Le Benaton Tasting@20 Dec

I'd a interesting tasting at Le Benaton today (Hoot Kiam Rd). The tasting were mainly non classified French. As always, Le Benaton's wines are obscure yet delivery exceptional great value. I had always enjoyed my conversation with Patrick.

DeSaunay Bissey Gevrey Chambertin 2004@70SGD
Complex nose of candied cherry, caramel and cook vegetable. Palate was clean with sweet tannins at the back. One of the more interesting Burgundian Red tonight.

Georges Lignier et Fils Chambolle Musigny 2004
Pleasant sweet cherry nose. Slightly complex palate with good tannins to follow up.

Bajanas Val Grieux 2004
very interesting nose cooked vegetable, cherry, tar. Light bodied but good purity. Maker is a famous burgundian winemaker. Do check it out if you want to find out light bodied Burgudian style red without forking out alot.
Alain Paret Condrieu Lys de Volan 2006
100% vognier. Big, complex, oily nose dominated by sweet apricot. Palate is oily and complex. Good effort! If you like fat white, you would like this!

Chusclan Les Ribieres Cotes Du Rhone Village Blanc 2004
Blend of Roussane, Grenache and Viognier. i bought this wine for its complex smokey, leather nose and slightly honey, mineral, chalky palate. end with good bitter tannins at the back palate.


Domain Demenocq Aligote Cuvee 2002
Aligote is a rare white varietal from Burgundy that normally dominated by chardonnay. This bourgogne wine is superbly complex and with good acid. Nose of butter,oil, citrus and a palate of mineral, butter. Good acid. Perfect to accompany food. Again is superbly value for money. I bought this.

Villars Fontaine 2005
Superbly clean and elegant with detectable oak handling. This wine is currently not on sale yet but you would appreciate this if you like pure clean burgundian white. I still have a 1994 in my cellar.

Les Clos Chablis Grand Cru 2003
Typical chablis. Clean, chalky, significant mineral. Not excatly my type but i had kept a few bottles of chablis to try it few years down the road.

I bought a Del Duca 4 years old Balsamic as well as a Santagata Extra Virgin oil. I'd previously seen this brand at various local italian restaurant (Swisshotel Prego for example) and would be curious to see how it compare with the typical supermarket olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I'll do a Pepsi test when Demona comes down next week. Stay tuned!