Thursday, August 14
Today marks the day of my wine tasting event, held at Swissotel, The Stamford. It was great, fantastic, super great, fabulous. Other then the fact that although my sore throat is gone, my flu and block nose + running nose still persist. Everything was wonderful.
I can’t emphasize enough on how much more I’ve enjoyed this compared to the other 2 I’ve been. The other 2 was good and educational too, but I feel kind of suffocated la. This one, its freedom!
I went up aaaalll the way to the 69th floor of the building, feeling a bit hollowed out in my ear, queued up to get the pass, they gave away notebooks and a pen, which I figured I wouldn’t need but I was wrong, then again, I am probably too lazy to jot down everything I drink. The notebook was in a nice black color though, maybe I should have just gotten it.
The wine range from about 30 to over a hundred dollar. I didn’t really focus so much on the price coz there are already a few that I have in mind which I wanted to try before I am even there.
I proceed straight away to those, of coz I started out with the whites 1st, the bad thing is, because there are more interesting wines than those I wanted to try already, and I ended up drinking more and more. On my 10th glass or so, I couldn’t finish every type of wine I drink anymore, so I had to just take a sip and throw away the rest on this “spit tank” they provided, (unless it is too nice to throw) but the thank goodness thing is that I hardly see anyone spitting, most just take a sip out of the glass to taste and throw the rest into the hour glass shape metal bin. The spitting ones are of the very minority.
I know most of you who actually read this post are probably sweetoothers~ so I have to recommend this particular ice wine which is so damn bloody good. It’s from Austria, just remember the word “Kracher” they have numbers on the labels ranging from 1 to 5, 5 being the sweetest.
I personally preferred the number 2 and 5. I haven’t tried 1. But the number 5, my sweetoothers troupe, I am sure you will enjoy it.
I had a couple of servings of number 5 and they are kind of expensive I tell you ^^
Today I tried one or two of the hundred over dollar red and I have to say, there really is a difference from those not so expensive ones.
The good news is, the difference might not be something you will enjoy though. For me, I really don’t like cherry, so when I drink wines just like the general line of Merlot, light Pinot Noir etc, I don’t exactly like the taste and aroma although I do drink them before I sleep sometimes to make me sleep better.
The hundred over dollar one I’ve tried. Oh my god, because I can’t appreciate cherry, I think this is one of the taste that I’ll actually go after… Not only do they have a nice roasty nose, the taste is as roasty as what you smell. Unlike some that smells quite heavy but they are really rather easy drinking, which is a good thing too, coz some people, like me myself actually, I do take my time to enjoy the aroma more than I take my time to enjoy the taste.
The champagnes they serve are not really my style though. The thing is, from what I read from books, (although some people may say that books are not everything, which I also agree) that a good champagne, when you look at the bubbles coming up from the bottom of the glass, a fine/good champagne will have the bubbles forming a straight line and floating up consistently. This particular one I had though, erm…”Hen *ahem* riot” the bubbles aren’t forming a straight line and the shape they form is like bunches and bunches of bubbles forming diamond shapes or something… it’s consistent but still… I have decided not to “judge the book by its cover” and to my surprise. It’s not that bad, not great, just not bad. Maybe it just doesn’t suit my palate.
I still very much prefer “Joseph Perrier” ( tried last time ) which is a lighter drink, finer bubbles, doesn’t burst your mouth, but gives you tiny little sparks in the mouth.
Although Moet is suppose to be a big producer thingy, but I’ve tried their Australian sparkling( last time ), it burst in my mouth and eeew, I felt like I was drinking a chunk of bubbles with fruity smell, it may be a bit unfair to compare their sparkling wine and other’s champagne, but I do have people telling me about the bubbles in moet, and I think it’s safe to say that it’s something I wouldn’t like. It has proven something though, many people always feels that more expensive the better, Joseph Perrier is the cheapest among those three brands I’ve mentioned. ( I am taking moet champagne into consideration, not their sparkling )
I’ve sneakingly tried their Muscato d’Asti though, the reason why I say sneakingly, is because some ONE told me that Muscato is just a drink for fun thingy, not something for those people who are seriously drinking. But you know what? I enjoy muscato, and I don’t think it’s not for serious drinker ~ I tried 3 different types so far and there are differences in different labels. Plus, quite a number of customers who knows a lot about wine and was already into wines much longer than me and my uncle, actually love muscatos with their Chinese cuisine, spicy or salty or sweet.
