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Cape Mentelle Wine Tasting & Pairing @ Tamarind Hills

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Neo Tamarind has never been a stranger to me, as the place is pretty well know for its ambiance and food that many occasions I see my friend are there for dinner. Nevertheless, this round we are here for Cape Mentelle wines tasting & pairing. I am lucky to received my first direct wine pairing dinner invitations for this round.

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The restaurant is located on the busy street of Jalan Sultan Ismail or next to a huge Merc showroom.

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NEO Tamarind is best described as ‘the new zen’. Imaginative NEO Tamarind-cuisine the defies rules, borderless food designs will arouse your palate. Filled with statue, galactic bar with a chic & cosy luxe lounge for lazy weekend afternoons. A place that won many awards that bring you to another dimension.

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as we arrive, we are being treated with first bottle of wine which turns out to be me and Cheng Yi’s preferred bottle from this wine range.

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Before the dinner, we can enjoy the Blind wine tasting being prepare for us and I won my self a bottle of my favourite wine back –

Cape Mentelle Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2012

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Upon arrival of many guest, I am honour to be in here with the rest famous blogger, KYspeaks, KampungboyCityGirl, Evelyn, Cheng Yi , & another blogger that I love to read when comes to wine & Whisky is Ei Ling (which I forgot to take pic with her)

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A bit on Cape Mentelle as the winery takes its name from the nearby Cape, named by the French ‘Baudin Expedition’ which charted the coast of Western Australia in 1801. They named the Cape after two notable French scientists, geographer Edmund and his cartographer brother Francois-Simon Mentelle, who lived in Paris in the early 1700’s.

In the early years David Hohnen experimented with grape varieties including shiraz, cabernet, zinfandel, sauvignon blanc and semillon. Many of these original plantings are the source of the distinctive wines that have come to characterise Cape Mentelle. The winery’s flagship Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced primarily from the original Wallcliffe Vineyard.

In 1983 Cape Mentelle won the coveted Jimmy Watson Memorial Award for the best one year old dry red wine, and cemented its position as a premium wine maker with another win in 1984. Our Cabernet Sauvignon is now widely regarded as one of Australia’s leading cabernets.

Another great fact finding that I discover is Cloudy Bay, from New Zealand is actually another favourite wine that I enjoy from that vineyard. Cloudy Bay won world recognition with its Sauvignon Blanc. Cape Mentelle meanwhile developed a stylish Sauvignon Blanc Semillon blend that was to become another benchmark of the Margaret River region, and a Chardonnay sourced from vineyards outside the estate.

Today Cape Mentelle, as part of Estates & Wines (owned by Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton), continues to build on its solid foundations. There are more than 150 hectares under vine and the winery crushes about 1,700 tonnes of fruit from the estate vineyards and contract-grown fruit sourced from within the region.

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We have 5 flavours to test tonight.

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The dining area is simply elegant that nicely decorated with white roses, little table lamp and candles.

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 Menu for the night is rather simple . .

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Best of all, we are dining together with Ashley Wood to enlighten us with his knowledge on the wine that we will be tasting tonight. He is  born and raised in Western Australia, growing up in the Swan Valley and the Perth foothills. He is passionate about the region and in particular the Margaret River terroir. Ash firmly believes that the superb quality of the fruit grown in Margaret River is a unique reflection of this. Ashley travelled extensively overseas and during this time visits to Bordeaux and Alsace fuelled an interest in grape growing. On his return home he enrolled to study for a Bachelor of Viticulture at Charles Sturt University in New South Wales. Ash then spent 12 years working in vineyards in Margaret River before joining the team at Cape Mentelle just in time for the 2007 harvest.

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First glass pouring on the table starts off with Chardonnay 2011, on first sip it is filled with fresh youthful palate with flavours of lime, pear and grapefruit, as further drinking it, it leads to lemony and pear flavours

Pairing with first dish, Steam Cod with coconut sauce it sounds weird to me but after a few bite and with a sip of wine, it turns out to be paired very well, with refreshing end. Interesting.

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Carbernet Merlot 2010 first smells with tobacco and plum skins. . Find it is medium to full bodied palate with soft and elegant tannins ends with fresh fruit characters. Find it easy to drink for a red.

pairs with

Roasted Chicken served with Garlic Bulb, Whipped Potato, Apple Sauce with Chicken Jus

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The roasted chicken is done pretty good, not too dry yet moist and eating along with  the grilled garlic bulb was a bomb and the aftertaste aroma of its is fragrant. On the night itself, the garlic bulb make a highlight on my table as every one is enjoying it.

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Next pairing is Roasted Duck Breast served with Red Cabbage Puree & Mustard Sauce and Shiraz 2011

Duck is rather disappointing as its abit overdone and chewy. . Shiraz is always pretty easy for me to recognise with its mild peppery or spices taste as I am not really a fan of this range. However it has light sweet end with spicy finishing.

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 Last to pair with meat is Grilled Beef Tenderloin served with Eryngii Mushroom, Scallion Oil & Beef Jus with

Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 

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Although the meat looks red and overall I enjoy the wine more than the food, maybe is because I had good steak for past weekend.

