Friday Blind-Tasting

Friday evening, a good time for some relax time and sometimes some serious blind-tasting.

Each friend will bring along a wine that they had either drank before or not and guessing game will start.

Drinking wines for some years, I have been exposed to many different type of cork removers. The good and bad experiences in opening of some wine bottles did bring back some funny and ugly moment. Today it was my first time to see such an interesting cork removal. It was introduced by a friends that it was the oldest method of opening a bottle of wine.

I did some research, this came out to be an 'Ah So Wine Opener' or Cork Puller. 

So why is it called an “Ah-So”? Supposedly, "Ah-so" come from the German name, "Ach so," meaning “I see.” Since it’s appearance and how to use it is somewhat confusing initially, but quickly becomes clear once demonstrated, people supposed remark “Ach so” as they see how it works.

Older bottles seems to have problem removing cork in a single piece as they are brittle and this tool really helps.

There were of a total of one sparkling white wines and four red wines.

Pepperton Estate - Brut Cuvee - Australia

I don't drink sparkling so often and most of the time if I drink it and like it, it will be a good one. (laughs) Of course, most people didn't get it correct.

Established in Australia, their sparkling takes on the fresher and greener side. Full of crisp acidity, apple and citrus notes, this wine definitely takes on a good appetiser. We had grilled dried squid, scallops and light cheese.

Vina Albali Gran Reserva 1995 - Spain

For the first thought, its an old world wine, I guess it was a 1995-1996 French Cabernet Sauvignon blend with the typical french oak note. It came out to be a Spanish, single variety Tempranillo. Good guess on the vintage.

Tempranillo - backbone grape for Spain and Portugal wines, gives a dark chocolate, prunes, blackcurrant and tobacco note. A medium to full-bodied wine, this wine displayed all the characters of tempranillo. Nose, palate and finishing is well-balanced.

Haut-Medoc de Lascombes 2007 -Bordeaux

First tasting note, I thought it has the note and palate of a Rhone-Style wine almost reminds me of Cote Rotie, full-bodied wine. I was right about the vintage but not the region right.

This firm-structured medoc wine definitely is a good wine to keep and drink over many years later but also great to be enjoy now. Pair it over some parma ham, blue-cheese crackers and red meats.

 

2005 Château de Roquefort Côtes de Provence Les Mures - France

A friend who brought this actually gave out a clue by bringing two pieces of Roquefort cheese, one of the world's best-known bluecheeses.

It was quite confusing and I thought it might be an Australian shiraz, there were a light note of a French wine but I cannot help but fell for the trick.

Indeed this is a rather interesting wine, produced in the region famous for their rose wine, this wine was blended with a Grenache base. Deep purple in colour, notes of blueberry and cherry with a light hint of spice and ripe plums.

Paired it with some Roquefort cheese and crackers.

Château Marquis de Calon 2005 - Saint-Estèphe

This wine is not put to blind-tasting but it did display a very straight-forward Bordeaux style of wine.

A second label of Chateau Calon-Segur, this 2005 vintage is firm, lush, approachable and elegant.

Perfect for a lip-smacking rack of lamb for pairing.

Howling Wolves 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon - Magaret River

Somehow, I got tricked again by an Aussie wine to answer it as a French. Is it because of technology or the wine style. Some guess the base of this wine seems like a new world wine and I agree it only when I taste it more carefully.

Black fruits, gummy, chewy, light-spiced oak, great tannin and medium finish with gentle tannin.

2003 is considered a good vintage for an Australian wines, great.

A quick time-check, 1 am. An evening filled with laughters and knowledge sharing from blind-tasting. I got knock over with so much mistakes. (Laughs)

Practice makes perfect so till then look forward to another round of blind-tasting again.

Relaxing Friday wine tasting with friend @ Extra Space Boon Keng

After the Viva Vino wine tasting at Syed Alwi, it was time to move to another tasting held by owner of Wine Caviar and wine loving friends at Extra Space, Boon Keng. 5 minutes cab and I have reached destination.

Great. Everyone had already finished half bottles of 3 sweet wines, sparkling, sparkling rose and Sauvignon blanc. Food were arranged nicely on the table, we have simple pasta with olive and sun-dried tomatoes, 3 varieties of cheese, baguette from Cedele and some Parma hams.

There were five reds, arranged by Kevin by order because he was the organiser and had tasted these wines several times. However, Marcus felt that it was better if it did not arrange by order to have more fun in tasting in the light and rich order to lower prediction and avoid disappoint or unnecessary judgment.

From the left:

Elio Perrone ‘Tas Mor Can,’ Barbera d’Asti, Italy, 2008 - which I was told by Wendy to be the most approachable one. It did and it was so close to the Beaujolais from France. Smooth, low tannin and bright red fruits, definitely good for appetizers and asian foods.

Second - Tsantali, Rapsani Reserve, 2006, Greece.

Produced at the Southern slope of Mount Olympus, mountain of gods. This is my pick of the day because it has an approachable firm tannin structure and light-oaky palate. I think Zeus will also endorse this is good wine. Overall palate was well-balanced and uniqueness lies in the use of Greek grape variety - Xinomavro.

