Wine

ikileo

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I went for the Matter Of Taste. the wines were quite lousy in my opinion. Only the chateau neuf du pape wines did slightly better. not worth $100+ to be honest.

Which ones did u try that u felt were not up to mark? And which cdp did u have?
 

ikileo

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I attended Wine Fiesta on Friday and this was my first time. It was way too packed and humid with the crowds. The loud music also make it slightly annoying to chat with the wine representatives. However wines are reasonably priced but food is expensive especially the $18 for a single popiah. Tables are limited too so most got to stand or sit on steps to eat. On the plus side a few labels I tasted and I liked and I will single out Ministry of Cloud here.

I am not sure what is the crowd like on Sat and Sun but I would not pay $33 or $50 to attend this next year. $10-15 is ok.

For Matter of Taste, I did had a better time and experience in a hotel ballroom environment. Crowds are lesser probably due to price and there are lots of top labels here versus more boutique like labels in Wine Fiesta. There is free flow of nice food i.e. risotto, sliders, pasta, cheese, canapes, desserts
There are significantly more Italian labels here and I enjoyed Masi Amarone, Inama Carmenere Blend and Renata Barolo. In the end what blew me away on the spot was the Chris Ringland Evil Incarnate Shiraz. Extreme intense rich and tasty at 16%+ ABV.

Overall for entrance price of $140 I think it is fairly premium. I got a free entry from an exhibitor there and I would not have attended this at all. I would pay $100 at most if its out of my pocket. LOL

thanks for your sharing. i've had a few friends who went to both events with similar comments.

Wine Fiesta is definitely more for the mass consumer and people are there more to drink and enjoy the evening with friends rather than to expand their wine experience; while for Matter of Taste because of the prohibitive price and the overall calibre of the wines (in comparison) attracts a far less casual wine consumer but for those who have some level of wine interest.

Ringland wines tend to be of that highly extracted over the top style of wines with dense richness and ripeness. You can try more Amarone has they tend to be made in a big style as well with lots of ripeness.
 

Dexter71

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Yes I am a BIG RED guy LOL...Some brunellos tasted too acidic for my liking example the IL Marroneto Brunello (not the Madonna delle Grazie that got 100/100 RP)

I forget to mention that there are two super tuscans that I like

Gaja Ca Marcanda Magari and Orma...Both needs decanting and will benefit for additional years of aging.
 

ikileo

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drank this for a casual sunday night white.

2013 Mas des Dames 'Le Blanc' from the Languedoc region in southern France. Made from 100% Grenache Blanc grapes which are not very common. Grenache is a red grape wine and used in lots of wines from the Rhone Valley and in Spain. Grenache Blanc (aka White Grenache) is apparently a genetic mutation of the Grenache grape from many years ago, giving it its own taste & smell.

Aroma: Peach stone, white tea & osmanthus aromas.
Taste: It is a dry style of wine with notes of peaches, pears and a mineral finish. Medium weight wine with a nice texture. This really goes well with seafood.

Available at Wein & Vin - $40

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Languedoc, as well as southern France in general, in the recent decades have been a burgeoning land of really high quality wines that are incredibly budget friendly.

Decades ago it was a region where mass produced table wine with poor quality control ruled but now winemakers are discovered the region's soil and climate to be perfect for making good quality wines; especially since it's warmer than in the other parts of France, the grapes here ripe more in general.

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From Wine Folly. Notice Languedoc in the south of the map versus more famous regions like Burgundy, Champagne and Bordeaux

The reds tend to be ripe, rich with notes of herbs like thyme as well as meaty profiles. While the whites (especially those nearer to the coast) have a crisp, refreshing and oceany note to it.

I would highly recommend you to seek out wines from the Languedoc region. You can get them at Wein & Vin, Wine Connection and other wine retailers.


Understand More
 

ikileo

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Yes I am a BIG RED guy LOL...Some brunellos tasted too acidic for my liking example the IL Marroneto Brunello (not the Madonna delle Grazie that got 100/100 RP)

I forget to mention that there are two super tuscans that I like

Gaja Ca Marcanda Magari and Orma...Both needs decanting and will benefit for additional years of aging.

yeah looks like you prefer your reds to be bigger with lower acidity. are there other wines in the past that you enjoyed?
 

Dexter71

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These are some examples of my rich tasties

2009 Château Lagrezette Cahors Cru d'Exception - French Malbec

2011 Cantina Valpantena Amarone della Valpolicella

2013 Turkey Flat Butchers Block

Penfolds 138 GSM
 

ikileo

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Earlier this week I was back at Wine RVLT on Killiney Road for dinner. Next door is is steak & grill restaurant called MAD COW and I definitely recommend it. Both are owned by the same management and you can pop by Wine RVLT to pick out a bottle or two for your meat dinner. The food was very good, great quality of ingredients and the prices are supremely reasonable in my opinion!

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As mentioned in an earlier post, Wine RVLT focuses on the new-ish trend of natural/biodynamic wines. These wines tend to be fresher in style and not overly alcoholic. The awesome thing is that their wines changes almost every week and a lot of their regular customer are certified sommeliers and people working the in the wine industry. This in itself is a testament to the quality of wines that they bring in.


We had these 2 wines that night.


2015 Artesano Vintners DON Pinot Gris from Martinborough, New Zealand. It is an Orange Wine from the image. It does not mean it's made from oranges but the instead the crushed white grapes and their skins are left in the mix for an extended period of time, giving the wines a richer colour and some mild tannins.

Side note: Red wines are red because of the same reason. Vast majority of the wine grapes have clear coloured juice. Red wine is red colour because the red skins of the grapes are kept in juice for a period of time that lends the colour. One of the key sources of tannins (siap siap texture) in the wine come from the skins

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2015 Artesano Vintners DON Pinot Gris here is an orange wine where the skins were kept in the juice for 42 days which gives it the colour. Super aromatic like apricots but on the palate it definitely not a sweet wine.

Pinot Gris is a white wine traditionally made in Alsace (France) and it's known as Pinot Grigio in Italy. Due to the skin contact it has a gentle layer of tannins and a bigger body than a regular white wine. It's a great pairing for a wide assortment of food from seafood to even pork & chicken.



Discover more about orange wine here: http://winefolly.com/review/orange-wine/





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The next wine was a red wine. The 2014 Arianna Occhipinti Sicilia SP68 Nero d'Avola e Frappato is made on the island of Sicily using 2 of island's most well known red grapes: Nero d'Avola and Frappato.

The popular British online wine writer, Jamie Goode, expresses it best.

Arianna Occhipinti says that her love for wine was sparked when at the age of 16 she went with her uncle to Vinitaly, the large wine show in Verona.

In her early 20s, she began making wines in her home area of Vittoria, Sicily. Frappato amazed her: a grape capable of making floral, elegant reds, so different from the big, ripe overpowering Nero d’Avolas that had so far defined Sicilian wine.

She decided her style would be one of finesse and elegance and perfume over power.

Take from http://www.wineanorak.com/italy/arianna_occhipinti.htm

The wine was very balanced and elegant. The richness of the Nero d'Avola came through but the Frappato balance it out with delicious acidity which helped cut through the richness of the porterhouse steak we had! Very floral and plummy smell.




I would highly recommend this place and let the management give you the recommendations of what to drink since their menu changes frequently.

For those interested: 1kg Porterhouse Steak + 1/2 Grilled Free Range French Chicken, Salad, Cut Fries, Sauteed Mushrooms, Dessert and 2 full bottles of wine came up to $300 incl taxes; which was shared among 3 people. To me that is a super no brainer deal.
 

