Wine

[andice2]

Welcome hkm! your palate seem pretty evolved by now

 

[andice2]

Just wanted to ask, what type of wine would be good for starters? As in just sipping for after dinner talk?

I also noticed this Wine shop along Bukit Timah, near to Hwa Chong. Any idea if that's a good place to start with wine selection and recommendation?

For me, in the S$30-$50 range, Chilean reds (cabernet sauv, camenere) and Argentina Malbecs are the easiest to understand and enjoy. Aussie wines are hit and miss at this price point. Bordeauxs in this range r usually a torture

 

[ikileo]

Just wanted to ask, what type of wine would be good for starters? As in just sipping for after dinner talk?

I also noticed this Wine shop along Bukit Timah, near to Hwa Chong. Any idea if that's a good place to start with wine selection and recommendation?

Hey staedtler, welcome to the thread!

Personally for me, if I’m drinking without food (which is rare, haha) I want something that’s not too big and heavy. Usually a lighter style of red, white, sparkling, rose or even a slightly sweet wine will do the trick.

Particularly sparklers and good dessert style wines will help freshen the palate. If you are keen on that let me know so the good people here can help recommend something.

Which wine shop? I am assuming it’s the row of shop houses between Coronation Plaza and HWI? There are 2 main wine shops: Wine Connection and Le Benaton.

Wine Connection has a good spread of wine from across the world and is definitely a good place to start as they have wines with very modest price points that won’t break the bank.

Le Benaton is very good as well, and they specialize only in French wine. The naming on the bottles can be intimidating at first if you are not familiar with the French classification system. But the staff there are very helpful and on weekends there are free tastings so you can try before you buy.

Are you looking for something in particular?

 

[staedtler_07]

Thanks for the warm welcome. I think the one the shop that I saw was the Wine Collection, the very first shop nearer to Coronation Plaza. Wasn't too sure there was a second shop as it was quite early in the morning, happen to chance upon them on my morning long runs.

Andice2 was talking about Chilean reds and Argentina Malbecs. I'm not very sure if they below to the Red or White group of wines.

I was thinking something along the red wine? Might be a good starter. Perhaps ikileo might have something basic to recommend? I do have a bottle of red wine at home, not too sure what is it, need to check again.

 

[ikileo]

thanks. i know what u mean, some 'scientific' hobbyists like to rate in parts - e.g. colour/ bouquet/palate/finish - 10/40/40/10. Mine is more of gut feel - 2 key components being bouquet and palate (incl finish). It's q similar w the chart u shared w us, but closer to the 'school' model where average wines should be 60+, not 70+

for me i don't really administer points, but like you mentioned, it a gut feel thing. plus i like to taste wine over a period of time. from first popped, a couple of hours in, and if possible, even 24 hours later. I feel this lets me get a better coverage over the wine as it evolves.

Tasting a wine at one moment in time (which we all do) doesn't give the wine a chance to fully express itself. It's like judging a person when he is 15 years old or when he is 50. How do we know when it's breathed sufficiently? we won't really know until we actually taste it while it's still closed, at its peak and when it starts going downhill. but then again, at dinners, some of the delicious wines get poured out within 15 minutes haha...

 

[ikileo]

Thanks for the warm welcome. I think the one the shop that I saw was the Wine Collection, the very first shop nearer to Coronation Plaza. Wasn't too sure there was a second shop as it was quite early in the morning, happen to chance upon them on my morning long runs.

Andice2 was talking about Chilean reds and Argentina Malbecs. I'm not very sure if they below to the Red or White group of wines.

I was thinking something along the red wine? Might be a good starter. Perhaps ikileo might have something basic to recommend? I do have a bottle of red wine at home, not too sure what is it, need to check again.

The one nearer coronation would be Le Benaton. You can just pop by this weekend and taste some of the wines.

So in Chile & Argentina, the wines Andice2 would be talking about are reds. Malbec was formerly one of the grapes used in Bordeaux many years ago but now they have found new life in Argentina; although the region of Cahors in France still make 100% malbecs. A lot of them have rich fruity characteristics at good prices which make them easy to enjoy and match with many heavier dishes.

