Almost-Shiraz @ Asia Grand

For this post, we will be focusing on the wines had at a recent wine dinner with the NBS poker-wine gang. Asia Grand is also a restaurant up there in my favourite restaurants list and a WADA review will be done for it in the near future. But first...presenting the wines!

It was unofficially made an almost all Shiraz / Syrah night because Teck and Lyd wanted to buy us a good bottle of 1999 Peter Lehman Stonewell....and i decided to throw a few bottles for comparisons...one thing led to another and Eu Ming also threw in 2 aged wines (1 NZ, 1 Californian). All wines were tasted blind.

From L to R: Kaesler Touriga, Robert Mondavi Sauvignon Blan, Castellon Pinot Grigio, Henri & Vincent Chollet Dame Claire, and Benziger Reserve Cab Sau

From L to R: Muirlea Rise, Peter Lehmann Stonewell, Trevor Jones Wild Witch, Maris Old Vine and the Boxer

Benziger Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1998, Sonoma (WE91)
Wada rated 82pts
A very promising start as the first red of the night. Woody on the nose with some plums and dark blue fruits. Really dark cherries and blue berries on the palate with a lil spice heat & lots of oak, which had some of my WADE frens guessing it as a shiraz. However, nearing the finish…the typical Californian Cab characteristics surfaces. Not sure what proper term its known as but I remember this particular taste as crayons.

Muirlea Rise Mareth 2000, Marlbourough NZ

Can;t really remember the notes on this. Maybe my frens can help me.

Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz 1999, Barossa (JH96, JO95)
WADA rated 92+pts

Beautiful dark purple. Deep dark fruits and hints of wilderness. Satin silky berryish flavours that stroke your palate with a complex mix of spices / mint. Extremely elegant and balanced mid-long finish. This wine is at its prime for drinking now!

Trevor Jones Wild Witch Shiraz 1999, Barossa (RP92)
Wada rated 85+pts

Opaque purple. Nice gunsmoke , wild game nose… hmmm.. smell reminds me of old people too... a lil musky..in a gd way. To round it off, there is definitely Barossa Power in the nose and palate too- a fruit bomb on its ending last burst of fire with a dose of pepper. The aging has given elegance and finesse to the fruitiness and alcohol of this wine.

Maris Old Vine Syrah 2004, Minervois La Livinière (WS90)
WADA rated 92+pts

Nose of game, gunsmoke and hint of “oldness”. Intriguing aromas…complex and appealing. Hoever, note that we had bottle decanted this for at least 8 hours before tasting. Of all the shiraz tasted, this one stood out quite obviously as the odd nail…like the grapefruit among the oranges. Well-balanced, dense and full bodied. Black / blue berries and dark mocha choc on the finish. However, compared to the other shiraz tasted…this is just difference…seems more backward, harder to understand. The closest comparison would be against the 99 Trevor Jones Wild Witch.

Mollydooker The Boxer 2006, South Australia (RP94, WS90)
WADA rated 83+pts

Beautiful bright dark purple. Lovely sweet aromas of candied fruits and some bacon fat. V big wine.. it’s a nuclear fruit bomb of blueberries, blackberries , cassis and ink. Its just extremely ripe…the sweet flavours and aftertaste almost reminds me of the kaesler touriga nacional 2002. Crowd pleaser anytime but wine snobs pl beware…this might be too kiddish and straightforward.

Kaesler Touriga Nacional 2002, Barossa (RP95)
WADA rated 93pts

Don’t get me started on this wine…its my favourite dessert wine at the moment (its got extremely good QPI - $35 per bot only) and I have easily downed half a case of this since last year….so much so that I am running out of stock fast. It’s a semi-port cos its made from Port grapes – Touriga but its grown and made in Australia. I love to get up every morning to the smell of this wine - intense aromas of roasted blackberry-flavoured coffee beans and “chao-tar” toasted bread I thought I could smell some violets as well. Sip this …don’t drink it cos its like those really good viscous hot choc that you get in Belgium but intermixed with a condensified cup of cappuccino “gao” and blackberry jam concentrate. The finish is like gazing at the constellation of stars in the pitch black sky way out in the dusty outback desert ….long long into the night…. v memorable.