Wine

[ikileo]

If u are visitng chateaux then u would need to make appointments. are u driving?

 

[guitar123]

I've been tempted to buy a wine chiller but nobody to drink with me. So KIV the idea.

 

[SpeedingBullet]

If u are visitng chateaux then u would need to make appointments. are u driving?

Yeah booked a wine tasting tour. 7 tastings from 3 chateaux. Nope I'm not =/

 

[ikileo]

I've been tempted to buy a wine chiller but nobody to drink with me. So KIV the idea.

u can bring it for dinners. find restaurants that charge low to no corkage.
or u can just have friends over for dinner at home

 

[ikileo]

Yeah booked a wine tasting tour. 7 tastings from 3 chateaux. Nope I'm not =/

oh so these are pre-booked already. which chateaux are u visiting?

 

[SpeedingBullet]

oh so these are pre-booked already. which chateaux are u visiting?

didn't say specifically, just " 2-3 Grand Crus Châteaux in the Médoc region". . Just emailed them for a specific list.

I saw from reviews online the Medoc tour is to Pauillac and Margaux, i highly doubt we'll visit the old guard (Latour, Rothschilds, etc) lah

 

[ikileo]

that's ok.

visit the chateaux, ask about their production, what makes them unique etc...

 

[thegodfather]

any nice French Burgundy (pinot Noir) to introduce within budget of below 100 for ready drinking or cellar for 1-2 years?

I realised aussie wines especially the shiraz has very high alcohol content. while i think it is due to it being processed on purpose late to add to the full favour and complexity, i wonder is this done to score higher points from RP and wine reviewers?

anyone tried this aussie pinot Noir?
Benchmark Wines: Bellvale Gippsland Pinot Noir 2007

 

[Wardyn]

any nice French Burgundy (pinot Noir) to introduce within budget of below 100 for ready drinking or cellar for 1-2 years?

I think it is often quite difficult to find a nice value red burgundy. Below $100 can get you a premium cru quality ($80++) but expensive bottle doesn't means its nice and you will like it. Best is to try first make sure you like before you buy unless you got a lot of $$$ to throw.
If you want can try out louis jadot, those entry level bottles below $50, and see if you like.

I realised aussie wines especially the shiraz has very high alcohol content. while i think it is due to it being processed on purpose late to add to the full favour and complexity, i wonder is this done to score higher points from RP and wine reviewers?

I think 14% - 15% alcohol content for shiraz is common. There are alot of factors involve in wine making that contributes to the alcohol content eg. climate of the vintage, the style of the producer, the grape harvest quality and quantity for the vintage, sugar content, fermentation temperature etc.

 

[thegodfather]

thanks for the input wardyn.

Any one tried and subscribe to thefrenchcellar.sg? seems like a good place to start with french wines.

 

[Wardyn]

thanks for the input wardyn.

Any one tried and subscribe to thefrenchcellar.sg? seems like a good place to start with french wines.

Yes I am one of the subscriber.

 

[thegodfather]

Yes I am one of the subscriber.

I subscribed for the vineyard gems for 3 months just this week. Its just to try it out. how long and which you subscribing?

Any reviews? i don;t see alot people posting about the wines they drank also. i suspect it;s a very close door community?

 

[LlGHTNlNG]

Anyone has contact for wine supplier for wedding? And anyone has any recommendation for $20-40 red and white wine for wedding?

 

[ikileo]

any nice French Burgundy (pinot Noir) to introduce within budget of below 100 for ready drinking or cellar for 1-2 years?

You should look for Village-level burgs.

Basically in burgundy it's divided into various villages (sub sub areas), within each village there are specific plots of lands or varying sizes each have a different name.

Hundreds of years ago, the biggest landowners were actually the church and monasteries. there monks hundreds of years ago already identified which plots are the best. The good ones are labelled 'Premier Cru' while the top ones are labelled 'Grand Cru'. There are lots of laws protecting these statuses as they command a very high premium

So on a very basic and simple level, your burgundy wines are classified as

- Village Level: It just states Gevrey Chambertin as a general area but not a specific vineyard plot

- Premier Cru: La Bossiere is on the 26 "Premier Cru" level plots of land in Gevery Chambertin. For the village names and vineyard plots, it just stuff you have to memorize

-Grand Cru: One of the 9 Grand Cru plots is simply called 'Chambertin'. At the bottom of the label in the small print it says the general region of 'Gevrey Chambertin'

Now that you have a very basic understanding, the key thing about Burgundy is finding a good producer as they will to make the best out of each land. a top producer will make better a premier cru wine versus a mediocre grand cru producer.

For your price point I would suggest you stick to Village wines, as it's very difficult to come across a premier cru wine under $100 unless on offer

One good producer with a wide range of options and price points is Faiveley. They are available at Culina. Also make sure you do your research on vintages as well. Take note that burgundy wines, compared to new world wines, many regular consumers may not be used to them as they are lighter in mouthfeel despite packing lots of flavour as well.

I realised aussie wines especially the shiraz has very high alcohol content. while i think it is due to it being processed on purpose late to add to the full favour and complexity, i wonder is this done to score higher points from RP and wine reviewers?

as others have mentioned. alcohol comes from fermentation of sugar. in australia due to the warmer weather (in general) ripens the fruit further and develops more sugars.

this producers bigger and bolder flavours. whether that gives more complexity or just a flash but no substance, it depends on the quality of the grapes and skill of the winemaker. From a consumer point of view the ripe flavours are more approachable but they tend to lack longevity and elegance which is what more experienced wine drinkers tend to gravitate towards.

the big californian and aussie wines got huge scores in the early 2000s from Robert Parker who is still highly influential which let to their surge in prices. many producers have since pulled back from the heavy extraction to more balanced styles of wine hence a growing trend, even in the warmer climates to find cooler climate wines. In australia sites like yarra, mornington peninsula, adelaide hills etc... have been doing very well in producing cool climate balanced wines.

anyone tried this aussie pinot Noir?
Benchmark Wines: Bellvale Gippsland Pinot Noir 2007

nope, not tried this before. but gippsland is a good region. try and taste loh

 

[thegodfather]

You should look for Village-level burgs.