In Chile, their grape would be Carmenere, another former Bordeaux grape. But there seem to be more malbecs than carmenere out on the market. Chile is good for their pinot noir and syrah as well, especially at their cooler and higher altitude sites. The Montes Alpha is a good Chilean line you can start off with. It is available at Bottles & Bottles and Crystal Wines.

If you can still find it in Carrefour, you can try the 2003 Urban Uco Malbec from Argentina. Delicious stuff. Rich and big despite resting for 7-8 years. I had it last year with an equally rich pizza. Very nice.

As for a starter recommendation, I would like to think you would bring it for dinner or something? Let me know what kind of food you’d like to match it with and I’ll see what I can come up with. And a word of advice: don’t ignore the whites

Many who start off with wine almost always do so with reds but whites and sparklers and roses and dessert wines give you so much more options to have when planning for a meal or gathering. Try this: for every red you drink, make you next bottle something not red.

 

[staedtler_07]

Ok, Shall go see what I can get my hands on this weekend!

 

[ikileo]

If I saw my previous posts, ToTT is having a Spanish wine sale. It's just down the road from coronation (sime darby building). Many good Spanish producers at modest prices. Most people in sg havent really tried Spanish wines but they are really unique and can offer world class wines at non insane prices

 

[hkm520240]

Wow hkm, that is an interesting story. What are some of your fave wines u have drunk so far?

Care to share your CT id with us?


As for musar u can find some stores that bring in the 02/00 vintages.

My fave wines is Ch Leoville Barton, I was really impressed when I tried the 2005 Barton 2 yrs back at APWH tasting. The palate is concentrated, rich cassis, seamless mid-palate and long long aftertaste. Since then I have tasted few other vintages during the BYO session and Bordeaux tasting organised by Wines Review during Wines of Asia and it never failed to impress me.

Talk about Wines for Asia, there will always be Bordeaux wines tasting features during the show. So do not miss the opportunity to taste the 2008 Bordeaux during this coming Wines for Asia. Although it is still very young to taste at this stage.

My CT id is same as my nick here: hkm520240

No worry for Ch Musar. I do know that Pinnacle bring in various vintages of this wines to Singapore. Just that the location of their office (At Boob Lay way) is too far from my location. Plus at the moment I am not short of wines to drink so untill now I have not take any action.


@andice2: yeah Indeed my palate has evolved quite a lot. I think is the passion on wines and lots of tasting experience help me to go through various stages. But I believe my palate will change again to enjoy other/different style of wines.

 

[ikileo]

My fave wines is Ch Leoville Barton, I was really impressed when I tried the 2005 Barton 2 yrs back at APWH tasting. The palate is concentrated, rich cassis, seamless mid-palate and long long aftertaste. Since then I have tasted few other vintages during the BYO session and Bordeaux tasting organised by Wines Review during Wines of Asia and it never failed to impress me.

Talk about Wines for Asia, there will always be Bordeaux wines tasting features during the show. So do not miss the opportunity to taste the 2008 Bordeaux during this coming Wines for Asia. Although it is still very young to taste at this stage.

My CT id is same as my nick here: hkm520240

No worry for Ch Musar. I do know that Pinnacle bring in various vintages of this wines to Singapore. Just that the location of their office (At Boob Lay way) is too far from my location. Plus at the moment I am not short of wines to drink so untill now I have not take any action.


@andice2: yeah Indeed my palate has evolved quite a lot. I think is the passion on wines and lots of tasting experience help me to go through various stages. But I believe my palate will change again to enjoy other/different style of wines.

don't mind me if I start to browse through your CT collection...
that's is a quite a bit of wine and lots of bordeaux verticals and top end aussie wines you must have spent a pretty penny on all of them (Grange, astralis, runrig and other bdx 1st growths!) Now I know who to invite for parties.

(At Boob Lay way) is too far from my location.

Haha...i will quote you on this. I know the wine store at the Paragon basement (for the life of me I can't remember the name) carries Musar.

 

[hkm520240]

Hehe I think I am mad on wines collection and many times I tried to control my wines pruchase too

Those 1st Growth and top class Aussie shiraz are all bought 40-50% below market price so really hard to resist...

