Wine News : To buy or not to buy Bordeaux 2008s

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Two newpaper articles that talk about the 2008 Bordeaux. My personal view, though I have not had the opportunity to try the 2008s, is that they are not of the class as the 2005s. The sellers are talking it up to try to boost sales. With the Global Economic Recession, buyers are not biting.

Wine Entry : Rosemount "O" 2008 (Australian)

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"Served chilled on ICE, delicate bubbles"....
That's the catchphrase of this marketing wine. There was quite a bit of hype about this summer wine when it was launched in Australia, it is one of the few (if not only) wine that is being encouraged to drink with ICE. I had a taste of it and the closest analogy I could think of is 7up/Sprite with citrus grape flavours and alcohol included.
Not that it was unappetizing to drink, on the contrary it was nice and refreshing drink considering the blazing hot weather we had been getting in Singapore for the past few weeks.
It can be drank on it's own quite comfortably without the ice. But drink today and forget about it ever being a serious wine. Available at Airport's DFS.

Description at back of bottle :
"Rosemount O is a wine specially crafted so that its deliciously crisp flavours are best enjoyed over ice. With delicate bubbles and naturally lower in alcohol, it's the light refreshing wine you have been waiting for."

Wine Entry : Robert Mondavi Winery unfiltered Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1998 (USA)

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A kept bottle of wine from Napa Valley, finally with an opportunity to share it's treasures. Bought from DFS for S$55.

Smell : Rose, blackcurrents alcohol with some minerals.

Taste : Medium bodied, mineral and serious with little or no fruit derived. Dark chocolate was detected.

After taste : Tannins have mellowed well. Strong alcohol feel after a minute.

Description at back of bottle : Our 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon expreses the complexity of Napa Valley terroir with rich, soft layers of blackberries, plums, spices, cedar and violet that culminate in a long velverty finish. We selected grapes from several regions within the valley, each renowned for distinctive Cabernet Sauvignon. Extended maceration, aging in French oak barrels and bottling without filtration, enhanced and captured the flavours of the land.
http://www.robertmondaviwinery.com/.

Wine Event : 5th anniversary and Launch New ewineasia.com

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Something for my readers to know of .....5th anniversary and Launch New ewineasia.com

Location: Art Space by Helutans , 39 Keppel road, Tanjong Pagar Distripark.

Time : 27th of June 2009 - 10 am to 7 pm.

Event :Launch New ewineasia.com


To celebrate our 5th anniversary and the launch of our new look , we invite you to a Gala tasting with fabulous prizes!

A full day of Fine Art and Wine..."Live" online experience

A tasting by "style" experience with more than 45 labels to choose from, together with a sumptuous Cheese Feast.Great deals and offers from our entire selection available for purchases during day ! Purchases of S$100 or more in one single receipt entitles you to enter our Grand Prize Draw !

A Champagne Delamotte Methuselah ( a whapping 600cl ! ) worth S$ 1200
Schott Zweisel glasses worth S$ 600
Wine dinner for two at St Julien's Restaurant worth S$ 350

Lucky draw entries will run until 31st July,via shopping at http://www.ewineasia.com/

So come down and taste for S$ 10 per person

info@ewineasia.com
Tel : 6222 3977
Fax : 6251 6636

Wine News : Article from DivaAsia Online Magazine

DivaAsia published an article today on pairing red or white wine with the lavish spread of dishes synonymous with a Chinese wedding banquet

http://www.divaasia.com/article/3689

Here are my own personal comments :

- It makes sense to taste the wine with the food-tasting prior to the actual dinner.

- Missing from the article was the common practice that getting a consignment basis makes budgetary sense as you can return unopened bottles of wine.

- Typically guests drink more red than white wine, therefore estimate 1.5-2 bottles of red for each table and 1 bottle of white per table. Assuming average drinkers.

- I disagree that only South African or South American wines will suit the taste of most guests, I have tried really good fruit, inexpensive australia wines and a french vin de pay St Pierre from Crystal Wines that was the hands-down favourite at a wedding dinner I attended last year.

- Wedding guest tend to drink more during Fri and Sat wedding dinners compared to those held on weekdays and sundays.

Wine Fair : Carrefour International Wine Fair - A Taste of Burgundy (Part 2)

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Caption for the various scent flasks - "The Burgundy Wine Aroma Cellar offers a fun and informative way to discover the aromas of Burgundy wines, grouped into several principal families.

• Each characteristic aroma fanily of red and white Burgundy wines is presented by fresh and natural products in round-bottomed glass flasks (I can confirm that they had fresh cherries and honey in the flasks)
  
• By placing your nose above the neck of the flask, the corresponding aromas are diffused.
  
• In this way, the combination of your senses allows you to associate each aroma to the products and to the wines.

This olfactory exploration is a unique tool, devised by Burgundy wines. It is currently on tour through France and the world."

Wine Fair : Carrefour International Wine Fair - A Taste of Burgundy

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For all the Burgundy lovers out there! Carrefour Suntec City Atrium 21 May - 31 May 2009.

VIP night invitation is on 20 May 2009 at 7 pm.