Wine Jigsaw Puzzle from Sopexa Singapore

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What a novel idea from Sopexa Singapore! Instead of the regular write 50 words about your favourite ________ (fill in the blank with Alsace, Australian, Californian, Bordeaux, Burgundy, etc) wine, they got me to do up a Jigsaw Puzzle in order to join their contest. Contestants have to complete the Jigsaw puzzle and submit it with names of 3 wine growing regions in France. And the grand prize is…drum-roll a full expense paid trip to Paris and tour of the 1855 classified growth chateaus!? I wish?!

The actual prize is a wine voucher for a bottle of Bourgogne Pinot Noir Domaine Huguenot 2004 and Bourgogne Algote Domaine Demeocq 2001 from Le Benaton wine shop. Well, I will be happy to win anything, so wish me good luck as I find a post box somewhere.

Wine Entry : Chateau Croizet Bages 1997 (French)

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I was pretty excited to open this bottle, a 1855 classification fifth growth wine from Pauillac. Either my expectations were too high, or the wine was really a let-down. I would rather conclude the latter. Overall it was a reasonable wine to quaff, but was disappointed in the intensity and length for a fifth growth wine. The colouration of the wine though was pretty inviting dark red and it had strong alcoholic legs.

Smell : Thick skinned currents but not overly expressive. Some sulphides were lingering.

Taste : Smooth and easy on the palate with strong blackcurrent skins flavours. However a little mineral and significantly salty, reminiscence of an isotonic drink. Somewhat cooked and stewed. However, it did improved with further decanting.

After taste : Short-medium finish, not impressive for a fifth growth.

Muscat de Beaumes de Venise 2001 Vin Doux Naturel (French)

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This bottle produced by Rhone Valley Negociant M. Chapoutier was purchased from Carrefour wine fair, fairly enjoyable wine to drink but does not come into the range of the botrytis wines. The colour of the wine is a greenish-golden hue

The term Vin doux naturel is translated as 'naturally sweet', however, truly 'naturally' sweet wines such as botrytis and late harvest styles are those where the concentration of sugars in the grapes when harvested is so high that the fermenting yeasts die, poisoned by alcohol, long before all the sugar has been converted; the wealth of sugar results usually from dehydration. With this bottle, however, the yeast action is halted by the addition of alcohol, resulting in what is really a blend of wine, unfermented grape juice and added grape spirit..

Smell : Delicate flora rose smell with scent of honey and minerals.

Taste : Delicate toffee sweetness with the honey-lemon flavours dominating.

After-taste : Slight lemon peel zest and bitterness at the end.

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Wine Entry : Chateau Le Merle 2001 (French)

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C.K got this bottle of Saint Emilion Grand Cru from the Carrefour wine fair previously with me. Remembered it was at a really good deal approx S$28. The wine exhibited a healthy garnet red colour.

Smell: Predominantly alcoholic cherry berries nose with some sea salt and woody oak.

Taste : Discrete on the fruit, smooth and woody which transforms to a good structure tannin finish.

After taste : Commendable length of tannins which mellow off slowly. Scents of avocado at the end.