RaisonD

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Had a simple session earlier: Left to Right

1. Ceretto Langhe Arneis - slightly floral on the nose, minerality on the palate and filled with bubbles, short finish.
2. Hardys VR Cab Sav 2015 - Grapey
3. Crios Cab Sauv - Violet fruits with a sweet and bitter finish, plus some chewiness.
4. Majella Cab Sav 2012 - Decanted for 30 mins before serving, bright ripe fruits and polished finish. Still young, keep another 1-2 years before serving.
5. The Relic Shiraz-Viognier 2006 - Pot and pour. Lightly floral on the nose and came off light-hearted and elegant, it gradually evolve into a heavyweight in 2 hours. Powerful yet restraint, lots of depth and good finish. Wine of the Night
6. Hewitson Shiraz Mourvedre 2006 - Eucalyptus and Oaky on the nose, hint of cocoa and flavored with mixed berries, good but no Awe factor.
7. Two hands Zippy Block Shiraz 2007 - Fresh, affirmative and consistent. it's like an adult couple with heart-throbbing moments.

 
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Dexter71

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RaisonD

Do you mind commenting more on the Two Hands Zippy Shiraz?

Was it bold strong leathery and long after taste?

I am evaluating whether to acquire the 2005 vintage which is RP 99 pointer.

Regards
 

RaisonD

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RaisonD

Do you mind commenting more on the Two Hands Zippy Shiraz?

Was it bold strong leathery and long after taste?

I am evaluating whether to acquire the 2005 vintage which is RP 99 pointer.

Regards

For the 2007, it does not have strong leathery taste and the finish was more of a subtle kind. Its well-balanced and integrated, could not find any faults with the wine. The freshness and color is amazing for a 9yr old wine and fine sediments can be found left in the bottle after we emptied it.

i do not find chocolate, against some notes floating online , but rather Cocoa (less cream and more spices). And i agree with some peeps that it is at its peak for this vintage.
 

ZeroDivine

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stocked up quite a few of the 07 zippy's block from Cruworldwine as they had it damn cheap at $57-59 iirc
well at that price I think it's quite a steal given a wine of that calibre :p
 

Dexter71

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cru world wine has damn solid offer regularly...i missed their la rioja alta 2005 RP96 offer recently but gotten their grant burge meschache 2002 for 50+ which is unbelievable price. Cellar ready to drink at that price is no brainer.
 

ZeroDivine

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cru world wine has damn solid offer regularly...i missed their la rioja alta 2005 RP96 offer recently but gotten their grant burge meschache 2002 for 50+ which is unbelievable price. Cellar ready to drink at that price is no brainer.

oh yes the 02 meshach i js had a case as well... is a steal man at that price for a wine that retails for 120+ in stores...
waiting for their december xmas lelong which should be rolling out in about 1-2 weeks' time haha...
 

ikileo

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Hong Kong Work Trip

Was in Hong Kong for a week for work and it was my first time there. Managed to get some time to visit a wine bar and to meet up with a close family friend who is also into wine.

here are some highlights. Enjoy.

La Cabane
Located along Hollywood Road on Hong Kong island, La Cabane is a wine bar that focuses on natural wines (similar to the concept of Wine RVLT in SG) and has been around in HK for more than 3 years. Their food menu is more cold cuts and small plates while the interior vibe is very laid back and relaxed which I like. The clientele that evening was a 50|50 mix of locals and expats.

There was only one of me so I ordered by the glass. A sparkling, a red and a sweet wine; along with some slices of the classic French "Rosette de Lyon", cured sausage.

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Entrance to La Cabane


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Compact interior of La Cabane


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French cold cuts & cheese menu


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By The Glass menu


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Rosette de Lyon cold cut with some cornichon (small french pickled cucumbers)


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Wine 1 - Sparkling: 2014 Robert & Bernard Plageoles Gaillac Nature
Located in the Gaillac subregion in the south of France. This sparkling wine is made from the local grape of Mauzac and with no sugar added for the secondary fermentation, hence it's called 'Nature'. [to find out why sugar is usually added to make sparkling wine click here]
Historically the region was known for making cheap wine but the Plageoles brothers are among a growing breed of winemakers who want to make good wines that reflect the character of the region. Hand picked grapes and fermented with native wild yeast this is a vibrant dry sparkling wine with lots of minerals on the palate.


