Muga Reserva 2005

Tempranillo, Rioja Spain. Fresh raspberries and restrained oak on the nose. Silky texture - dark chocolate, blackcurrants, some oak in the background. Acids and tannins, both strong, but expertly judged - in harmony and balance. Mid to full bodied. Q a lengthy finish. Really nothing to fault, excellent from start to finish. Maybe more complexity in mid-palate would make this already great wine super. Fast becoming a big Rioja fan for its QPR (9.2/10).

Beaune Les Teurons 2004

1erCru Burgundy. Funny creature this wine - had it on 2 separate occasions weeks apart with 180 degree contrast. Earlier, the nose was invitingly cool, fruity and peppery. Good complexity and fine texture, a bit of roundness and fresh red fruit that prevents it from being austere. Mint, spice and fruit all in proportion - harmonious yet robust. Lingering finish. Easily high 8.0s.

Just 2 weeks later - highly alcoholic nose which didn't blow away, just a whiff of black fruit. Thin entry, builds a little to a peppery mid-palate, then hard astringency kicks in. Poured the whole thing into a decanter, but did not really improve over the evening. V short finish. Not sure if a long decant is the answer to the wild discrepency between the 2 tastings. Not rated.

La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza 2001

Tempranillo, Spain. The hallmark of traditional Rioja - the oak is well integrated and never overwhelming, aged and ready to drink. Warm candied nose w mint. Fresh raspberries, coffee powder and a touch of herbs making things interesting. Classy, balanced, well-judged. Tannins already resolved and velvety. Mid-bodied. Somehow reminded me of a good class Pomerol. Able to hold its own against wines 3x its price -QPR over the roof (9.3/10).

Wolf Blass Platinum Label 2006

Shiraz - Barossa, Australia. Platinum label Shiraz - the creme de la creme of the Wolf Blass' suite of wines, WB's 'Grange'. Nose of fresh raspberries mixed with oak - 50:50, alcohol v evident, still rather reductive (fr an Enomatic machine, may mean the machine is doing its job too well!). Plenty of minerals, with some black fruits. Weighty mid-palate, q polished. V imposing masculine structure - will no doubt age gracefully. A good wine for sure, but not outstanding. A bit underwhelming since this is the flagship label. Given its pricepoint (maybe half of Grange but still price of a good Medoc Super Second), QPR not fantastic (8.5/10).

Figeac 2008

St Emilion 1GCCB. Cab Franc dominated. Second time tasting this. Generous and complex nose - giving scents of oak, cake and blackfruits all harmoniously interplaying. Nice and open. Silky entry, then builds into a minty and fruity (red) mid-palate. Lush, mid-bodied. Finish still q tannic and bitter. Classy and balanced (8.8/10).

The Holy Trinity 2008

Grenache/ Shiraz/ Mourvedre blend, Barossa Australia. V forward wine, immediately delicious. Right from the cork pull, it's already open for business. Interesting nose of warm berries and a tad of minty, medicinal whiff...not bad. Pleasant entry, q rounded and v full-bodied. Texture is smooth and blackcurrant/ sour plums dominate the palate. Finish is warm and satisfying. Not much complexity or transition between entry/ mid palate/ finish, otherwise it'd be a great wine. Nonetheless, excellent value at its price point of around S$70 (US$55). An unpretentious and solid effort (8.3/10).

Does Money Speak Louder Than Heritage?

Ch Lafite has started putting a Chinese character of 'Eight' on its bottle, and in Red (Chinese auspicious colour) no less. Where has its soul gone? - Its centuries of heritage and fine wine making the French way. Just because the China contingent is responsible for pushing its price up 300% in the last 4 years does not mean it should sell out like this. What's next? LV with Chinese monograms? Mercedes with "Fa" (get rich) bodykits? Absurd.