Basically in burgundy it's divided into various villages (sub sub areas), within each village there are specific plots of lands or varying sizes each have a different name.

the key thing about Burgundy is finding a good producer as they will to make the best out of each land. a top producer will make better a premier cru wine versus a mediocre grand cru producer.

For your price point I would suggest you stick to Village wines, as it's very difficult to come across a premier cru wine under $100 unless on offer

One good producer with a wide range of options and price points is Faiveley. They are available at Culina. Also make sure you do your research on vintages as well. Take note that burgundy wines, compared to new world wines, many regular consumers may not be used to them as they are lighter in mouthfeel despite packing lots of flavour as well.

Wow, thanks for the quick education on french wines! I think i try out a few different types at various region,

I have yet to really drink french wines but i took a slight liking to new zealand's pinot noir when i had it durign X'mas. That is why while researchingm I found the link between burgundy &pinot noir.


I am currently looking at this red from France, Gevrey Chambertin Mes Favorites Vieilles Vignes, Domaine Burguet from 2008 vintage.

From what you menioned its village-level right? I was considering trying this. They are asking for $100+ for this! another stupid question. Which wines should i let breathe before drink?

Its funny, i do see some premier cru going for much lesser than $100 but i am not sure. I have a loooong way to go..

nope, not tried this before. but gippsland is a good region. try and taste loh

yup i plan to try that. reasonably priced.

 

[Wardyn]

I subscribed for the vineyard gems for 3 months just this week. Its just to try it out. how long and which you subscribing?

Any reviews? i don;t see alot people posting about the wines they drank also. i suspect it;s a very close door community?

I am on their tier 2 tasting voyage. My 2nd month only. Have not even open their first pair of bottles. But I attended 1 of their tasting event which usually showcase their tier 1-2 wines. There are some very decent ones I tried. I guess those who review wines will usually post on cellar tracker instead.

 

[Wardyn]

Wow, thanks for the quick education on french wines! I think i try out a few different types at various region,

I have yet to really drink french wines but i took a slight liking to new zealand's pinot noir when i had it durign X'mas. That is why while researchingm I found the link between burgundy &pinot noir.


I am currently looking at this red from France, Gevrey Chambertin Mes Favorites Vieilles Vignes, Domaine Burguet from 2008 vintage.

From what you menioned its village-level right? I was considering trying this. They are asking for $100+ for this! another stupid question. Which wines should i let breathe before drink?

Its funny, i do see some premier cru going for much lesser than $100 but i am not sure. I have a loooong way to go..

Burgundy pinot noir is actually quite different in taste then those new zealand ones. Burgundy usually more of the earthy and herbaceous notes.
While the New Zealand ones are more fruity in style.

Generally french wines are more expensive than other regions. And in my opinion, burgundy are way overpriced.

Gevrey Chambertin is unfortunately one of the more expensive sub region of Cote de Nuits in burgundy. There are some subregions which offer more value, such as Marsannay, Fixin, Nuits St George, Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses, Savigny-lès-Beaune, St Aubin.

So you may find some premium cru bottles from these sub regions that is less or near to $100.

But remember premium cru doesn't ensure you that the wine is good and nice.

 

[Wardyn]

Which wines should i let breathe before drink?

I usually will want to breath all the reds. If possible i will decant all the reds, young and old as well.

 

[Wardyn]

One good producer with a wide range of options and price points is Faiveley.

I think Faiveley is only good at certain sub regions. Best is to read up abit on the sub region you are buying from and find out who are the leading good producers there.

 

[ikileo]

Burgundy pinot noir is actually quite different in taste then those new zealand ones. Burgundy usually more of the earthy and herbaceous notes.
While the New Zealand ones are more fruity in style.

Generally french wines are more expensive than other regions. And in my opinion, burgundy are way overpriced.

Gevrey Chambertin is unfortunately one of the more expensive sub region of Cote de Nuits in burgundy. There are some subregions which offer more value, such as Marsannay, Fixin, Nuits St George, Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses, Savigny-lès-Beaune, St Aubin.

So you may find some premium cru bottles from these sub regions that is less or near to $100.

But remember premium cru doesn't ensure you that the wine is good and nice.

yes they do differ in styles so you just try and see where you end up. keeping in mind within each region there are also sub styles based on producers.

french wines do command a premium in the international market but that's usually for specific producers that have a high reputation, as for most brands. if you know where to look, you can find producers at very competitive prices in virtually all french wine producing regions.

IMO this shouldn't imply that french wines (or at least burgs) are overpriced. while i rarely buy burgs due to their prohibitive price, the high premium (at least for the good ones) is primarily due to the small supply. bordeaux has 120,000 hectares of vineyards compared to burgundy's 28,000 hectares.

while they vary in style from a bordeaux, it's the demand/supply that makes it expensive in addition to the fact that burgundy at the top level gives a virtually unparalleled experience, hence it commands that top dollar. but again it also depends on the taster's preference.

for thegodfather, you don't necessarily have to buy a gevrey as Wardyn mentioned; that was just an example. go and seek out diff region since you don't know how each village differs from each other either way. But I gave faiveley as they produce a wide range of burgundy and it's a good and not too expensive way to try different types of the more basic wines. i've tasted across a number of faiveley wines and IMO they have a consistent quality even for their basic wines (of course dependent on vintage)

drink drink drink!