| The Precious Red |
| Name: Les Traverses Type: Red blends, Grenache Shiraz Vintage: 1999 Producer: Paul Jaboulet Aine Origin: Rhone Vally, Ventoux, France Status: Cotes du Ventoux Controlee Place of Purchase: NTUC Fair Price (Bedok) Description: Heard alot about good Rhone wines and bought one to drink... and get disappointed by this one. With the Cotes du Ventoux Controlee, I can't understand why this wine tastes so bland and senseless, not to mention too soft and diluted for my pleasure. Not only does its aroma fail to capture my nose, sometimes my palete strain to sense any hint of tastes in the wine. Heard that Ventoux wines taste best when young, so perhaps this wine is already past its prime? But c'mon, give me something better as this wine doesn't really taste good. Although with a price tag of only $18+, this wine is not even value for money when compared to better Australian wines. Rating: 5.5, although relatively cheap, I won't recommend this one. |
| Name: Jacob's Creek Carbernet Sauvignon Type: Red, Carbernet Sauvignon Vintage: 2001 Producer: Orlando Wines Origin: Jacob's Creek, South Australia Status: -- Place of Purchase: Cold Storage (Parkway Parade) Description: This wine is bubbling with vigor! After pouring, it brims with a fresh and tempting aroma. Once you taste it, the delicous tastes of rich berries instantly overwhelms you. It also has a tinge of sweetness that makes the tasting more enjoyable. After swallowing, a satisfactory after-taste completes the wonderful experience. Oh god, this wine is heavenly! With a fine tannin structure, it will also complement well with fine red meat. I had a chance to drink because it is strongly recommended by a good friend (thanks Alvin!) who bought it as a gift when he visited during Chinese New Year. And boy, this wine is REALLY GOOD!! Costing $21+, this wine is one of the best that you can get. Go grab it or miss its heavenly taste. Rating: 9, fantastically good!! |
| Name: Penfolds Bin 2, Shiraz Mourvedre Type: Red Blends, Shiraz and Mourvedre Vintage: 2001 Producer: Penfolds Wines Origin: Penfold Road, South Australia Status: -- Place of Purchase: NTUC (Marine Parade) Description: My first impression is that this wine is bursting with very juicy berries and fruits that takes your breath away. Apart from being fruity, it also has a slight earthy tinge and a hint of plums and oak that makes it more complex. Being soft and smooth, it will delight anyone who loves fruity wines. Searching for information, realize that the Mourvedre is a grape type most commonly used in Southern Rhone, and it adds much spiciness and depth to the wine. Indeed this is true. Coming from the world famous Penfolds Winery, this wine is certainly of high standards that can put most mediocre wines to shame. At a price of $23+, it's a reasonable buy. Rating: 8, a delightful fruity wine. |
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| Name: Chateau Tour Blanquet Type: Red blends, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon Vintage: 1998 Producer: Chateau Tour Blanquet Origin: St. Estephe, Bordeaux, France Status: Appelation St. Estephe Controlee Place of Purchase: NTUC Fair Price (Tampines) Description: I have not tried French wines for some time because of bad experiences but i have not given up. I bought this wine which has a reputable Appelation and it costs around $30+... thinking that it should be worthy. Uh oh, BIG mistake again. This wine is so tasteless and senseless that i nearly fall off my seat after tasting. Although it is aromatic and smooth, its taste is simply bland and clearly lacking of complexity. Can it be worth such a high price and Appelation repute? After that, I have only 3 things to ponder over: 1) Either French wines generally suck, or the ones I bought suck. 2) I'm too pampered by Australian wines that I develop too high tastes to appreciate 'normal' French wines. 3) I am struck by incredible bad luck to taste only senseless French wines. Whatever the case, I'm deeply disappointed by this one. Rating: 5, expensive mediocrity. Save your money for better Australian wines. |