When Too Much is TOO MUCH A nice perspective on what is too much to pay for wine. How and why do people pay the price of a good house for few glasses of fleeting pleasure. Andrew Jefford, award winning vineous scribe extraordinare nails it on the head with his thought on wines made for people who have too much money to have any sense of perspective. Referring to an RM520,000 offering by penfolds for an 'ampoule' of Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon. http://www.decanter.com/news/blogs/expert/530747/jefford-on-monday-wine-and-pretension?utm_source=Cheetahmail&utm_medium=email&utm_content=news+alert+link+070113&utm_campaign=Newsletter-070113&dec

2011.12.04 in Perth

2007 Coldstream Hills Chardonnay on special for AUD17.
OOzing with flavours and fresh acidity. Minerality laced with citrus, honey melon and pear notes. A real winner. Regret not opening this with the delightful seafood meal we downed an hour earlier. Would have helped the oysters slide down nicely.

22.11.2011 Tasting

2004 de Trafford Elevation 393, Stelenbosch South Africa
Creamy cassis, good depth, layers of flavor. Nice Balance and length
2000 Vergelegen Vergelegen, Stelenbosch South Africa
Complex, powerful and left bank in style. Nice minerality and tobacco notes. Good secondary notes.
2005 d'Angludet, Margaux
Nice palate but has already lost much of the fruit that made this an attractive wine.

20.11.2011 INAUGARAL i-1-WINE JOURNEY

THE LINE-UP:
1. New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc -2010 Manu (Marlborough)
2. Australian Chardonnay -2010 Capel Vale -Debut (Western Australia)
3. French (Alsace) Gewurtztraminer -2009 Hugel (Alsace)
4. Italian Lambrusco Red/Rose/White - NV Cavicchioli Bianco/white
5. Italian (Asti) Moscato - NV Fontanafredda
6. Italian (Chianti/Tuscan) Sangiovese - 2007 Ruffina Riserva Ducale
7. Australian Shiraz - 2010 Grant Burge (Barossa)
8. Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon -1 year old -2010 Errazuriz
9. South African Cabernet Sauvignon -6 years old -2005 de Trafford (Stellenbosch)
10. French Bordeaux (mainly Cabernet Sauvignon) -2007 Reserve de La Comtesse (Pauillac)

2006 Cirrus Syrah, Stellenbosch, 15%alc (cough!cough!), Stellenbosch, S.Africa
JV between SA & USA
COLOR: Ink with dull magenta rim
NOSE: Tad reductive, restained notes of ripe plums scented with vanilla and a hint of violets. Opens to reveal layers of complex fruit. Tightly wound.
PALATE: Rich & plush. Restrained power. Complex. Tannins soften nicely with time.

2002 Pepper Tree Grand Reserve Coonawarra Cab. Sauv.
COLOR: Inky ruby-garnet-brown.
NOSE:Initially musty, this 9 year old's nose clears to reveal layers of chocolate and berry fruit with almost none of the classic eucalyptus notes. Further evolution reveals American Oak coconut hints and more eucalyptus. Fruit still youthful. Some wonderful thyme like herbal notes add another dimension to this wine.
PALATE; Plush and long, the palate carries on with elegance and restained power. Fairly complex with wonderfully "grainy"/chewy mouthfeel.
SCORE: 5,13,17,8 = 93

14.11.2011 Tasting @ Ribs by Vintry's

1. 2005 Sierra Cantabria, Rioja Reserva (DOC)
Ruby with raspberry edges. Nose of plums on smoke with cassis and white pepper hints. palate follows nose. Decent power, balance & length. Score - 86

2. 2001 Beronia, Rioja Gran Reserva (DOC)
Ruby with 1.5cm garnet brick edge. Nose displays lean redcurrent note with hints of orange peel. Palate follows nose. Good power, balance & length. Scored 90

3. 2001 Vega Sicilia, Valbuena, Ribera del Duero.
Ruby with 2cm garnet brick edge. Attractive and complex nose with hints of red currant, orange peel and cabernet secondary notes. Balanced, long, hint acidic with firmish tannins. Better with food. Scored 91

4. Vega Sicilia, Pintia, Toro
Ruby with half cm garnet edge.
Red currant, firmish tannins underlying plush mouthfeel.