Story and photos by Dr. Michael Lim The Travelling Gourmet TM
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The inspiring and audacious Travelling Gourmet TM explains about…
MARVELLOUS Pinot Noir and the King of Wines…and super Shiraz. Wines are likened sometimes to people. They are living things and like man has personalities. The Pinot Noir is like Cate Blanchett, the famous actress of “My name is Charlotte Gray”…mysterious, subdued but with hidden depths of fiery passion when unleashed on your palate. The movie was inspired by the amazing heroine of the SOE (Special Operations Executive) in WW2, Nancy Wake.
The King of Wines and the Wine of Kings needs little introduction. Champagne when tasted by a true connoisseur, and not a pretentious “label drinker”…speaks for itself.
Pinot Noir always brings to mind 2003 when I was the first Gourmet in the world to match Mooncakes from the Singapore Marriott with wines. Palliser Estate Pinot Noir from New Zealand with its fresh strawberry flavours and refreshing acids was an exquisite wine I selected. Low in tannin, high in acidity, this thin skinned grape is seductive with a silky texture. The gold standard to many afficionados is the racy Pinot Noir from Burgundy in France. Washington State in the USA also make excellent Pinot Noirs, as does New Zealand wineries with their unique “terroirs”. Pinot Noirs from the Cote de Nuits are extremely elegant and subtle, as are those from the Loire Valley. New World Pinot Noirs are more expressive, but when well crafted are NOT “fruit bombs”. Pinot Noir is one of the 3 classic grape varietals used to craft Champagne.
Sacred Hill Pinot Noir 2014 from Marlborough in New Zealand 13.5%v abv
Tasting Notes
Pale crimson colour, red berries, sour prunes, lifted fruit and red currants on the nose. Spiced cherries and cranberry flavours on the palate. A lovely texture of fine satin. Savoury notes on the end palate with hints of Proscuitto di Parma. Medium in length. As a Le Cordon Bleu and CIA (Culinary Institute of America) trained Chef, I made Vietnamese Goi Cuon – Saigon Style, which married well with this Pinot Noir. A perfect foil to this classic Vietnamese dish is aromatic and pungent Nuoc Mam dipping Sauce.
Available from Auric Pacific Singapore
| #06-03, OUE Bayfront 50 Collyer Quay Singapore 049321 |
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| Tel : +65 6336 2262 |
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Simply SHIRAZ
Legend has it that Shiraz originated from the town of Shiraz in Persia, now Iran…Like a spook (spy), it has an alias…Syrah. They are one and the same. Like spooks, Shiraz takes many guises depending on where it is from and the winemaking techniques used. Shiraz to me is a bit like attractive Angelina Jolie in “Salt”. The typical New World Shiraz has distinct and sometimes intense white and/or black pepper notes, hence making it excellent for USDA Tenderloin done ‘medium’ with a Green Peppercorn sauce. Nothing can go wrong with a match like this. Syrah from the Rhone Valley in France is more “rustic” with smoky nuances and red currant flavours, plus subtle hints of pepper.
Shotfire Barossa Shiraz 2014 by Thorn-Clarke 14.5% abv
Tasting Notes
The fascinating name comes from the “Shotfire”, who is the person in charge of setting and detonating the explosive charges in the gold mines of the Barossa Valley. Deep, dark crimson colour. Fruit aromas of black cherries and pepper on the nose delight. Complex flavours of dark chocolate, ripe plums and vanilla as a result of careful oak treatment please the palate. Soft fine structured tannins, Full bodied and voluptuous like Hollywood Star Cameron Diaz. A beautiful wine. Complex, balanced & well structured. The history of this winery dates back to 1870! I really like this with Venison served medium rare with a Pommery Mustard sauce…
Available from 1855 The Bottle Shop . The year 1855 is inspired by the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855 when Emperor Napoleon III ordered a classification system for France‘s best Bordeaux wines. One reason was to prevent counterfeiting of wines in France (widespread today in China)
112 Katong
112 East Coast Road, 112 Katong
#B1-06
Singapore 428802
Tel: +65 6783 1855
Captivating CHAMPAGNE!
http://maps.champagne.us/maps-champagne/embed
Just ONE click on the link above and you will SEE the map of Champagne in France! Enjoy!
Key Facts
Total Hectares: 33,573
Grape Varietals: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Meunier
Houses: 300
Growers: 15,700
When you see the moon over the Cote d’Azur, smell the gardenias in the air, see the topaz blue sea from the Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat, and you happen to be with a warm woman… plus a glass of cool sparkling Gonet Champagne, you will never forget it…never. J’adore Gonet Champagne! I have done the Vendange (harvest) there and stayed in their lovely Chateau. The owner is tireless and tres jolie Chantal Gonet, whose classical beauty is only matched by her superb champagnes.
Tasting Notes
Champagne Philippe Gonet Brut Rose 12% abv
Spicy and pleasantly mineral, it is made with 10% PInot Noir from Vertus and 90% Chardonnay from Le Mesnil sur Oger. Brioche notes from “sur lie” (aging on the lees of Yeast) seduce and entice. A most elegant Champagne with finesse. Hints of fresh lime and citrus. Lovely with Sevruga Caviar from Azerbaijan and Crème Brulee.
Available from
Wine Selection Pte Ltd
605A Macpherson Road Citimac Building
Nothing better than Rose Champagne to celebrate Christmas and the New Year that is fast approaching ! Champagne invariably goes very well with any festive occasion! May we all have Happiness and Good Health…and Champagne dreams! A votre santé from The Travelling GourmetTM!
The Travelling Gourmet TM says: I love to cook with Champagne…sometimes I even put it in the food! Wahahahah!
On the 20 January 2017, the Inauguration of President Donald Trump…I am going to pop a bottle of Bollinger 1992!
Cate Blanchett as an undercover SOE Officer in Nazi occupied France…
Angelina Jolie as a Company (CIA) Officer embroiled in balck operations and more…
The KING of Rock and Roll…the one and only Elvis Presley!
The Travelling Gourmet 