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Wine 2 - Red: 2013 Catherine et Pierre Breton Bourgueil 'La Dilettante'
Bourgeil is one of the sub regions from the Loire valley and most reds from Loire is made from Cabernet Franc; the genetic parent of cabernet sauvignon.

30 year old vines grown on gravel soil this wine is the winemaker's work to give the freshest expression of Cabernet Franc. It undergoes Carbonic Maceration, for those who are wondering what this chim word means, here a very simplified explanation from wineanorak.com.

Carbonic maceration is the process that occurs when intact bunches of red grapes are fermented in a sealed vessel that has first been filled with carbon dioxide. In the absence of oxygen, these intact berries begin an intracellular fermentation process, during which some alcohol is produced, along with a range of other compounds that can affect wine flavour.

http://www.wineanorak.com/winescience/carbonic_maceration.htm

This technique creates a lighter & fruitier wine. This wine is the aged in cement 'eggs' and not barrels so that you taste the purity of the grapes without any oak influence from the barrels. The result was a lovely cabernet franc that featured lots of fruitiness and the classic cabernet franc 'leafyness'.



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Wine 3 - Sweet: 2007 Domaine Mosse Coteaux du Layon 'Le Champ Boucault'

'Coteaux du Layon' (pronounced koto-doo-lay-on) is an appellation of sweet wines made in the Anjou region of the Loire Valley using only Chenin Blanc grapes. This wine had a bit of age on it at 9 years old so you can see the colour has changed to a bit of orange. This was a medium bodied sweet wine with lots of apricots & pineapples and a touch of black tea. This was good on its own as it wasn't overly thick and sweet. A lovely finish to the dinner.​


Overall La Cabane is a place I would recommend the next time you are in Hong Kong and want a different wine experience versus the usual popular regions. As these are natural wines from smaller producers and from regions you may not have heard of, it is sure to be a new an enjoyable experience. The staff are very friendly and more than willing to help you out.
 

ikileo

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Hello everyone , recently received a carton of penfolds bin 2 , can't finish so decide to let go at lower price . Can pm me if interest thanks . Mods ,I'm not very sure of the rules here so let me know if I broke them . Thanks

Sent from Samsung Note 7 using GAGT

generally no advertising & business (buy/sell) activities here. you can do that at the General Merchandise Bazaar in HWZ.

this thread is more for non-business related discussion on wines.
 

ikileo

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Had my annual wine dinner with one of the group. Usually year end the budget increase by a bit and so the theme was Grand Marques Champagnes or Grower Champagne 2008 or older.

Grand Marques means the big traditional houses like Moet, Krug, Bollinger etc... As for grower champagne, i have posted about that before but you can see in more details here: http://winefolly.com/review/grower-champagne-guide/

The wines that were brought were all of quite a premium caliber but also a wide range. Most of them are available in Singapore.



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THE LINEUP

2004 Gatinois Champagne Grand Cru Brut Millésimé. Available at Domaine Wines Pte Ltd

2004 Pol Roger Vintage Brut (Extra Cuvee de Reserve): one of my faves that evening. good rounded taste & texture. Available at Bacchus

1990 R. & L. Legras Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée St. Vincent Blanc de Blancs

2008 Roses de Jeanne / Cédric Bouchard Pinot Blanc Champagne Blanc de Blancs La Bolorée: super interesting. Made from 100% Pinot Blanc which is super rare as Champagne is typicall made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinor Munier grapes.

1985 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne Brut Rosé Rare: the wine I brought. Sherry notes and still going strong and fresh for a 31 year old wine. This is not your typical basic Veuve Cliquot.

