2004 McGUIGAN Chambourcin, Hunter Valley

Tasting Notes:

It's a special full bodies wine from Hunter, the 2004 vintage gives a very old leather smell with heavy fruity taste. Oak taste comes at the end of all. Our comments conclude that, this wine is so personal that only suitable for people who can accept different varies of taste.

p.s. This wine is not for normal drink, it's only good for taste explorers, you might found it hard to drink if you are not easy to accept new tastes. So, I don't recommend to match any food with it, but a powerful cheese.

Food: A strong Blue cheese would be great.

Price: A$12 from cellar door

Rating: 88 points

2004 Jamiesons Run Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra

Tasting Notes:

Aroma fruity smell, medium red color, strawberry and plum taste with mild alcohol sense, medium body. With the classic Cabernet Sauvignon character, it's a good accompany of mild Italian food. But this wine doesn't stay too long in your mouth and haven't give too much feed back, it might not be too suitable for tasting. However, it would be a good value wine for B.Y.O.

Price: A$13

Rating: 79 points

2005 Alban Estate Chambourcin, Riveria, NSW, Australia

Tasting Notes:

It's my second time of my life to meet this rare grape, Chambourcin. It's quite sticky since it hang on the side of the glass once it's opened. Smell like Cabernet Sauvignon but taste much more complex. Taste covered all . Fruity taste come with a bit of plum spicy at the end and a touch of oak flavor. Medium to Full Body.

Food:

It could be good to drink with red meat dishes or tomato basil sauced pasta.

P.S.:
When the first I tried this wine was in the Hyde Park during the NSW wine week. It tasted surprisingly powerful when I tried in the outdoor tasting environment. It was the first wine I tried that day. However, it wasn't taste as powerful as in that tasting when I tried it again tonight.

Price: A$15 ( Price on the tasting day)

Rating: 89 points

2004 Penfolds Bin 8 Cabernet Shiraz - South Australia

Tasting Notes:

Open with fruity and a bit spices smell fulfilled the room, comes with A Dark red color, easily stick on the side of the glass shows the thickness, she's very smooth and full body, she has a fruity taste (cherry and plum) and nose from the character of Cabernet Sauvignon and pepper and spices give a bit spicy taste from the character of Shiraz. Wood flavor is present but not strong. Very multiple tastes and nicely layered.

P.S.: Penfolds wine, one of the most famous vineyards, Bin series, grapes took from south australia

Price: A$20 from Sydney Airport (Sold approximately within HKD$300)

Rating : 87 points

2005 Veramonte Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

2005 Veramonte Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - Colchagua Valley, Chile

Tasting Notes:

Medium Red color, Honey liked smell, Very Fruity taste but not so sweet, Medium bodies.

Food:

HK style homemade chinese food with is sweet (not sour) and lightly soy sauce
cooked. Pasta in Tomato and Basil Sauce.

Price: HKD$90 / A$15

Rating: 85 points

1998 Chateau Tour Prignac, Medoc

For the first sharing, I would like to put most of wine tried before here, well..... just try my best of my poor memory.

1998 Chateau Tour Prignac, Medoc - Bouteille

Tasting Notes:

Smell like old red wine after opened, taste alright, very different from the normal reds. Taking the old factor away, the strong and full bodies was still there heavily, fruity nose and taste couldn't be ignored. Dark Red color are always present in those expensive high class red wines.

p.s. it was the first vintage French red I had tasted ever, so I would look forward to try some more other and compare (if I got enough $ to support, sadly). Although my best friends and I was quite disappointed, it's still a very rare and valuable French red, I was happy with the experience. That was an unforgettable tasting opportunity. Special thanks to my best friend, Jacky Wong.

Price: nil (Provided by Friend)

Rating: /

Cellar Blog Grand Open

After times reminding, my blog, where sharing my wine and cooking experiences, is finally opened.

I wait such long time till today to start doing this, actually, it was because I wasn't so confident to do so, well.....I am still not really confident on my nose and my tongue. (of course I am worry about my terribly writing as well.....)

Anyway, after encouraging by my friends, my flatmate, specially Martin and Mattieu, I am here starting to write down my tasting experience, my feeling on the lively food ..... and wines.

I will be here writing down my tries of varies of wine and how I think the type of food would or not match. (Mostly, Australian wines would be tried, due to the relatively cheaper price in Sydney) Hopefully, people who is reading this blog will love my sharing and share some of their experiences or nice memories, I'll appreciate that.

Here, hope we would have a good start.

Cheers,
Lawrence