The muscato I tried today was Italian Saracco Muscato d’Asti. It was supposedly one of the best Muscato around in the world. It was indeed quite good, the slight frizziness in this one didn’t cover up the little bit of sweetness the wine has to offer. Sometimes it does, or maybe because what I’ve drank before this particular glass, heightened it’s sweetness in a way, I am really not sure, after all, different wine taste differently on different occasion. For one, I really got to say I enjoyed the 2008 count down one last December very much. Especially after I’ve drank the Sparkling Pinot Shiraz I’ve brought.
Just like I said, again, this wine tasting is a good one, because, because, because I finally found a white that I can say I didn’t like. It’s that awkward taste that I didn’t know how to appreciate, again, it may be just my palate thingy but well.. I am glad there is one that I didn’t like. So far, I’ve like all the whites I’ve tried because they all had their own style and differences, this one too, its own style, but the wrong kind of style, at least for me.
Ok, other than the good and bad of wines , the wine tasting this time, although it’s a private wine tasting too, there are a lot of people there, most of them in groups actually, and I think there is this particular guy who was just like me, went there alone. I just have to mention this a bit because this is the first time someone else other then the supplier or wine maker actually talk to me during my wine events visiting.
As I was making my check out round and drinking water to clear some taste before going for another drinking round, looking at the beautiful crystal glassware display etc, this fella came up to me, pointing to my glass of water and ask “how’s the wine”
I raised my glass and look at it making sure this is really water I am drinking and the glass is absolutely not a wine glass, then look at him with this confused pair of eyes wondering if he is drunk or I am. Then I realized,
Oh, he was joking, I didn’t know.
After talking and exchanging name cards and all ( I am not someone who can carry on a conversation ) we both went our separate way. Then suddenly out of nowhere when I am looking for a normal wine glass, ( too many people and not enough supply of normal wine glass )
He : do you want some Champange?
Me : eh, no its ok thank you.
He : (proceed over to take two champagne glasses) The rose or the white?
Me : eh, ok the rose then.
Didn’t regret trying the rose coz it was better than the white one, but I really suspect he’s a little drunk. “sure, yes” and “no, it’s ok” sounds a little different doesn’t it?
I was making my third round after having a little slice of French with a drop of vinegar to ease up the thick layer of whatever on my tongue.
All in all it is very enjoyable, tried about 15 different type of wines and had more servings on those that I liked, especially Kracher Number 5, at one point he even accidentally poured extra big portion which I of coz, gladly take it. Haven’t got drunk but I am full on wines and another 70% I will feel like I just want to lie down and sleep, but I have to work later, so I reckon it’s time to stop.
I was walking towards the exit when, there he pops out again. No he is not irritating or what, actually I am glad that he is around so I don’t feel so alone as there isn’t many who came to the event alone, but he does kind of scare me a little since most of the time he pop out of nowhere. Had a little chat before I go off.
I went off happily and eat a bit of snake to get a brown eye shadow at Robinsons, I regretted getting the maybeline one, I should have gotten the kose one, it’s so much easier to glide on, but the maybeline one is easy to glide on my hand, I forgot eye shadows are for eyes… damn…
I felt guilty eating snake anyway so I hop on a cab and went to work with my tomato face wearing a big smile, having enjoyed this trip. But after the alcohol clears up a bit and I am a little more normal, I regretted leaving so early as there are still many wines I haven’t tasted. The next time there is a wine tasting, I hope I can do it on a day where I can just go, drink, and go home. So I don’t have to worry so much about having to work after drinking =<>.< and if possible, would anyone want to go with me =P, got ice wines~~~~~ free flow~~~
