Cantina Del Pino Barbaresco 2007

Grape                              : Nebbiolo
Country of Origin : Italy
Region                           : Pietmont
Appellation               : Barbaresco
Vintage                          : 2007
Alcoholic Content : 14.5%
Producer                 : Cantina Del Pino

Damage to my purse : Drank this wine from a Tuscany grilled restaurant (Bistecca) at S$125++.

Characteristic :
It was brick-red (in colour).  With primary and secondary aromas of red cherries, florals, licorice and mints coming through.  A light to mid-weight wine, highly polished with good length and good balance.

MY TAKE: The first sip was quite stalky & stemmy, but tasted so much better after the decanting.  This was my first time tasting the nebbiolo grapes, I like its polished structure and definitely showed well with the char-grilled tenderloin I ordered.

Chateau Les Grands Chenes, Cru Bourgeois, Medoc 2009

Grape                              : Blends of Merlot (51%), Cabernet Sauv (43%), and Cabernet Franc (6%)
Country of Origin : France
Region                           : Bordeaux
Appellation               : Medoc Controlee
Vintage                          : 2009
Alcoholic Content : 14%
Producer                 : Chateau Les Grands Chenes

Damage to my purse : Bought this from a wine distributor at S$49 each for a half dozen order.

Characteristic :
Deep purple and almost opaque (in colour).  Powerful (yet pleasant) nose of black cherry, with hints of vanilla and mild spices.  This can pass off as a full bodied wine.  It was smooth with structured tannins, lingering intense flavours of dark fruits and cherry, and with slightly spicy after taste.

MY TAKE: This was a nice wine but lacked the complexity of a Bordeaux wine.  Again (like the Goulee Medoc 2009), this wine will also taste better if you allow it to age for a few more years.

Goulee -Medoc 2009

Grape                              : Blends of Merlot (20%), and Cabernet Sauv (80%)
Country of Origin : France
Region                           : Bordeaux
Appellation               : Medoc Controlee
Vintage                          : 2009
Alcoholic Content : 14.5%
Producer                 : Chateau Goulee

Damage to my purse : Bought this from a wine distributor at S$49 each for a half dozen order .

Characteristic :
Stain-like dark raspberry (in colour).  On the nose, it has bold and confident aromas of blackberries, cherries, licorice, and minerals.  A medium to full bodied wine.  It was very smooth and big on the palate with firm tannins and dark cherries.

MY TAKE: A very bold Bordeaux wine and was more like a Barossa Valley (AU) Shiraz (but less heavy).  This wine will go well with red meat.  This wine will also taste better (as it is still rather young and simple) if you allow it to age for a few more years.

Simonsig Pinotage 2009

Grape                              : Pinotage
Country of Origin : South Africa
Region                           : Stellenbosch
Vintage                          : 2009
Alcoholic Content : 14.5%
Producer                      : Simonsig

Damage to my purse : Drank this at The Woods (a causal wine bar) at S$50+.

Characteristic :
This was translucent ruby and light to medium bodied.
On the nose, it has fresh fragrance of berries and light licorice.
On the palate, it was similar to a non-dry Pinot Noir.  It was sugary delicious (but not of dessert sweet), juicy fruits that of mouth-watering, and mildly tannins.  It was very smooth and extremely easy to drink.

MY TAKE : This wine tasted better on its own than pairing it with food.

Chateau La Branne 2008

Grape                              : Blends of Merlot, Cabernet Sauv, & Petit Verdot
Country of Origin : France
Region                           : Bordeaux (Cru Bourgeois)
Appellation               : Medoc
Vintage                          : 2008
Alcoholic Content : 13%

Damage to my purse : Bought this at the Wine Connection (wine retailer) at S$39.

Characteristic :
Pale chalky purple (in colour).  On the nose, it has got charming aroma of plums, elegant oak, and vanilla.  A medium bodied wine with fine tannin structure, consistent dark cherry flavour and with undertone of spice and oak.

MY TAKE: Decided to buy this wine because I had tried the 2007 vintage a couple years’ back.  Though this is a reasonably tasting wine, I prefer the 2007 vintage.

