Astons Prime (67+p)

467 Joo Chiat Road
Tel: 63442447
Open 11.30 to 11pm / Closed on Tuesdays

WADA rating: 45.5 +22= 67+ pts
QPI: 7+ ($30 for a sizeable cut of steak and $90 for a 200gm Wagyu, no GST or service charge)
WFI: B+ ($10 per btl but are not sticky about it as we were charged $40 for 8 bottles that we opened, stemware is pretty classy but they come in only one shape type, all in all a wine friendly place)

Supposedly their flagship outlet, Astons Prime has built its reputation on serving good quality and cuts of meat at decent prices. I have tried their coffeeshop outlet at Sgn Gardens and can't say I was impressed. However, this particular outlet had been trumpeted by Paul and Ray as their favourite place for a "simple" steak so I had to come taste for myself.

What's Good

Steaks!!!
Without doubt, please have a steak when you are here because this is absolutely their calling card. They have a range of cuts and grades to choose from and I suggest you go through the whole range. We ordered the potterhouse cut of the Aussie grain-fed which is just huge! Thank goodness, I had DBF to share it with. Done medium rare, the steak is thick , juicy and succulent with a purity of clean beef flavours. They don't smoke the steaks so the flavours are all natural and there is no way of hiding a lousy cut or stale quality. So far, I am impressed with the cleaness and purity of the steaks here. Slightly lightly browned , the insides retains its half-doneness of greyish red.
Managed to snip a mouthful of Wagyu from Ming's plate as well...ooh man... heavenly smoky bacon fat permeates through your mouth with every bite. Extremely different from what I was having, the wagyu is decadent and can be cloyingly rich so...enjoy it sparingly...less is more.

Fries
These are the best fries I have tried. I think they make them fresh because it takes some time to be served and each plate looks like they came from one big potato that had just been sliced and prepared in the kitchen. Fried to an almost golden crisp, it is coated in a spice salt flavouring that is addictive. The best thing is that it comes in a big bowl so do order a bowl to share in a group of four.

Comments

This is really a meat and steak place so don't expect too much variety here. They do have sides like cheese macaroni and veggies too that are decent. Have also heard quite good reviews from those that tried the Lamb, Kurobuta Pork, Chicken and Grilled Fish so if you are bored of beef , there is life after beef here. The decor is simple and unpretentious so if you are thinking of bringing your hot date or client to a good steak dinner, I suggest you give Astons a pass. However, if you do want to have good meats with your own wine and don't want to burn a hole in your pocket....come here!

Wine Pairing
Shirazes of Australia

What better way to have steak than with a good robust glass or glasses of shiraz. The night had been planned with shiraz in mind and thanks to various generous contributions from my friends, we had a wonderful array of Aussie shirazes all from different regions.
A few were tasted the night before and re-tasted with the steak after bottle-decanting for a day.

2004 Pettavel Southern Émigré Shiraz Viognier, Geelong
WADA rated 86+pts
Deep reddish-purple. Lifted vegetal nose of cabbage / lettuce / cucumber ? …whatever it is this is vegy perfume. Semi-sweet and semi-sour bright small spicy berries Still elegant with a medium to long finish and smooth gentle tannins.
After decanting, the nose had a pronounced green capsicum mixed with white frangipani flowers. The palate had taken a more delectable ribena currant juice. A pretty good effort. It is quite expressive given it is from the southernmost coolest climate of the range.
Persona
Awkwardly different from the rest (sticks out like a sore thumb) yet not at all shy. She expresses her views as she feels it and at this moment, she is onto the hippie movement of flower and going green for the environment. She is thin and needs to be meatier. She resembles Calista Flockhart.

1998 Dalwhinnie Moonabel Shiraz, Pyrennes (JO95)
WADA rated 92+pts
Garnet with slight brownish hue. Cooked plums with a lift of orange peels. The aromas are beautifully restrained ….emitting gentle waves of savory plums , bbq meats and ribena. Beautifully aged dark round fruits with licourice and nutmeg spice. Exceptionally refined and elegant with graceful stature. The finish is smooth and gentle…fading to a gentle glow.
I had actually accidentally bottle decanted it the night before but it was a good mistake. After decanting, the nose is amazingly pinot noir-ish…of fart and muskiness. The palate is ever so gentle with a radiating glow of raspberry fruit. I can see this going with a wide range of cuisines besides the traditional pairing of Shiraz with heavy meats. Versatility that comes with the age and experience, this Shiraz totally does it for me. I love it!
Persona
Cooked and weathered yet still exuding signs of her sprightly succulence of her younger days. However, wisdom and age has made her more savory and given her an aura of stately grandeur. Maturity has curbed her desires to be fully frontal and given her a gentleness that soothes the savage throat. Your Excellencies, may I present her royal highness - Helen Mirrin.

2004 Paterson’s Shiraz, Gundagi (JH93)
WADA rated 84pts
Obvious violets nose surfaces among blueberry consommé. Sweet enveloping semi-jammy core of medium sized ripened blueberry plums. Not princess elegant but still preserves lady-like elegance and gentleness.

2004 Charles Cimicky Reserve Shiraz, Barossa (RP95, WS90)
WADA rated 91pts
Deep purple. Brambly crayola spice dominates over nice fully ripe and round black berries / raspberries with a lining of glycerin. Salty savoriness attacks the front palate with bacon fat nuances. The mid-palate is full of juicy black berry pie with some dried herb and spices. Very luscious sweet ripeness that is very elegant and restrained with the alcohol. Finishes with lovely licourice.
After decanting, the fruits still hold very well and seem to have taken on a more delicate orangey spectrum. The tannins are velvety smooth and caresses the palate like an experienced Javanese massage…deep tissue but very tension relieving.
Persona
Voluptuously ripe and round. Salty and sultry. Lusciously sweet but with considerable sexy elegance. Can get feisty-ly spicy as the evening draws near but her sweetness overwhelms like the morning dew. This is an Angelina Jolie.

2005 Pertaringa Over The Top Shiraz, Mclarenvale (RP92, JH94)
WADA re-rated 83pts
Purple to almost blackish. Thick glycerin with hints of crayola. Good black fruits with some dried twigs on the palate. Didn’t taste that much different from the first time this was tasted.
However, after decanting, this little devil is much more tamed in its approach but still big on the structure and glycerin. With the steak, it definitely tasted so much better. The harder tannins are smoothened out with big black fruits still dominating…with hints of dark mocha on the finish. So much better than before.
Persona
A succulent body….not to a sexy extent but definitely quite voluptuous. Carries her weight well. She is really quite beautiful in demeanor but is temperamentally spicier than her arch-rival – Angelina. Maybe that is why Brad left her. She is your Jennifer Aniston.

2006 Nashwauk Wrecked Shiraz, Mclarenvale (RP90-93)
WADA rated 83pts
Big nose of mixed berry fruit pie mixed into a pot of glycerin-laced ink. Although not over the top, this packs an obvious punch. The body fills your mouth completely and has that horse-radish nose choking effect. Tannins still hard probably due to its youth. A small giant that tramples over your palate.