Wine Entry : Rheinhessen 2004 Flonheimer Klostergarten Spatlese (German)

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This wine was purchased from DFS, and it was an encouraging golden yellow colour.
However, it disappointed tremedously.
Smell : Mild maple walnut, sandalwood scents.

Taste : Very flimsy and weak. Comprising of a palate of orange peel. It was a struggle to drink it.

After-taste : Flat & bitter peel. More suited as a salad dressing than a wine. Seemed to be pretty much over the hill.

Wine Entry : Pouilly-Fuisse 2006 (French)

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Got a chance to try this delightful bottle of Pouilly-Fuisse at CHIJMES Lei Gardens on Thursday night with our good frens from NZ. It went well with the dishes such as roast pork and hairy crabs. The bouquet was fragrant flora and peachy. The flavour was distinctly minerally flint interlaced with lemon and nectarines. Mild mannered acidity at the end.

Wine Fair : New Zealand Wine Fair Singapore (Tuesday 28 Oct 08) Part 2

To continue...

Vinoptima Gisborne Gewurztraminer 2004 (NZ)

Smell : Fresh green and red apples.

Taste : Highly aromatic intertwined with longan and lychee flavours.

After-taste : Dry, mild acidity with some bitter lemon peel

Konrad Bunch Selection Riesling 2008 (NZ)

Smell : Banana esters and apricots

Taste : Refreshingly sweet banana, pears and some citrus on the palate

After-taste : Mild acidity which finishes nicely.

Konrad Sigrun Noble Riesing 2006 (NZ)

Won the following...

- 1999 Blue Gold Award at Sydney International Wine Competition 2001

- 2001 Gold Medal at Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2002

- 2002 Blue-Gold Award at Sydney International Wine Competition 2004

- 2003 Gold Medal at Liquorland Top 100 -2004

- Gold Medal at 2005 Royal Easter Show Wine Awards, Auckland

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 91 points.

Wine Fair : New Zealand Wine Fair Singapore (Tuesday 28 Oct 08) Part 1

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Okay okay..I did go down to the New Zealand Wine Fair at Water Front Grand Copthorne after the initial hesitation on how to go about the payment. They took the payment of $30 per pax at the door.

Quite a good turn out of generous & friendly New Zealand wine makers and distributors. The Central Otago's Pinots were still the outstanding "must drink" as well as the Sauvignon Blancs. Picked up a bottle of Seifried's Ice Wine which was delicious in the 2005 vintage. And even got a half bottle of Seifried's Sauvignon Blanc to take back home.

Some of the recommended wines tasted :

Amsifield Pinot Noir 2006 (NZ Central Otago) - The main crowd pleaser

Smell : Awash with raspberry and strawberry candy fragrance.

Taste : Smooth easy on the palate, dark cherry and cherry pits.

After taste : Comfortable easiness on the palate.

Felton Road Pinot Noir 2007 (NZ Central Otago)

Smell : Cherry oak and strawberry

Taste : Sweetish strawberry cheesecake like. Smooth and light.

After-taste : Finishes off with some citrus acidity. Lacking in length.

Rockburn Pinot Noir 2007 (NZ Central Otago)

Smell : Light strawberry wisps.

Taste : Ice cream soda sweetness, less complex. Made in a quaffing style.

After-taste : Silky smooth tannins

Quartz Reef Pinot Noir 2007 (NZ Central Otago)

Smell : Deep Raspberry.

Taste : Cheery raspberry, light bodied and smooth.

After-taste : Commendable finish but not overly complex.

Wine Fair : Wine for Asia 2008 (Auntsfield Estate Ltd)

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Lorna from Auntsfield Estate was very nice to send me the tasting notes of the various wines at her booth at Wine for Asia 2008.

The number one, numero uno on my list is :

Auntsfield Estate Heritage 2005 Pinot Nior

This wine is only produced in exceptional years when a selection of wine exhibits amazingly defined character.
The resulting Pinot Noir is a pure expression of vineyard character. The aromatics are heady with complex fruit and earthy character. They seem to both tantalize and seduce until the wine is tasted and the journey continues. The palate shows layers of silky texture, dark fruit and savoury flavors that reveal, evolve, express and continue. An expression of place for us all to enjoy.

Tasting Notes

Colour: Deep ruby/crimson, very intense.

Aroma: Black Doris plum, dark cherry, dried spices and Christmas cake with tobacco & cigar box notes. Dry forest floor, with underlying dark chocolate, coffee, vanilla and rich smoky oak.

Palate: Big rich fruit dominated by dark berry fruit, cherry and ripe spiced plums. A rich palate showing great complexly with interwoven spices, fruit and savoury flavours. The wine has a long rich finish with silky, ripe tannins and unbelievable length.

Long Cow 2008 Sauvignon Blanc

Really nice distinct aromatic scents, definitely showcases the best of NZ's Sauvignon Blancs.

Auntsfield Estate produces a distinctive style of Sauvignon Blanc. The style is aimed towards texture, complexity and length, balancing the typical Marlborough fruit spectrum and aromatics with richness and mouth feel. The fruit for this wine was grown on the original "Long Cow" Paddock, land used in colonial times to graze the Auntsfield house-cow.

Colour : Pale straw/gold.

Aroma : Lifted aromas of passionfruit, gooseberry and rich tropical fruits with hints of lemon and lime blossom.

Palate : Full, rich and elegant. This wine shows intense flavours of passionfruit and gooseberry balanced with ripe tropical fruit reminiscent of papaya, banana and wild honey. Underlying minerality balances the generous palate weight and mouth filling texture. A complex wine with a long lingering finish.

Cob Cottage 2007 Chardonnay

Aromatic layers of ripe stone fruit and nuances are integrated with a subtle sweet French Oak influence. The ripe full-bodied palate of pure fruit is balanced by mineral and citrus notes. An elegant wine showing both fresh vibrancy and rich depth. The grapes for this wine were grown near the site of an early Cob Cottage which was the home of Doctor Stewart, Marlborough’s first medical practitioner.

Colour : Rich straw gold

Aroma : Intense and complex. This wine displays aromas of peach, apricot, nectarine, mandarin and lemon blossom with a subtle sweet French Oak influence.

Palate : Intense pure stone fruit with a rich ripe texture and complex nuances. Apricot, nectarine, peach, butterscotch and toffee are balanced with elegant mineral and citrus notes. A wine of seamless length and complexity.