Until this date, Decanter Fine Wine Encounter (DFWE) has only taken place in London, New York, and Shanghai.
The event’s Singapore debut marks a significant milestone for the country, now recognised as an influential global wine hub.
Decanter’s trust in our “Little Red Dot” is echoed by the excitement of 57 exhibitors from around the world, with their pedigree, provenance, terroir, expertise, history, award-winning wines set to be a delight to taste at the event.
DFWE Singapore will spoil guests for choice. The abundance includes some precious gems waiting to be discovered, including:
Kabola Winery Unica 2019
Having finally visited Croatia last July (a belated trip originally thwarted by the Covid pandemic), I was immensely impressed with that country’s indigenous Posip and Malvasia white wines. The latter is more well-known from neighbouring Italy but Croatian Malvazija also rocks. Istria’s Kabola Winery shines a light.
Cloudy Bay Te Koko 2015
Having visited Cloudy Bay twice – the first time about 10 years ago – the world’s most famous Sauvignon Blanc outside Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume always thrills and tantalises. Can’t wait to discover how its prestige Te Koko 2015 evolves nearly a decade later.
Terrazas de los Andes Parcel Los Cerezos 2017
Argentina has carved out a unique niche with Malbec even if the varietal had once been more associated with Bordeaux. The reason the South American region has been able to achieve this is by delivering world-class quality. Un-grafted and first planted almost a century ago in 1929, Parcel Los Cerezos is very rare indeed.
Vasse Felix Tom Cullity Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Vasse Felix’s most complex Bordeaux blend is aptly named for Tom Cullity, the man who established the winery in 1967. The vinous visionary who put Margaret River on the wine map was also a surgeon, performing the first cardiac catheterisation at the Royal Perth Hospital in the 1950s.
Scroll down for scores and tasting notes of these wines
Viñedos Familia Chadwick Seña 2017 (Magnum)
The New World can sometimes turn the old one on its head. Chile’s Chadwick family of Errazuriz fame does a one-up on France with their most sought-after wine Sena by recruiting five of Bordeaux’s permitted varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Seña is not just an accomplished red, it is a blending masterclass in a glass.
Ao Yun 2020
Moët-Hennessy, arguably the world’s number one wine and spirit powerhouse, is founder proprietor of Ao Yun in a mountainous, remote, Himalayan region of Yunnan in south-west China. Their winemaker hails from Saint-Emilion and the blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot contains 6% Syrah in 2020.
Chateau Pichon Baron 2016
There is consensus – amongst Bordeaux aficionados, even other Bordeaux classified growths – that if two or three wines were to be promoted to First Growth, Pichon Baron would be in that circle. Already one of the greatest vintages in the last 50 years, the Pauillac Super Second Growth produced one of the very best 2016s of that exceptional harvest!
Tua Rita Redigaffi 2021
Tuscany is the spiritual home of Sangiovese. And arguably the best region for Bordeaux red varieties in the whole of Italy. Already impressive for Cabernet Sauvignon, Tuscany triumphs over all other New World regions producing world class Cabernet by being the most impressive terroir outside Pomerol producing exceptional pure Merlot.
Bodegas Remírez de Ganuza Remírez de Ganuza Reserva 2012 (Double Magnum)
First produced in 1992, Bodegas Remirez puts a new spin on Tempranillo by ageing the Spanish red in mostly new 225-litre Bordeaux barriques. The blend includes a dash, 5% each of the white Graciano and Viura grapes. Their 2012 Reserva will be poured from a double magnum! A die-die must-try at this year’s inaugural Singapore Encounter.
OVID Napa Valley 2021
Napa Valley is the Médoc of California. Nowhere outside France has more consistently fine Bordeaux red blends been produced than in Napa Valley. Below Napa’s established radar, for the moment anyway, is an outlier named OVID. Nestled at 410 metres on a secluded mountainous area, the iron-rich volcanic soils and abundant sunshine produce wines of commanding presence.
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Essential information
Decanter Fine Wine Encounter Singapore
Date: Saturday 26 October 2024 from 11am to 5:30pm
Location: 22 Orange Grove Road 258350 Singapore
Price: Grand Tasting tickets SGD 165 | Masterclass tickets SGD 167 – SGD 600
All prices are subject to 9% government tax.
