Wine Fair : Carrefour International Wine Fair 2011 (29 Sept to 12 Oct)

-

Carrefour is organizing their International Wine Fair 2011 (29 Sept to 12 Oct) at Suntec City Atrium. VIP Night is on 29 Sept at 7pm.

Chateau Malartic Lagraviere 2009 S$89

Chateau Bernadotte 2009 S$75

Chateau Marquis de Terme 2009 S$65

Reserve de la Comtesse 2009 S$75

Wine Fair : FairPriceXtra International Wine Fair 22 Sept to 5 Oct 2011 (AMK Hub and Jurong Point)

-
FairPrice is holding their international Wine Fair at Ang Mo Kio Hub and Jurong Point (extension) from 2 Sept to 5 Oct. There is wine sampling available. Wide range from Australia,
France, South Africa, Chile and USA.

Interestingly, they are also giving away $10 NTUC voucher with every $200 worth of wine purchase in a single receipt.

Mooncakes with Sweet Dessert Wines - Delightful!

-

This is pure decadence, and a good idea from the folks at The Wine Company to suggest this pairing of Mooncakes with Sweet Dessert Wines... Besides the below wines, I would recommend the Noble One and Brown Brothers Muscat too.

The savoury dense mooncakes will be akin to X'mas fruit cake, and the combination will be delightful... However, remember to have enough chinese tea as the final beverage to clear the palate of all that sweetness...

Skip tradition, go modern this 2011 and pair mooncakes with wines!

The Wine Company's recommendations:

•Steigelmann Gimmeldinger Meerspinne Gewürztraminer Spätlese 2009 (redolent of lychee notes), Germany, $53.50 per bottle
•Allesverloren Fine Old Vintage 2007, South Africa,
$55.50 per bottle
•Simonsig Vin de Liza 2009, South Africa,
$65.00 per bottle - 375ml

Free delivery from 1st Sep to 12th Sep except Sat & Sun.

No minimum spend required.

Wine Sale : Cold Storage Wolf Blass Moscato

-
For all the sweet wine fans out there! Cold Storage is having a wine sale for Wolf Blass Yellow Label Moscato. Get a free pair of crystal wine glasses with purchase of three (3) bottles of Wolf Blass Moscato. Promotion period is only from 8-13 July.

Wine Fair : Carrefour Wine Fair May 2011 Suntec City Atrium

-
Carrefour Wine Fair at Suntec City.

Lots of 2008 available. Tried to get my bottle of Reserve de la Comtesse 2008 and was surprised it was sold out!!

Ch Ducru Beaucaillau 2005 $495
Ch Sociando Mallet 2005 $95
Ch Pape Clement 2008 $150
Ch Camensac 2008 $49
Ch Lagrange 2008 $71
Ch Rauzan Gassies $61

Wine Fair : Crystal Wines Mega Wine Sale 2011 is here again! With Prices Slashed Up to 50%!

-

Sorry for the late notice. Here is Crystal Wines Mega Wine Sale 2011 on going at River Valley. Cheers!

"20 Premium Labels on Tasting. You are invited to our premium wine tasting on 28 May (Sat) from 10am to 8pm at our retail shop!

You are encouraged to book your preferred time slot, to ensure a comfortable and pleasant environment for wine appreciation. Session 1 - 10.00am to 12.00pmSession 2 - 12.00pm to 2.00pmSession 3 - 2.00pm to 4.00pmSession 4 - 4.00pm to 6.00pmSession 5 - 6.00pm to 8.00pm"

Wine Fair : Carrefour Wine Fair May 2011 Suntec City Atrium

-

Carrefour International Wine Fair 2011. Suntec City Atrium from 19 -29 May 2011.

VIP Night was on 18th May 2011.

Probably going down to pick up the Reserve de la Comtesse 2008 at S$59

Wine Fair : Giant Atrium Tampines Level 3

- Looks like Giant Supermarket has gotten the idea from Carrefour to set up wine fairs as well.

The wine fair is till 10 April 2011 located at Giant Atrium Tampines Level 3. Interesting they are giving away "Wine with Asian Food" Book with every $200 spent.

Wine Sale : Crystal Wines -2005 on sale !

-

Crystal Wine is having a sale on 2005s. The prices have certainly been rising over the years!


"Tasting the 2005 red wines from the bottle, many of them three or four times, confirmed that this is the greatest vintage produced during my 30 years career"-Robert Parker

Little introduction is needed for the great Bordeaux. As much as we know the great wines Bordeaux is capable of producing, the 2005 is going to be the vintage to make the plunge!

The 2005 fortunately had a perfect growing season resulting in the amazing quality of wines it produced. Robert Parker's consistent scores of 95-100 points for countless wines in his review should further testify how great the 2005 vintage truly is!

As the 2005 Bordeaux vintage continues to receive high reviews, the demand for the wine continues to rise rapidly. With that, prices are continually to be mouth watering high!

Today Crystal Wines is offering you a great deal! Buy these stunning wines at up to 35.5% off! Hurry get them home for the 2005 Bordeaux vintage offers a valuable long-term investment!



http://www.crystalwines.com/images/form/The%20Great%20Bordeaux%202005%20Sale.pdf

Wine Fair : Carrefour Wine Fair Mar 2011 Plaza Singapura (Advert in Today)

-

Advertisement in Today Newspaper for the Carrefour Wine Fair Mar 2011 Plaza Singapura

Wine Fair : Carrefour Wine Fair Mar 2011 Plaza Singapura (Onsite report)

-

Here are some pictures of the event...

Interesting buys..

Reserve der la comtesse 2007. $52
Reserve der la comtesse 2006 $69
Pichon lalande 2007 $149.9
Chateau Potensac 2007 magnum $79
Chateau Malartic Lagraviere 1995 375ml $49.90

Comments on Specials for the nite

I managed to get a sampling of these wines.