Chateau La Branne 2007

Fitou Chateau De Segure 2009

Grape                              : Blends of Carignan (40%), Syrah (30%), & Grenache (30%)
Country of Origin : France (South)
Region                           : Fitou
Appellation               : Fitou Controlee
Vintage                          : 2009
Alcoholic Content : 13.5%
Producer                 : Chateau De Segure

Damage to my purse : Bought this at the Wine Connection (wine retailer) at S$32.

Characteristic :
Purple-red (in colour).  On the nose, it was quite sharp and complex.  A medium bodied wine with firm tannins and fresh and mild berries taste.

MY TAKE: This wine does not have much distinctive character even though it is not a bad wine.

Chateau Pontet Plaisance Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2009

Grape                              : Blends of Merlot (70%), Cabernet Sauv (15%), & Cabernet Franc (15%)
Country of Origin : France
Region                           : Bordeaux
Appellation               : Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Controlee
Vintage                          : 2009
Alcoholic Content : 13.5%
Producer                 : Chateau Pontet Plaisance

Damage to my purse : Bought this at the Wine Connection (wine retailer) at S$50.

Characteristic :
Semi-opaque burgundy (in colour).  On the nose, it has got strong alcoholic feel, and with notes of licorice, plum, and mild floral.  Let the wine breath a short 15 minutes will do better.  A medium bodied wine and rather voluptuous feel on the palate; of balanced tannins, good presence of sharpness, and juicy dark cherries.

MY TAKE: Over the years, I started to appreciate the French wines more and more.  Because decent French wines are more complex and offer more sophistication to the senses.  This wine is one of those French wine.

Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz 2007

Grape                              : Shiraz
Country of Origin : Australia
Region                           : Canberra (Australian Capital Territory)
Vintage                          : 2007
Alcoholic Content : 14.5%

Damage to my purse : Bought from a wine distributor at S$44.

Characteristic :
Intense dark ruby in appearance.  A full bodied wine, and was tinkering sharp on the nose with high intensity of dark fruits and spices.  Some decanting (like 30 minutes) is needed.  When paired with red meats or cold cuts (recommended with food), this wine transformed itself into a savoury shiraz providing layers of juicy plums and dark cherries, with some notes of licorice and dark chocolate and very smooth finishing.

MY TAKE : This wine has to go with food.  It actually tasted woody and slightly ‘sappy’ on its own.  But once I worked the wine with some cold cuts (like the iberico sausage), it transformed itself into an acceptable bottle of shiraz.  Dramatically different!

Domaine Gille Cote De Nuits Villages 2008

Grape                              : Pinot Noir
Country of Origin : France
Region                            : Burgundy, Cote de Nuits
Vintage                          : 2008
Alcoholic Content : 13%
Producer                      : Domaine Gille

Damage to my purse : Bought it from a wine retailer at S$45.

Characteristic :
The appearance was translucent pale ruby and a light bodied wine.  On the nose, it has gentle bouquet and medium notes of dark berries and currents.  Slightly sharp forward taste, with consistent light flavours of dark cherries and tannins.  It also has quite a high sugar content.

MY TAKE : This is a simple to appreciate and easy to drink wine.  This has the characteristics of a mid-range New Zealander Pinot Noir but easier on the pocket.

Olive Hill 2003 (Burge Family Winemakers)

Grape                             : Shiraz (50%), also with Grenache and Mourverde
Country of Origin : (South) Australia
Region                           : Barossa Valley
Vintage                         : 2003
Producer                     : Burge Family
Alcoholic Content : 15%

Damage to my purse : About S$45 each for a case of 6.

Characteristic :
The colour is deep plum red and is medium to full bodied.  It was mildly sharp and oaky on the nose with appealing fragrance of ripen plums.
The fine flavour of dark cherry got stronger toward the mid-palate, along with rich and creamy feel of some dark chocolate and vanilla and always with a great balance of sharpness and very smooth finishing.

MY TAKE : So far the reds from the Burge Family have not disappointed.  I like the smooth and rich mouth feel.  It’s a pleasant evening wine and so enjoyable that I cannot tell it has a 15% alcohol content.