I've got quite an early start in drinking wine. In fact, I think I started appreciating wine when I was still in my college years, mostly due to family upbringing - not my parents though. It's my uncle that introduced me to the world of wines. Although at the age of 18, a bottle of Wyndham Estate Shiraz Bin 555 is already an expensive bottle to me, it didn't stop me from enjoying it. I think the most expensive bottle that I had when I was in college was a Moet & Chandon champagne.
Memoir of a wine bottle
Everyone starts at somewhere, and I started with Wyndham Estate, an australian label - easily available and affordable. I've been drinking australian for many years, well, until lately, ever since I met my wine drinking friends. There's no turning back now after you've got a taste of those fabulous wine enclosed in french labels. Thus, it was an offer I couldn't resist when I received an invitation from Lenny, the PR person for Millenium Associates to join the "Baron of Barossa", Nigel Dolan whom is the Chief Winemaker at Wyndham Estate. It brings back many memories especially how I developed a liking for the Bin 555 Shiraz and how I shared the bottle with my special someone on my birthday when I was 21.
Joining me for lunch were KY, Gareth @ Shaolin Tiger & Kim. I arrived late due to the crazy traffic. We started off with a Sparkling Bin 555 Shiraz. It was paired with Wild mushroom consomme with oxtail ravioli. The bowl is big and the ravioli is so small (as usual) but that didn't deter me from enjoying the miniscule appetiser. The sparkling wine was something special as I don't always get to taste a sparkling wine. It was also a bottle of Bin 555 which brought back memories.
This is what you'll get when you have bloggers for lunch!
(If you're not used to eating with bloggers, I suggest you to stay away. It can be very annoying.)
Next up, we had the foie gras bon bon with caramelized apple. The foie gras was wrapped in a dumpling like manner, deep fried to golden brown and served with Wyndham Estate Show Reserve Cabernet Merlot. You know I'm a sucker for foie gras but this meal doesn't seemed to satisfy my foie gras cravings because the portion was too small. Pairing it with a slice of caramelised apple was refreshing as it goes very well with the sauce.
The food
Then for the main course, we had a choice of confit of salmon trout with poached oyster or oven roasted beef fillet with caramelised shallots. If you choose the salmon, WE Show Reserve Chardonnay will go well with it and as for me, I chose beef and thus I had a glass of WE Show Reserve, Shiraz. I quite like this bottle as it has hints of spice plum and the palate is soft and balanced. I'm not a fan of Chardonnay and not to mention I forgot to have a glass of it. So, don't even ask me how it tasted like because I wouldn't know, would I? KY was so into the salmon that kept on complimenting about it. I felt it was alright but the beef I had was a bit tough. Bet it was older than I do!
For dessert, we had a green tea & white chocolate mousse served in dark chocolate cups and a jelly. It was good chocolate, I can tell (being a full time worker at a chocolate factory) and I love the hot chocolate at Chinoz because they are using the Valrhona chocolate! I can be wrong about wine and cigars, but not with chocolate.
A total of 4 different bottles of Wyndham Estate were served that afternoon. It was a good lunch as I've never realised that I'm missing out on so many other bottles of WE. The wine served at tastings usually gets better along the way and so does the price. I used to purchase Bin 555 at RM50 a bottle years ago and I'm not sure what's the price nowadays for the same bottle. All I do know is that, good things are never cheap. I somehow feel that there is a lack of depth for Australian wines - not saying for all australian wines as I've tasted some really good ones. Everyone has to start from somewhere and I have no better recommendation that one should start with an australian label and then slowly move on to other regions to find your favourite bottle. As I have found mine now, having gone through at least 40 - 50 different bottles from different vineyards and vintages.
Cheers to more good food & expensive booze!
It is very obvious that KY couldn't drink. Just look at his red face vs mine! lol.... That was not all, as if the wine wasn't just for drinking that "someone" has to make an art out of the Show Reserve! I couldn't remember whom did it but it was certainly a great work of art. Nigel must have been very proud with us bloggers being so creative and all! I enjoyed the invitation very much and thank you!
Cheers to art with wine appreciation!
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar