellar door is highly commercialised, I would say that I enjoy this short 20 mins tasting session with the very friendly host.

In the evening after the visit to Milford Sound, I popped by Chard Farm. Located on the left hand side of the road to Queenstown after Gibbston Valley, you have to drive along the edge of the hill on the narrow gravel road. Here, I tried the Riesling - demi-sweet style similar to that of German Mosel valley. Perhaps the Riesling overpowered the taste of Pinot Noir. I find the Pinot Noir - the Tiger, Viper etc elegant but "light". So my choice is clear - cart in 6 bottles of Riesling'08.

The next day, guess what, after our horse ridding, I went back to Gibbston Valley Wine again and make a purchase of another 6 bottles of Le Mineur d'Orient Pinot Noir Y'08 and 6 bottles Le Fou Riesling Y'08. I missed the taste of Le Mineur d'Orient and in many definitions of a wine lover - Good wine. Good wine is one that make an individual desire to pull the cork off the same label again and again until you run out of stock. Incidentally, the young host behind the counter told me that Le Mineur and Le Fou Riesling are the 2 wines that he personally preferred.

Ashbrook Estate Cabernet Merlot 2004

Yesterday while in NTUC, I spotted the Ashbrook Estate Cabernet Merlot 2004 on offer. Original retail price at S$42 per bottle and now at an offer price of S$28.80.

During dinner, I opened a bottle. It has a very nice bouquet of berries and hint of peppermint. On the palette, it has this funny fizzy taste of kirsch cherry. It tastes of prune, hint of dark chocolate and has a jammy after taste. That could be from the Cabernet Franc. I am not sure the fizzy taste is a result of poor storage condition or from old oak barrels.

Pirramimma Carbernet Sauvignon White Label 2004

I bought a case of this wine 2 years back during a clearance sale at Crystal Wine. 3 months back I opened a bottle during one of my colleague's birthday celebration. Last week, I opened another bottle. The wine smells of berries, hint of strawberry. On the palette it has cedar wood, dark chocolate, hint of aniseed, lots of berries but after taste not long though. Smooth tanin. For a bottle price of less than S$30, it is certainly value for money.

JJ Hahn 1928 Shiraz 2005, Woody Nook Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Kalleske Pirathon Shiraz 2007

Last Friday, I gave my team a CNY dinner treat at Mouth Restaurant in TPY SAFRA. We finished 6 bottles among the 14 of us. I will only record the Reds tasting here as most of the whites - Wolf Blass Yellow Label Moscato, a French Muscat and a German Riesling are generally of the same style as what I have written previously.

JJ Hahn 1928 Shiraz 2005

On the nose there are hints of spices and berries. On the palette, more berries and plummy taste. Very smooth finish and fine tannins. Best among the 3 Reds.

Woody Nook Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

On the nose, it has the leafy aroma. On the palette it again exhibits the herbaceous taste, with berries and dark chocolate taste. Probably it is still young, the finish is a bit rough too.

Kalleske Pirathon 2007

Very spicy on the nose. On the palette, taste of plum and prune. Not much fruit on the mid-palette but very good after taste of prune. Very smooth indeed.

Among the 3 reds, I will probably buy more JJ Hahn to keep. Maybe the 1912 would be even better.

Warburn Reserve Shiraz 2007

I have tasted the Warburn Reserve 2006 for a couple of times. Very fruit forward and spicy. Now this 2007 is more reserved. The 2007 is still fruity but with hints of raisin (maybe b'cos of the dry 2007 weather) and vanilla/cedar wood after taste. It is more gentle and more balanced. Taste not that long though. My ex-colleagues were thrilled to know the price of this effordable wine. Anything < S$27 is a good buy at NTUC or Cold Storage. To me it has always been a not to be missed wine offer at NTUC. Now you can only find Year 2008.

My personal preference is 2007 against 2006. I prefer a demure "lady" not a clamarous one.

Swandarra Cabernet Franc 2003

Yesterday was 14th Feb 2010, the 1st Day of Chinese New Year and Valentine's day. I opened this lone bottle of Cabernet Franc after scanning through my wine fridges. It is time to open this wine before it turns into vinegar.

This wine is from Western Australia. I bought it from G'day Mate store in Pasir Panjang 3 years back. It has almost a floral smell. Taste of plum, chocolate and blackberry with hints of spice. Good fruity after taste. Quite strong alcohol though - 14.5%. Not bad, especially its fruitiness, hardly taste of oak.