Wine

[StyleFusi0n]

This is interesting! didnt know so much abt wine!

 

[uncharted2000]

Hi,

just bump into this thread and it took me hours to clear the whole 270+ pages, skimmed & skipped through some though.

Very interesting thread. Going to park myself here to learn more. Not an expert in wine but I do drink occasionally as well.

Just some things to share:
1. If you have a wine fridge, or your family allows you some storage space in the house fridge, you can get really good deals on premium wines at wine sales from some major retailers like Bottle & Bottles, Crystal Wines.
2. Sometimes, wines from NTUC can amaze you, ever bought a $18.95 (after discount) wine from California, super worth it. Sadly, a colleague took the bottle to share with the rest of the team and never took it back. I forget to take note on the label.

 

[ikileo]

Hi,

just bump into this thread and it took me hours to clear the whole 270+ pages, skimmed & skipped through some though.

Very interesting thread. Going to park myself here to learn more. Not an expert in wine but I do drink occasionally as well.

Just some things to share:
1. If you have a wine fridge, or your family allows you some storage space in the house fridge, you can get really good deals on premium wines at wine sales from some major retailers like Bottle & Bottles, Crystal Wines.
2. Sometimes, wines from NTUC can amaze you, ever bought a $18.95 (after discount) wine from California, super worth it. Sadly, a colleague took the bottle to share with the rest of the team and never took it back. I forget to take note on the label.

hi unchartered2000 welcome to the thread. glad you actually spent the time to read through the thread! Even i don't think i could do it haha!

regarding your comments, yes especially now with so many retailers popping up everywhere, there's a lot of choice. and if you can go straight to the importers and distributors themselves like some of us here; there's lots of savings.

supermarket wines do hold some hidden gems but you have to know the producers and regions. for those who are a bit clueless they would be very dependent on friend's recommendations or familiar labels.

what kinds of wines do you like?

 

[uncharted2000]

hi unchartered2000 welcome to the thread. glad you actually spent the time to read through the thread! Even i don't think i could do it haha!

regarding your comments, yes especially now with so many retailers popping up everywhere, there's a lot of choice. and if you can go straight to the importers and distributors themselves like some of us here; there's lots of savings.

supermarket wines do hold some hidden gems but you have to know the producers and regions. for those who are a bit clueless they would be very dependent on friend's recommendations or familiar labels.

what kinds of wines do you like?

I do not have specific liking but I generally do like Cab Sauv, Riesling and Sauv Blanc. I drink both red and whites, old and new world.

Some of my recent likes:
1. Bin 888 (easily available in NTUC and cold storage)
2. Magella Musician (< $30)
3. Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cab Sauv (relatively exp for an Auz wine, but feel that price is worth spending)
4. E.Guigal Cotes Du Rhone (I usually buy a few while offer. Relative cheap french red).
5. Willi Schaefer G Domprobst Riesling

Cheers!

 

[ikileo]

I do not have specific liking but I generally do like Cab Sauv, Riesling and Sauv Blanc. I drink both red and whites, old and new world.

Some of my recent likes:
1. Bin 888 (easily available in NTUC and cold storage)
2. Magella Musician (< $30)
3. Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cab Sauv (relatively exp for an Auz wine, but feel that price is worth spending)
4. E.Guigal Cotes Du Rhone (I usually buy a few while offer. Relative cheap french red).
5. Willi Schaefer G Domprobst Riesling

Cheers!

that some neat stuff. any countries/sub regions you would like to dive deeper into?

 

[looiwte]

2. Sometimes, wines from NTUC can amaze you, ever bought a $18.95 (after discount) wine from California, super worth it. Sadly, a colleague took the bottle to share with the rest of the team and never took it back. I forget to take note on the label.

Hmm yes actually Fairprice - Xtra + Finest - have managed to source some excellent value labels like Alkoomi, Ashbrook, Simi, amongst others

I've not had any good Cali wines in the sub $20 price range though, after trying Kingfish and Robert Mondavi Woodbridge series. If you push your budget to the $30 mark and look out for their offers, there are Cali gems such as Franciscan and Simi that are good solid stuff. And if Cali cabs are your kinda thing, I like the Kendall-Jackson Vinter's Reserve Cab too, available at Giant, Cold Storage etc. It can hit <$30 when on offer.

 

[looiwte]

So, what's everyone's wine + dine plan for CNY & Valentines?

