Wine Entry : Black Opal Barossa Valley 1999 (Australia)

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Black Opals have a special place in my heart, opened this wine with my family and coincidentally there was a opened cheap plonk from Giant Supermarket. And the contrast was distinct. The Black Opal was opulent with alcohol and an overall fruit explosion even for a 1999. Whereas the plonk was weak thin and diluted. Good stuff, cannot bluff.

A blend of Cab Sav 85% and Merlot 15%. Impressively dark red-purple colour for a 1999 wine.

Smell : Nice aroma of high alcohol, aldehydes and dark currents.

Taste : Smooth flavourful, mid palate of blackcurrents and prunes.

After-taste : Excellent evolved mild tannins which provide good structure

Description at back of bottle :

The limited release Black Opal Barossa has been produced to showcase the best regional characteristics of the varieties for which this most famous of Australian wine making regions is renowned. Sourced from our own Tolley's vineyard, this is a richly textured wine that exemplifies the powerful robust red wine characteristics of the Barossa Valley. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines in this vineyard grow in low fertile, sandy brown/grey soils and have an average age of 40 years. As a consequence the berries are smaller and have greater intensity of colour and flavour.

Both the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot were fermented in traditional 4 ton open vat fermenters before beng gently pressed in a Basket Press and allowed to mature in French oak barrels for 20 months. This wine is a rich, powerful Cabernet Merlot that displayes concentrated complex fleshy mixed berry and spice characters with hints of violets and chocolate.

Wine Book Giveaway : Sheer Bottle Bliss (Winner!)

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Okay..this contest has gone long enuff...So after much deliberation...(all 5 seconds of it).

I think we have to agree that K.Wong's entry is the most balanced, constructive and honest.

Thank you for the other contributors, Scott and Gorry Tan for making the contest, well a contest. Appreciate the feedback and comments.

So K.Wong, pls kindly send me your mailing address through my email winedragon@gmail.com and I will snail mail the book to you. Enjoy the read!

Wine Fair (Field Report) : Carrefour Beer & Wine Fair 30 Sep -12 Oct 2008, Suntec City

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I thought I had better get this entry in before the end of Oct. Carrefour had their wine fair again at the Suntec City outlet. I did not receive any invitation to the VIP night so was afraid that I would miss out on the Reserve De La Comtesse special offer of S$69.90 (normal S$87). However, I got lucky and they still managed to hold the price for another day, helping me continue my vertical collection.

There were a decent number of 2005s available and again I salute Carrefour for bringing these in at reasonable prices.

Chateau La Tour Carnet 2005 $64 - This is pretty common sight at Carrefour wine fairs now.
Chateau Chasse Spleen 2005 $85
Chateau Sociando Mallet 2005 $99 - Recommended
Chateau L'Enclos Pomerol 2005 $88
Chateau Taillefer Pomerol 2005 $69.90
Chateau Croizer Bages 2005 $68
Chateau Domaine Chevalier 2005 $138
Chateau Domaine de la Solitude 2005 $41.90
Chateau Chasse Spleen 2005 $85

Wine Jokes : New Wine for Seniors

I kid you not... New Wine for Seniors

California vintners in the Napa Valley area, which primarily produce Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio wines, have developed a new hybrid grape that acts as an anti-diuretic. It is expected to reduce the number of trips older people have to make to the bathroom during the night. The new wine will be marketed as ....

PINO MORE

I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE...could not stop laughing....

Wine Fair : Wine for Asia 2008 (Intro)

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Hic hic...went down to Wine for Asia 2008 last evening and had a wonderful time meeting up with fellow wine enthusiasts. The Austrian wines stood out this year and for me personally Auntsfield's wines from the Sauvignon Blanc to Pinot Noir stamped their authority as the definitive wines from New Zealand. Managed to try a Pomerol 2005, and it was clear validation that my continued purchases of 2005s were correct. I will try to upload tastings in later posts.

The fair runs from 16 - 18th of Oct from 10am to 6.30pm at Suntec City halls 602-603.

Public Visitors can visit today for $30 entry fee. It is well worth the money.

Wine Book Giveaway : Sheer Bottle Bliss (Final deadline)

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Hi all...thanks for the comments so far...however, I have to have a final deadline for the Wine Book Contest to decide the winner...so the deadline is next Sat on 25th of Oct! Last Chance!

Quick write in!

Wine Book Giveaway : Sheer Bottle Bliss

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Good news to all readers! I have received my first payment cheque from Nuffnang worth

S$ 61.46 because of all the support and readership you have shown to this blog!

To show my appreciation and thanks, I am giving away a wine focused book titled Sheer Bottle Bliss to one lucky reader. All you have to do is pen down in the comments section, one thing you like and one thing you dislike about this blog. (Try your best to use wine descriptions and avoid curse words entitled for spolit wines ;P ). I will select the best entry and snail mail the book to the lucky reader (within Singapore only!), therefore pls provide your email address in the comment entry so that I can contact you for the address.

This is a really nice read, part memoir and part survival maual for anyone who dreams of their own place in the country or by the sea. TV chef Ian Parmenter, shares his adventures (and misadventures) of his journey from a culture-shocked London journalist arriving in Perth in the 70s to discovering his beloved weekender by the Margaret River. There are also personal receipes to go with wines.

Start writing!