Ch. Lamothe Bergeron 2007
Nice fragrance and bouquet had my hopes up, but failed in the palate with overpowering spice and tannic that threw the wine out of balance.

Will I buy it? No

Ch De Pressac St. Emillion 2006
Almost no aromas on the nose. On the palate it was smooth and welcoming, with good length, but needs a few more years for aging.

Will I buy it ? A begrudging maybe

Wine Fair : Carrefour Wine Fair Mar 2011 Plaza Singapura

-

Carrefour is holding it's first 2011 Wine Fair at Plaza Singapura Atrium from 2-13 Mar 2011.

It is coined "Wine Temptations". VIP Night invitation is on 3rd March at 7pm. Special buys for the night are Chateau Lamothe 2007 and Chateau De Pressac 2006. Looks like the "Local Nose" website has also made their recommendations for the wines available.

Wine Entry : Selaks Ice Wine 2010 (New Zealand)

-

Purchase in New Zealand at a very affordable price.

Smell : Blend of flora and citrus.

Taste : Sweetish, rich flavours of apricot and lemon.

After-taste : Some lemon peel at the end.

Will I buy again? Definitely!

Wine Entry : Wolf Blass Riesling Yellow Label 2009 (Australian)

-

Smell : Sea water mixed with citrus smells.

Taste: More like a chardonnay/sauvignon blend rather than a riesling. Mild acidity with some biting bitterness.

After taste : sharp and curt

Will I buy again? No.

Wine Entry : Domaine Chardon Shiraz Heathcote 2008 (Australia)

-

Smell : Deep dark ripen cherries and cassiss

Taste : Firm structure, full bodied with none of the overwhelming spiciness of typical Shiraz

After taste : Well balanced with medium tannins

Buy again ? Yes

Wine Entry : d'Arry's Original Shiraz Grenach 2006 (Australian)

-

Smell: Perfume flora scents of intertwined rose and lilies

Taste: Sweetish filled with ripen fruits of raspberries, cherries and stone fruit. Easy on the palate.

After taste : Warm alcoholic with velverty tannins

Buy again ? Yes

Description at back of bottle
The wine is named in honour of d'Arenberg's principle, Francis "d'Arry" d'Arenberg Osborn. It is the culmination of more than half a century of d'Arry's winemaking career at his family winery in McLaren Vale. D'Arry's Original blend, first launched some four decades ago, was and is to this day a blend of Shiraz and Grenache grown on d'Arenberg's low yielding, 19th century vineyards.

Each vintage, d'Arry has overseen the ripe, concentrated fruit from these gnarled old vines undergo gentle crushing, open fermentation (where the traditional foot treading in wader-clad feet takes place), basket pressing and 9 months careful oak maturation. D'Arry's Original has become a benchmark for McLaren Vale and Australia's rich, generous, traditional wines. Our natural minimum processing practices (no fining or filtration) ensure maximum flavour. This wine will benefit from extended bottle aging.

Wine Entry : Ginrei Gassan Junmai Sake

-

Pleasant drinking Sake : $14 Ginrei Gassan Junmai Sake

Dryness -20 (that is minus 20!) and therefore fairly sweet. Alcohol 11 percent.

Polished away 35 percent of sake rice to make. Enjoy it chilled. It is a soft and refreshing flavour sake

Own tasting notes : Light and refreshing, mild sweetness, fragrant subtle plum/prune flavour.

Buy again? The small bottle is helpful, so a moderate yes

Available at Tampines One basement shop.

Wine Entry : On behalf of guest writer CK - Astrolabe Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (New Zealand)

-

I gave this wine to CK a couple of weeks ago, he opened and enjoyed it so much that he shared with me that it was an excellent SB from New Zealand, "crisp taste, nice bouquet and even tasted better one day in the fridge!"

Definitely a good wine pairing with a nice salad or fatty fish.

Here's a picture of the vineyard from the website.
http://www.astrolabewines.co.nz/

Wine Shop : Just opened ENOTECA Co. Ltd.

-

Takashimaya basement has undergone a renovation. It now has Harrods and several new Japanese themes stores outside of the cold storage. There used to be an Oaks Wine Cellar there. Now the newly opened wine shop is ENOTECA Co. Ltd. It has just opened 4 days ago.

Interestingly they have a very elaborate showcase with Mouton Rothschild from the various years as well as Chateau d'yquem in magnum and super magnum bottles. Their targetted customer base appears to be similar to Oaks, with the focus on luxury French wines.

They are having their Grand opening sale now...defintitely worth a look.

Wine Fair : Wine for Asia 2010 (Marina Bay Sands)

-

This year Wine for Asia 2010 has taken the event up a notch in venue to the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre. Whilst it is a classy new location, the layout and the appearance within the exhibition hall itself was pretty normal. Also the location was not very easy to find with two levels above ground and Wine for Asia in the basement.

Per tradition, the most sought after booth was the Bordeaux Grand Tasting, 2007 being the featured vintage. After the tasting, it again proved to me that the wines after 2005 were not much to crow about and it would be better putting off further investments in them. However, I must say that the Sauternes were still exceptional and Chateau Climens was intense, full of honey flavour and delivered delicious flora confidence.

Wine style asia awards were given again this year and the "award winning" wines were displayed for open tasting. Whilst there were certainly some impressive aussie wines, but after tasting a couple of Thailand and Russian ones, I really wonder if they should be placed in the same class? Is there gulit of awarding wines just because the vineyards participate? Are we running out of good wines to allocate awards?

I wonder where the next venue for 2011 Wine for Asia will be ?

---------------------------------------------------------------

Musings for a blue monday