 

[ikileo]

good thing gf birthday and vday are 2 days apart so usually we celebrate as one occasion.
made reservation at Catalunya. first time in a long time i'm buying a full priced bottle of wine.

the 2004 Bodegas Muga Prado Enea Gran Reserva. i tasted this before and it was really good. i am checking with the restaurant if they can help decant in advance for 2-3 hours prior to our arrival.

 

[looiwte]

Excellent, have heard and seen in pics that the place is nice and ambience terrific. Especially the bar area upstairs.
The suckling pig and omelette deconstruction came highly recommended.
See if it reminds you of Barcelona!
And I'm sure they'll decant it for you, that's part of the service of any good restaurant.

I should be trying out the weekday dinner set menus (non V-day) at L'Atelier J Robuchon. Thinking of drinking a cheaper bottle (<$100) and bringing another on my own (1-for-1), though it is hardly likely we can finish all that.

 

[stayhappy21]

So, what's everyone's wine + dine plan for CNY & Valentines?

I'll be treating my family to a series of Italian wines for the CNY period; starting with a Barbera from Pidemont, followed by a Chianti from Tuscany and then a Cabernet Franc - Merlot from Sicily.. We'll finish with a Branchetto to close the dinner..

 

[Karmon]

I'll be treating my family to a series of Italian wines for the CNY period; starting with a Barbera from Pidemont, followed by a Chianti from Tuscany and then a Cabernet Franc - Merlot from Sicily.. We'll finish with a Branchetto to close the dinner..

I am thinking of a Italian blind tasting for my family. So far I have one Barolo lined up, I am thinking of throwing in something from Sicily and Campania into the mix. Any recommendation?

 

[ikileo]

one of the sicilian producers you can get is Planeta.

 

[ikileo]

intervino has some promo on some taurasi riserva from campania '97-'99 going for $75 each

 

[Karmon]

one of the sicilian producers you can get is Planeta.

Where can I get that in Singapore?

 

[ikileo]

IIRC Cellarmaster brings them in, so u can get them at Toque and i recall seeing it at Isetan last time. can't remember whether now they have.

 

[MuthuCurry]

intervino has some promo on some taurasi riserva from campania '97-'99 going for $75 each

i only bought once from intervino. but, just want to ask the folks if the price offerred by intervino really reasonable? i cant tell as i dont buy (and dunno much abt) italian wines often...

 

[ikileo]

they do bring in unique bottles that u can't get from other places or older vintages as they have lots of contacts in italy.

IMO their prices are reasonable, especially for the not so common stuff.

best is that u can check on Wine-Searcher. Find and Price Wines. and check for similar wines and vintages in other countries (usually i check US, UK and their domestic market), then I include GST, alcohol tax and an artbitrary % margin for longer transport and retailer markups. If the price is similar or lower then I buy; if the margin markup is crazy then no point.

a bit tedious but worth if u wanna be sure u are paying a globally aligned price and not being ripped off.

 

[looiwte]

Hey everybody is going Italian!

stayhappy21:
Nice! Your Barbera & Chianti from what producers? Bdx blend in Sicily - hmm not heard before but the Nerello Mascalese (Etna Ross) and Nera d'Avola are good stuff.

Karmon:
Which Barolo? For Sicily, you can try the coop COS at ewineasia, specifically the Cerasuolo. IIRC they come in unique fat/stumpy bottles.

I think Planeta is distributed by Giorgio Ferrari. CM sells some, and also wines from Campania producer Feudi di San Gregorio. Their Irpinia Serpico (Aglianico) and Patrimo (Merlot) are good. Mastroberardino is another good Campania producer, and I think the aged Taurasi Radici Riserva suggested by ikileo can be a good ringer for Barolo tastings.

MuthuCurry:
InterVino's prices aren't always fantastic so you do need to reference wine-searcher. That said, this is the only way to get certain pedigree Italian wines like Selvapiana's Chianti Rufina Riserva Bucerchiale, Valle Reale Montepulciano D'Abruzzo etc. They really have a good variety of Italian wines to choose from, north to south, and IMO their best pricing is on aged wines, eg. Frescobaldi, Mastroberardino etc.

 

[Karmon]

Bought a Azelia San Rocco 2000. I have a Mastroberardino Radici 2007, but its not drinkable yet. I wonder if I have enough time to gather the other two bottles before reunion dinner...><

Ikileo - Thanks for the recommendations.

 

[ikileo]

just finished a big meeting today. feel like rewarding myself to some decent vino tonight....lookin' for half bottles...