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Remírez de Ganuza, Reserva, Rioja, Northern Spain, Spain, 2012
Remírez de Ganuza's addition of a pied de cuve of white grapes to its Reserva gives it the lift and juicy florality, underpinning the muscular core of black and blue fruit that have made it its trademark. This 2012 is drinking beautifully now, with a vivid palate, soft yet pulling tannins and a great balance to the fruit, luscious but already showing broody dryness. Lovely on the mid palate, with succulence offset by great acid drive.
2012
Remírez de GanuzaRioja
Ovid, Napa Valley, California, USA, 2021
Each year, the blend of Ovid wines varies depending on the vintage. Winemaker Austin Peterson prefers not to pre-plan the blend, instead approaching each vintage with a fresh perspective. Often, the wine needs more Cabernet Sauvignon to qualify as a Napa Valley varietal wine. The vineyard features an abundance of Clone 4, planted across four of its 17 blocks within the 6ha site. This clone contributes a distinctive savoury character and polish, evident in the 2021 vintage with its flinty minerals, green tobacco, and mulberry fruit, reminiscent of Napa Cabernets from the 1970s. Comprising 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot, the wine is aged 20 months in 66% new French oak. It is full-bodied with ripe, chewy tannins that assert themselves on entry but gradually soften, revealing a beautifully layered wine with mineral-infused mulberry fruit and green tobacco aromas. The wine exhibits notable tension, supported by a pH level 3.78, ensuring vibrancy and freshness. It is a pedigreed wine characterised by balance, intensity, and complexity.
2021
OvidNapa Valley
Cloudy Bay, Te Koko, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2015
Bright citrus, stone fruit, guava, glacé pineapple and fine mealy notes. Rich, textural palate with a lovely chalkiness. Very fine, long, stony and dry, with a burst of pithy acidity at the end. In a great place right now, with plenty of life ahead. The 2006 vintage is also astoundingly good – very little shift in colour – lots of beeswax, honeyed acacia flowers, toasty limes and juicy acid.
2015
Cloudy Bay
Tua Rita, Redigaffi, Toscana, Tuscany, Italy, 2021
Tua Rita's flagship bottling is pure Merlot from Colline Metallifere, matured for 18 to 20 months in new French oak barriques. There's chocolatey richness here but also fragrance, with some violet, plum and blue fruit scents. In the mouth its super-fresh, saline acidity invites an intense attack of spiced plum, blackberry and damson along with white pepper and clove, leading to a plush, velvety mid-palate with cocoa and wood lingering in the background and supported by fine, well-integrated tannins. Concentrated, vibrant and saline, this is an extraordinary Merlot with a gastronomic edge.
2021
Tua RitaToscana
Ao Yun, Yunnan, China, 2020
Smells wild and strong on the nose, some elements of blackcurrants, damsons and plums, but darkly cool not overly ripe. The meaty, wild Syrah elements come through (even at just 6% of the blend) with a touch of florality from the Cabernet Franc (19%). Really vivid bright purple in the glass too, almost fuschia pink on the rim. Thick and unctuous, this has weight and body with a fleshy, plump texture, almost chewy but bouncy too so you get strength and clear structure but with lift and brightness from the pure fruit and high acidity. I love the styling, feels controlled and purposeful. Suave but still muscular, confident. It's a big wine with plenty to say. Very long and keeps the intensity all the way through. I like the cool mint eucalyptus note on the finish reminding you it's full of Cabernet. I'd still struggle to say where it's from but it's very good. 6% Syrah and 5% Petit Verdot complete the blend.
2020
Ao Yun
Château Pichon Baron, Pauillac, 2ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2016
This prestigious Pauillac second growth, owned by insurance company AXA Millésimes, has become known for its structured, ageworthy wines since major investments began in the 1980s. The 75ha vineyard is planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot and small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot, vinified in stainless steel and aged 18 months in French oak barrels (80% new). Georgie Hindle: Dark fruit and salty stones. Clean, clear palate, lovely finesse to the fine tannins; sinewy and precise with cool blueberry and liquorice accents. Crystalline finish. Vincenzo Arnese: Notes of tobacco smoke and charcoal. Good intensity and richness on the palate, and the finish is balanced and crisp. Good tannin integration. Robert Mathias MW: Restrained and brooding at the moment, yet there’s plenty of depth beneath. Ripe bramble fruit, black tea and aniseed build on the palate. It’s a muscular wine that has a lot of potential.
2016
Château Pichon BaronPauillac