Dear Wine Geometrists,
This week, I attended a wine tasting event held by La Petite Boutique.
The idea of the owners is to offer multiple levels of choice to the consumer, ranging from entry-level wines (30-40$) to Grand Cru wines (over 200$). They started the shop by selling cheese, but with consumer demand growing, they started pairing the wines with the cheeses, and they now have a very decent range of wines! One of the owners has worked 15 years in the wine department of Carrefour stores, so they know their deal.
We started with a Rose wine to begin in a friendly, light atmosphere of getting to know everyone. I am not a fan of Rose wine, but I must say this one really impressed me: this Henry Gaillard Cotes de Provence fits perfectly as an appetizer, or along with a sunny afternoon and a BBQ with sausages. Modest but well-balanced, it is a delight to start a dinner when you have guests! Dry but still fruity, it sells at 36$ a bottle, which is really a bargain.
Then, we switched to reds. Their entry-level is a beauty, and it is the one I have picked for you today: the Chateau Begadanet 2013 (Medoc). Labelled "Cru Bourgeois" to announce its high quality, this Medoc is astonishing for its young age: the smell and taste are those of an old wine, mixing the Autumn atmosphere of leaves, mushrooms and mold; smoky as if it had been aged for many years in an oak barrel, then kept for 10+ years in a cave. 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, it is a smooth combination for this limestone soil, and is certainly a great idea to buy now and keep a few years. Sold at 42.50 SGD per bottle at their store, it is rated 90 points by WineMag and received Gold medal (even if I don't really like awards...) at the Gilbert and Gaillard 2015 Competition.
Personal rating: 16/20
Another favourite of the evening were both Villa Symposia wines "L'Origine 2011" and "L'Equilibre 2011", from Languedoc region (South of France). I completely agree with Robert Parker's score (92 points) and review so I will copy it here (this is about l'Origine):
"The 2011 Languedoc Origine checks in as a blend of Syrah and Grenache that spent 18 months in foudre. Slightly fresher, with bright berry and purple fruits, licorice, roasted herbs and ample background meatiness, this beauty hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, impressive purity of fruit and loads of texture. It should impress over the coming 5-7 years or so, and certainly, there’s no harm in drinking now. This brilliant lineup of wines is made by Eric Prissette, of Saint-Emilion’s Chateau Rol Valentin. Both his 2011s and 2012s are superb."
It is a beautiful blend of 95% Syrah and 5% Grenache, grapes of the south which are generally spicier than average.
Also an easy 16/20 personally.
So head over to Serangoon or to their website to enjoy their great cheese platters and wines!