2006 (Vintage) it too quite long for this wine to open up, it was definitely worth waiting. I think I will use a decanter the next time if I open one. (Laughs)

Third - Domaine Claudia Papayianni, Nikolas, Merlot 2009

This is a wine that I brought home after the tasting because it was still 3/4 full, seems not popular.

Clear ruby colour, medium body, red fruits (cherry/plum), slightly acidic. I did a second tasting after opened for 3 days and it did not evolve further.

Fourth - IL VASSALLO, Bosso Del Lazio, Colle Picchioni, 2009, Italy.

While sipping this red, I heard from Kevin that this wine cannot sell well in Singapore. This red is clean and smooth, medium body with a well-balanced structure, many red fruits and rounded tannin. The reason we found that it did not sell well was because of its price, it tasted more like a table wine than a premium.

Fifth - Alpha Estate A1, "Alpha One", Amyndeo, Greece

This is the winner of the day, selected by most of the guest. If you have tasted many Greek wines, you will definitely know that Alpha One Estate, region of Macedonia, produced one of the best wines in Greece. This blended red is well-structured with many layers of taste, round, medium to full bodied. Every single penny worth as a premium red wine that matches an important business dining for hosting guests.

The day ended with many good knowledge about Greek Italian wines, exchanging of friendships and own discovered recipes. I like the Rapsani so much and will definitely get some from Kevin someday.

Extra Space

http://www.extraspace.com.sg

Wine Tasting by Viva Vino

Friday for most people is a day where evening is a time for relaxation.

Today, I had two wine tasting to attend to. I am grateful to be able to attend a Portugal wine tasting by Viva Vino. With special thanks to friend, Morgun Pathi, blogger of Spice In Wine. It was also my first time getting to taste and hear the explanation of Portugal wines. Like many other people there, we are more exposed to Portugal Port wines.

 We have our humble wine hosts Mr. James E. Harrison and wife, Ms. Jennifer Spelman Harrison who prepared awesome finger food. I like her Pate so much and will definitely get the special recipe from her someday.

We started of with a white wine, Quinta De Bons Ventos Bianco 2010, easy-going white almost like a CA Chardonnay. Followed by Bons Ventos Tinto-Red 2008, also another easy drinking one.

The third wine I had, a vintage - Fiuza, Premium 2005, I fell in love with this red because it gives a very elegant spiciness at end of the palate, comfortable kind of spicy. Definitely a good wine to bring alot for any relax Friday wine gathering. I had another wine gathering to be at and I had my last wine at the event with - Vinho Alentejano Cortes de Cima Syrah 2010, more red fruits and well-balanced.

In summary, Portugal wines seems to be more sweet than the usual wines.

Like what Mr. James like to said: Italian makes wines to boost about, Chilean makes wines to sell and Portuguese makes wine for: "Can I have another glass, Please."

It is definitely worth time and effort to explore fine wines of Portugal especially with great host like James. This evening was a fun-filled events with quizzes and many wines to be bought at bin-end price.

VIVA VINO (S) PTE LTD

214 Syed Alwi Road, Singapore 207747

Tel: +65 6291 7688

Fax: +65 6291 7366

Email: general@vivavino.com.sg

http://www.vivavino.com.sg/

Spice In Wine

http://www.spiceinwine.com/

DROPSTOP

For those who drinks often, you may find pouring wine directly from a wine bottle a hassle because wine drips out no matter how careful you pour it. There will be no trouble wiping the blancs but the red ones can stain your precious carpet or flooring.
Having been to many wine event, I saw something called the drop-stop but did not bother to find out more until recently when I think getting one could be useful.

Besides not paying attention to the gadget, there were rumors that discouraged me to get one.
1) Expensive
2) Difficult to find
3) Not re-usable

Lets see the brief background of how DropStop was invented:

THE BACKGROUND

DropStop® was invented in Denmark by Brian Vang Jensen. Asked to pour the red wine at his aunt’s 80th birthday, Brian accidentally spilt several drops onto a beautiful, white embroidered tablecloth.

“I was embarrassed by the incident and couldn’t stop wondering whether there was anything that could be done to prevent spilling wine in this way” says Brian, adding:

“A few days after the party, I got an idea for an invention. To begin with I experimented with all sorts of discs cut from various materials, like beer cans and different plastic packaging. Finally, I found a material that had the right flexibility to fit tightly against the inside of the bottle as well as cut the flow so effectively that drops couldn’t form”.

Now anyone could pour wine without spilling a drop. Having come up with the idea, Brian decided to have his invention patented and readied for production.

Since its introduction to the Danish gift market, DropStop® has gone on to become a worldwide sales success.

Finally a special pair of DropStop caught my attention, and it was through the Riedel website.
Buy a pair of Riedel DropStop at ￥1,050, and Riedel donate 100% back to the Japan's Earthquake disaster. What a good reason to do purchasing. I bought two pairs, a pair for me and another pair for my wine buddy.

http://shop.riedel.co.jp/charity?___store=riedel
http://www.dropstop.com/us/