Gruaud Larose 1986

Date: 26 December 2005
Venue: TSR Restaurant, LKF

The nose was classic Bordeaux - dark fruit with leather which was too intense for my liking initially, but mellowed after half an hour. The first mouthful was a little overwhelming as a result of the overpowering leather but the palate became smooth, fine textured and well balanced after the onion soup. The wine partnered beautifully with the truffle risotto, duck breast and beef tenderloin.

Rating: good

Foppiano 'Russian River Valley' Pinot Noir 2001

Date: 17 December 2005
Venue: Biella Italian Restaurant

This wine was tasted right after the Petit Village 82. Colour was more fresh and intense compared to the French offering, reasonable considering the much younger age of the wine. The nose was sweet and fruity. Well balanced structure with berry and plum flavour.

Biella offers "Northern Italian and French" cuisine, it is located in a non-descript dual commercial-residential building in TST. The lift is remarkably tiny but the stated capacity is 400kg so it will fit 4 obese gluttons nicely. Fare included Cream of watercress soup, various pasta dishes, braised ox-tail and braised ox-tongue. All the dishes were done well but the ox-tongue deserved a gold medal - exquisite taste, tender texture and beautifully presented. They also offered a very nice selection of cheese and dessert.

Rating: good

Petit Village 1982

Date: 17 December 2005
Venue: Biella Italian Restaurant

The wine was aired for an hour prior to tasting. Colour - brick red. Nose - soft, supple and flowery. Palate - smooth with sweet fruits, minimal tannin. A charming feminine Pomerol which has probably reached its peak and should be enjoyed now.

Rating: excellent

Saltram No.1 Barossa Shiraz 2001

Date: 11 December 2005
Venue:Vicky's Art Studio

'William Salter started the vineyard at Mamre Brook homestead in Barossa in 1859. The first vintage produced in 1862 was called "No.1 Shiraz". The 2001 vintage was released in 2004, 142 years after the first. Weather in the Barossa in 2001 was warmer than average and produced fully ripened Shiraz, giving the wine intense concentration of flavour and tannin, which will enable this wine to cellar well for up to 15 years.'

So much for the official splurge. The wine was decanted and aired for an hour prior to tasting. A bottle of M&C Champagne was opened while waiting for the Saltram. Food included smoked salmon with Philly cheese and truffle, parma ham rocket honey roll, lobster salad, XO sauce seafood fried rice, shanghainese pork knuckle, and Cantonese-style steam chicken.

Colour of the Saltram No.1 was dark crimson. Powerful plummy nose with dark chocolate, vanilla and hint of spice. Typical shiraz plum, berry fruit taste, ribena like, smooth velvety tannin with a beautiful finish. Not for die-hard French enthusiasts because no oak or brett evident.

Rating: excellent