Wine Fair : Wine for Asia 2009 - Tastings

-

Managed to get some tastings in during the Wine for Asia 2009, the good and the bad.

Mangosteen Wine from Thailand

Made by Chiang Rai Winery of Thailand, the smell mimiced a normal wine pretty well. But the flavours were so odd and medicinal that I would recommend staying away till it improves in the future.

Terravin Hillside Reserve Pinot Noir 2006

Smell: Sweetish, cherry candy

Taste: Ripen cherry and flora driven flavours, invites the second sip

After taste : Some fruity acidity

Craneford Barossa Valley Shiraz Basket Pressed 2007 Australia

Smell : Fragrant raspberry and mild honey

Taste : Smooth, easy, summer sunshine berry driven

After-taste : Calm mild and easy down the throat

Bushmere Estate 2006 Unoaked Chardonnay from New Zealand

Smell : Daffodils, lily flora scents

Taste : Pleasing and light hearted

After taste : Round and easy on the palate

Wine Fair : Wine for Asia 2009 22-24 Oct 2009 Suntec City

-

Wine for Asia 2009 was held this year at Suntec City Convention Centre at hall 403-404.

I managed to squeeze sometime off to attend on the friday afternoon session.

Good number of wine booths and display of wines for tasting and reviewing. With a special session for Australia wines in the evening.

What I particularly liked about this year was the great bordeaux tastings of both 2005 and 2006! Just a side by side comparison of the wines confirmed that I had made the right decision on stocking up on the 2005s. They were a notch above the 2006s in terms of intensity and drive.

Wine Fair : Crystal Wine's French Wine Fair (site visit)

-

Hi all, managed to find time to visit Crystal Wine's French Wine Fair and I was not disappointed. Bought three bottles of sauternes and two bottles of red bordeaux. There was generous tasting samples of about 20 wines. Wines that were available for tastings were highlighted prominently at their respective racks.

WIne Fair : Crystal Wine's French Wine Fair

-

Publishing for my readers' benefit....
Crystal Wine is holding a French Wine Fair on 11 Oct 2009, from 10am to 6 pm and located at their warehouse, located at 2 Alexandra Road, #02-09, Delta House. There is also free wine tasting available.

Carrefour Int'l Wine Fair - The Bordeaux Experience 2-14 Oct 2009

-

Just to let my reader's know, Carrefour is holding their next wine fair at Suntec City Atrium from 2-14 Oct 2009.

Wine Entry : Mauta Valley Late Harvest Gewurztraminer 2005 (New Zealand)

-

Bought this at the NZ airport in a two bottle bundle for ~NZ$20. It is a steal considering how much more it will cost here in Singapore.

Did not have the full wine tasting review, but I would say it is over average on the sweetness and very much an aromatic and fragrant wine.

Description at back of bottle : This singel vineyard wine is grown in the Judd FAmily Vineyard in Gisborne. A tropical spicy sweet wine with lifted floral fruit and a rich oily palate.

Wine News : Wine Investors worried after firms being investigated close shop

-
A wine trading and brokerage service shop has hit the newspapers after wine investors submitted complaints to CASE.
My personal opinion is that Wine is for drinking and there are lots of other investment vehicles available. With your eyes wide open, know what you are buying into. When I buy a bottle of wine from the supermarket, I know that I have the pleasure of savouring it's contents and have an opportunity for me to blog about it. If I put money into a Wine investment, I do not physically see the wine, or have an idea about how to sell it in an illiquid market. Quoting a well-known local columnist "Alternative investments such as raw land, art, wine and antiques, they are interesting and fun, but are thinly traded , hard to sell and rarely pay off as promised."

I have been approached many times to invest in Wine, I have yet to put a single cent in for the intention of trading wine for investment. I have however, purchased wines current vintages at relative lower prices, so that I can drink them later and not pay high prices for them. That is just supply and demand economics, less bottles as people drink them up, means higher prices. But bear in mind you have to pay the expenses for keeping them in good condition.