Wine Magazine : Decanter June 2007

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Hey...I am in USA now and I found out that there are already selling the June issue of the Decanter magazine (which usually arrives in Singapore shores in the first week of the month)

It is cheaper here too! At 8 bucks US, this translates to about S$12.
Well unfortunately I am not here every month to buy it cheaper...

Nice article about all the 2006 Bordeaux wines, with listing of almost everyone of them!
Happy reading!

Wine Game : Sim Vin

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Hi all, found this quite interesting simulation game on being a vineyard owner on the web.

It is on the site www.wineeducation.com written by Stephen Reiss, Ph.D.

Though the game is pretty repetitive (similar to "choose your own adventure"), it gives quite a good insight on where the money in wine making is to be made. There are several games on this site as well, ranging from quizzes to crossword puzzles.

This is for some serious vinophiles. Enjoy!

Wine Tasting Event : Carrefour French Fair at Suntec City (17 May 2007)

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Thankfully, I was around for this biannual Carrefour International Wine Fair, which is inconjunction with Violah! French Festival Singapore. It was held at Suntec City Atrium in front of the Carrefour. There was a rough segregation of the products with the wines on one side and other products such as creams, cheeses etc on the other. Guess which section was most popular! This year was interesting with the Burgundy Aroma Wine, there were “families” of aromatic products grouped together for customers to smell, they even had one with leather pouches and wallets! I also noticed the range of Burgundy was increased compared to the last time.

The two wines on offer today for VIP visitors was Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou 2004 selling for S$99 (usual S$129) and Chateau Kirwan 2004 selling for S$59 vs (usual S$79). Both were at very good value. I managed to taste both of them (luckily I was early at 6.30pm sharp), and whilst they were both very pleasant to drink, smooth, balanced and fruity for Bordeaux, they were lacking in the intensity and finish. Difficult to nose too, especially with the large open glasses provided not the tulip type more suited for sniffing aromas. I decided to get only one bottle of the Kirwan, and focused more on other good buys, including a bottle of Chateau Potensac 1998 at S$52. I will recommend for those with a sweet tooth, to try the Chateau Haut Pick 2004, a Sauternes 750ml bottle going for only S$28. For a wine that is drinking well now and at a good price, would be the Reserve de la Comtesse 2001 going for S$49 instead of $60+ else where.

Also I’d to take this opportunity to say hi to my classmates Kong and Jasmine (from the 6th intake Art & Science of Wine), who were there enjoying the wines too. Cheers!

Wine Entry : Chateau Pey-Latour Bordeaux Superior 2004 (French)

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Managed to try this wine at the classes I am now taking on Monday evenings 10 sessions at S’pore Poly, Art & Science of Wine 6th Intake. It was part of the intro to French wines lessons. The wine was clear purplish in the glass.

Smell: Toasted oak, filled with dark fruits and violets. Hints of a leathery odour.

Taste : Easy drinking for a young Bordeaux wine. Dark currents mixed with flora violets. Good fine tannins in the finish.