2005 Egly-Ouriet Champagne Grand Cru Brut Millésimé. Available at Wine Culture Pte Ltd

2003 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut: Super toasty on the palate! Very refined and powerful. Available at Cru World Wine

2004 Joseph Perrier Champagne Blanc de Blancs: one of my faves. flavour was very balanced. Available at Crystal Wines Pte Ltd

2002 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon. Available at Millesima

2008 Michel Arnould & Fils Champagne Grand Cru Carte d'Or Available at Domaine Wines Pte Ltd

1995 Charles Heidsieck Champagne Blanc des Millénaires: This was the group's WINE OF THE NIGHT as well as my wine of the night too. Super sexy, textured, flavoursome and ready to rock. Purchased overseas.

1999 Egly-Ouriet Champagne Grand Cru Brut Millésimé: Very different from the 05 Egly earlier in the dinner. More sherry-like.



It was quite an epic dinner with lots of delicious champagne. The majority favourite was the 1995 Charles Heidsieck. Personally i also enjoyed the '04 Pol Roger and '04 Joseph Perrier. I will be seeking these out in the near future for my own consumption.


Please feel free to share your drinks you've had this festive season regardless of price point. Let us know your thoughts on your wine too!
 

ikileo

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On Sunday we had the HWZ Year End Wine Lunch where we closed the year of tasting and exploring delicious wines.

The theme was open so everyone could bring a nice bottle to celebrate the year end.

We had lunch at Crystal Jade Prestige at MFBC. Food and service was really good. Whether it's lunch or dinner I would recommend it, especially if you have medium to large groups


On to the wines!

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The Line Up (L-R)
NV Pommery Champagne Brut Royal - A very good Champagne house and their main house champagne that's representative of their style. Fresh and ripe style of champagne with nice mouthfeel and elegance. - Available at 1855 Bottle Shop

1990 Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt Scharzhofberger Riesling Spätlese - For those who didn't realize, white wines can age, especially if you have a good producer like Kesselstatt. This 26 year old late harvest german riesling was very ready to drink and continued to evolve in the glass during the lunch. - Available at Wein & Vin

2010 Curly Flat Pinot Noir - An elegant style of pinot noir from the Macedon Ranges in Australia, north of Melbourne. Follows a more cool climate style of Pinot, closer to burgundy as it is not overripe and has an underlying savoury note below the red fruit.

2011 Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon - One of the prominent producers of quality wine in Margaret River, Australia. This was quite classic aussie cabernet with fruit ripeness but it had finesse as well. This can continue to develop and mature further. - Available at Bottles & Bottles and Crystal Wines

2011 Podere Poggio Scalette Il Carbonaione Alta Valle della Greve IGT - Made from 100% Sangiovese grapes, the quintessential Tuscan native grape, this had lots of fruit and floral (rose) note and a great balance between ripeness and lift. It was interesting to compare it to another famous 100% Sangiovese Tuscan wine side by side.

2011 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT - This, in comparison to the Il Carbonaione, was far more powerful and ripe with sweet fruit. While delicious, however, it seemed that this bottle needed more time to calm down and integrate further. Good to buy and keep. - Available at Luigi Wines

2006 Torbreck RunRig - A Barossa Valley icon, the RunRig emulates a Northern Rhone wine style of Shiraz/Syrah blended with 3% Viognier (white grape) added in to provide more floral elements and complexity. Definitely a powerful wine but with clear finesse bearing witness to the quality of fruit and winemaking skills. With the Aussie sunshine this was a sliper riper version of a good Northern Rhone Cote Rotie. Available at Wine Exchange Asia and Culina

2008 San Giusto a Rentennano Vin San Giusto Bianco Toscana IGT - A vin santo dessert wine that contains nearly 500g of sugar for every litre of wine, so you can imagine the sweetness at nearly 50%. That being said it was a delicious intense experience and perfect with italian almond biscuits and blue cheese to match the intensity. This wine will be able to last a long time more. Available at Luigi Wines




Look out for our next tasting theme in 2017: Sparkling Wine!
 
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