 

[hkm520240]

Haha...i will quote you on this. I know the wine store at the Paragon basement (for the life of me I can't remember the name) carries Musar.

Opps typo error
Oh I think the store you mentioned must be Bacchus. Been there once...

 

[ikileo]

Hehe I think I am mad on wines collection and many times I tried to control my wines pruchase too

Those 1st Growth and top class Aussie shiraz are all bought 40-50% below market price so really hard to resist...

care to share your lobang? en primeur, retail promos, personal buyer?

i would assume you keep your wines offsite like in Extra Space or something?




i keep thinking about 'Boob Lay Way' now...


u can look through my CT account for the wines i'm keeping. it's literally a fraction of yours but do check out my TN.
you should also join in the discussions on the CT forums as well. great bunch of people and a couple of crazy SG people who endless bank accounts too

 

[hkm520240]

I have few 1st growth but those are not from great vintage and thus cheaper. I too can't afford those great vintage or recent vintage 1st growth.
1st growth now are more of a commodity and rich man's drink.

 

[andice2]

@hkm - glad to find another fan who likes the 'classic' character of leoville barton, backward, tannic and requires lotsa patience (pretty much closed for 8 years) before you're rewarded. Not too crazily priced as well for its pedigree.

The '08s are too young to 'enjoy' as proper claret but definitely a tasty affair. I was v impressed w the '08 Angelus - try it if on tasting!(...or maybe u already have a case stashed away )

 

[hkm520240]

Yup I have a wines locker at Extra Space at Boon Keng road. I am about to suggest maybe next time can have a wines session at the tasting room there. It is nice and cosy and we can bring our own food and sternware.

Sure I have read some of your TN fr CT and I will join in the forum too.

Many of my high end bottles are bought from WEA and I believe you should have also purchased wines from them too.

And most of my bottles are purchased through various retail promo. Nowadays special promo and wines fair are everywhere and offer are hard to resist sometimes. Like I also picked up the Rouget 2000, Petit Village 2007 (Actually I wanted to grab the '04 but accidentally took the '07, sad ) and Moulin Riche '05 half bottle from the Caveau/Vinum wines fair.

 

[hkm520240]

@ andice2: Yup, Leoville Barton is always more reasonably price compare to other super Second with the same quality. That is also one of the reason I admire them.

I too have tried Angelus '08 and it was among few '08 Bordeaux that impressed me during this March's UNION DES GRANDS CRUS DE BORDEAUX TASTING. And I agree with what you said, it has to be lay down for the next 5-8yrs.

 

[ikileo]

Yup I have a wines locker at Extra Space at Boon Keng road. I am about to suggest maybe next time can have a wines session at the tasting room there. It is nice and cosy and we can bring our own food and sternware.

Sure I have read some of your TN fr CT and I will join in the forum too.

Many of my high end bottles are bought from WEA and I believe you should have also purchased wines from them too.

And most of my bottles are purchased through various retail promo. Nowadays special promo and wines fair are everywhere and offer are hard to resist sometimes. Like I also picked up the Rouget 2000, Petit Village 2007 (Actually I wanted to grab the '04 but accidentally took the '07, sad ) and Moulin Riche '05 half bottle from the Caveau/Vinum wines fair.

Tasting Room: sounds like a smashing idea

yeah there are a lot of wine promos out there so i have to control haha...i always keep within a budget and so far i've more or less stuck to it. but i know the feeling... now I know how my gf feels like when she walks into a mango/zara/h&m sale.

but i gotta be strict with my budget 'cos saving up for ring/wedding/house etc...

thanks to the spanish sale at ToTT, i'm getting a 2nd wind for my spanish wine bug again.

will you be at the WFA Public Tasting on the 29th Oct?

 

[staedtler_07]

I wonder, everytime you organise a wine party, do you guys finish all the bottles there and then or bring them back and finish them later?

To begin with, it's quite alot of wine if you add them all together!

 

[ikileo]

for me, it depends. usually my wine dinners i organize i have a 2:1 person to bottle ratio. I find a 1:1 ratio a bit too much for me. So for me that pans out quite nicely.

if there are any leftovers, I just bring back my bottle and drink it the next day. sometimes i gets even better, sometimes it gets crappier.