KAESLER Alte Reben Mataro 2008

Grape                               : Mataro
Country of Origin   : (South) Australia
Region                             : Barossa Valley
Vintage                           : 2008
Alcoholic Content : 16.0%
Producer Branding: Alte Reben (extremely limited release of 100 dozen only)

Damage to my purse : About AU$80.

Characteristic :
This is a very ‘powerful’ strong red and has to allow at least 2 hours in the decanter.
It is full-bodied with colour of deep purple-red.
With extreme intensity to both the nose and the palate, with taste of ripen fruits, sweet cherries, and very smooth finishing.  This is not your usual straight-forward red.

MY TAKE : An incredibly heavy wine with alcoholic content higher than most reds.  It’s a great wine to share with a few friends.

CHALK HILL Shiraz 2008

Grape                              : Shiraz
Country of Origin : (South) Australia
Region                           : McLaren Vale
Vintage                          : 2008
Alcoholic Content : 14.0%

Damage to my purse : Slightly over S$30

Characteristic :
– Medium to Full Bodied
– Initially sharp to the nose, needs decanting
– Abundant of sweet fruit, seamless oak, and very smooth
– Let it breathe for a while and it’s really fantastic wine

MY TAKE : The more you drink, the better it is (yes, recommended)

GUNTHER’S -Modern French Cuisine

This was my first time to Gunther’s although they have been around for a while.  Tonight was supposed to celebrate my hubby’s birthday and to avoid disappointment, I brought a good bottle of wine from the Barossa Valley.  Luckily I did so, and although the corkage charge was already S$50 per bottle, their wine prices were exorbitant.  Even though I have to say that their wine list was comprehensive.

We both decided to go with their degustation menu.  It was a 6-course menu, excluding the free flow of bread and the tempura prawn for tasting.

The bread was crusty and the butter was creamy.

Well, most restaurants like to serve a free tasting dish before the served you the food you ordered, and this was the free tasting dish.

1) Cold angel hair pasta, Oscietra caviar

This was Gunther’s famous dish and it did not disappoint.

2) Scallop, tomato paste, and pilaf

This was rather an average dish as the taste of the scallop was totally killed by the seasoning.

3) Egg fondant, grilled seasonal mushrooms, Spanish ham

The Spanish ham, as always, was good.  I thought the egg fondant was kind of rich.

4) Grilled lamb rack, natural juices

The lamb was tender and the taste was not that strong.

5) Fine apple tart “la dragées”, Havana rum & raisin ice-cream

The apple tart was very well-done, not too sweet and with a good balance of cinnamon.

6) Coffee

Coffee was strong and full-bodied, good!

If it was 5 years’ back, I would say that the food here was of high quality and I would definitely come back.  Today, high end restaurants like the Gunther’s are opening far too many and thus becoming very competitive.  Hence, I am not sure when will be my next patron to this place.

________________________
36 Purvis Street
#01-03 Singapore 188613
Tel: (65) 6338-8955