2002 Bodegas Y Vinedos Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5

Tinto Valbuena no 5
 Yes this is from Bodega Vega Sicilia, Spain, a 100% Tempranillo, matured in oak for at least 18 months before release, I remembered a tasting hosted by the winemaker itself in Hilton Kulala Lumpur few months back, there's a tasting on this wine but vintages is 2004, and we do tasted some flagship wine from the Bodega and also its Pintia and Alion.  I personally prefer Alion  the most!

Tinta Valbuena has a very plummy character and its denominates a oakiness in its nose and palates. vanilla and cigar box in the second nose and in the palates, its smooth and silky tannins with touch of mineral. Medium plus body with plum and vanilla oakiness contibutes to quite a long finish.  Bodega Vega Sicilia sets a benchmark for wines in Ribera del Duero! Salute!  wine tasted on 8 Oct 2010- Han

~Les Forts de Latour 2005~

Les Forts De Latour 2005 ( second wine of Chateau Latour)

Its not easy to become a second wine! You must have the guts, the talent and the finesse.  This wine being the second wine of Chateau Latour( 1st Growth in 1855 Bordeaux Classification)  has its depth and finesse and I can say that this is the best second wine amongst the rest of the second wine from the first growth. This is also the door for you to try Pauillac or Chateau Latour in an afforable way!
2005 is a very big and good vintage in Bordeaux especially in Pauillac and St Julien.  The wine here has a very dark red color (potential ageing for another 10 years), gives a very aromatic blackcurrant notes with cassis,eucalyptus cigar box notes and deep espresson of minerality. The palates shows a very tannic and a med plus body with plum, mineral a lingering spice and end with a very long finish. this is very complex and interesting wine to be drunk with meal (barbeque stuff).  93/100 Han  wine tasted on 3 Oct 2010

Gaja Spress Barolo 2005

Gaja Spress Barolo 2005
It might be still young to be drunk, but my customer insisited to drink it, so after 30 mins of decanting, the wines starts to shows its potential, plum, cassis, capsicum, raspberry, minearity touch with a scent of rose floral. secondary nose is cigar wood box and touch sweet spice. A very complex nose and a high vicosity wine. On the palate, expression of mineral and oaks, red fruit character as mention burst in the palate with a medium plus tannins end with a very long finishing.

Best to drink with a meal, preferably meat with high marbling score. meant to be drunk for another 5 to 8 years. - HAN ( tested on 13 september 2010)