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Among the red, I like Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 cuz its full bodied and dry end. The taste is strong with mild oak influence. It is best paired with red meat.

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For dessert, we were serve Green Tea Creme Brulee 

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My favourite wine from this vineyard for white Souvignon Blanc 2012 so easy to drink with light fruity end and can continue drinking non stop, along by recommending Cabernet Sauvignon 2009. I love my red to have dry end as I love dry wine.

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Its a great night indeed and fun to learn so many things about wine. Seated along with Cheng Yi and KampungboyCitygirl and Chong (Brand Ambassador for MHD)

Menu for Tamarind Hills A La Carte Menu

Locations:

NEO Tamarind
19, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur
(NEO Tamarind is close on Sundays)

Tel: +603 2148 3700

 

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In Events By 5 Mins Read

Glenfiddich Whiskey Tasting @ Tate, The Intermark

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My dream as a food blogger had finally had materialize whereby getting invites from restaurant owner, then wine tasting and finally a invitation to whiskey tasting was my final wish as a food blogger. It do take a while to achieve it yet I am happy that all had come true. Tate

Well, put that aside and let’s head to one of a exclusive place also a very hidden joint, that if you do not look carefully, you would not know actually that there is a bar in there, the design of the outlook makes it look like a normal wall that been build up like that. The sign to locate for this exclusive bar is this little hat that hang out act as a lighting is the main entrance to head into the bar.

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For guys, you are looking for a small cozy yet classy with its own kind to have a small gathering sessions or meeting clients, I will be introducing you Tate, the exclusive gentleman’s club which is first of its kind in KL.

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After walk thru the main entrance, then you will be greeted by this iron amour that stood right in the middle.

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Tate is actually another entity own by Big Group (those famous outlet like Plan B, Bens General Food Store and a few more) that this is their latest outlet.

The concept is inspired by the era of 1920’s as this kind of gentlemen’s club is exclusively open to its member only. Its a whole new world for them to drink and chill at this whole environment.

Getting the concept, they offer good cigars for you to choose from . .

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A cosy leather sofa area, that can be converted into a private area by closing the wooden door, and filled with a tv that played Charlie’ Chaplin movie.

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On the main area, huge cushion with very comfortable pillow and leather like luggage table is very unique in design.

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The ambiance is certainly very old style classy even with their bar tender wearing tight long sleeves shirt are ready to serve you.

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The place certainly look lively with many people are well dress up.

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Let’s head to the main agenda for tonight which is Glenfiddich Single Malk Scoth Whiskey tasting, that we get to taste from year 12, 15, 18 and 21 years old. The session is host by Barry Chalmers – South East Asian Ambassador for Glenfiddich.

Glenfiddich means Valley of the Deer in Gaelic, that is why you can see their bottles or logo is a deer logo. This whiskey is produce from Scotland. More details from Wikipedia – Click here 

How many of you are actually a single malt drinker? I am certainly one of them.

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The actual visual to show you different years have different aroma in it.

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We were all given a Glenfiddich matt with the little glass placement on top of each picture that represents the year.

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Different years, have different colour, texture, smoothness and aroma. As for this we start off with the 12 years old.

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After pouring out, take the little glass, cover it with your whole palm to use body heat to warm it a up a bit.  By this method, with a bit of body heat, the aroma of the alcohol is able to produce. You can try to smell on the whiskey before and after, as before the aroma was not that strong and after using this method, you can smell the nice aroma easily.

As for the 12 years old Glenfiddich would be a good choice for starter that are trying out single malt. Taste would not be so strong, easy to drink, smooth, a bit sweet fruity after taste

15 years old – I find the first sip is a bit spicy in the beginning , certainly it is more smooth compare to the 12 years old, taste a bit of oak and spice that the after taste tends to float longer

18 years old – Now as for this bottle, I can taste a bit more on wood which is from the long keeping process,  rich in flavour, less spicy compare to the 15 years old, and fairly sweet after taste on scented apple and wood.

21 years old – Most of the whiskey on 21 years old that will come up with the most expensive, whereby the process of getting this in perfect condition is very long, and full process of craftsmanship on barrels, keeping it in a perfect condition that makes all the 21 years old unique in its kind.

For the first time tasting a 21 years old whiskey, I find it super smooth, very smooth aroma, easy to drink and taste a bit smokey, ripe banana, a bit spicy and sweet vanilla taste. Very unique in its kind.

In between 18 years old and 21 years old, most people will prefer only either one, as I prefer the 21 and my friend prefer the 18. Even the couple besides me prefer the 18 as they find it more smooth and nicer to drink.

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I had a lot of fun trying and learning on single malt whiskey which is certainly a great experience for me. The best of all, I get to taste another great single malt, that now make it to 5 brands that I have tasted so far. .

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As the night proceeds, we were giving with a few gimmick items to pretend and to take picture with~

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Besides that, free flow of cocktail from the bar and I manage to try 3 cocktails. From left is Mint Tulip, Mojito and Whiskey Sour (my preference for the night).

Also learn new word, Slange (if I get it right) as how Scottish say when they make a toast,  it means to good health

Location:
Tate,
Ground Floor, The Intermark,
Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-2161-2367

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