Wine lovers and oenophiles have an exciting reason to clink their glasses together later this month, when independent consumer wine guide Robert Parker Wine Advocate launches its third edition of the Matter of Taste event here.
For the first time here, the event will showcase wines rated 100 Robert Parker points, as well as more than 150 wines rated 90 Robert Parker points and above.
Robert Parker is an influential American wine critic who awards wines ratings on a 100-point scale.
The three-day event consists of a series of themed wine-pairing dinners hosted by world-renowned winemakers and wine reviewers, masterclasses and a walkabout tasting event.
It kicks off on Oct 20 with an "American Stars" dinner that promises to showcase top American produce prepared by Douglas Tay, who is chef de cuisine at one Michelin-starred Osia Steak and Seafood Grill at Resorts World Sentosa.
The Matter of Taste wine event by Robert Parker Wine Advocate will showcase wines rated 100 Robert Parker points. PHOTO: ROBERT PARKER WINE ADVOCATE The dishes will be paired with iconic wines from California's Napa Valley. Concluding the event on Oct 22 will be a seven-hour-long walkabout tasting session, followed by a finale dinner at Grand Hyatt hotel.
Chef Tay says he is excited to be cooking for this event as the menu will include new creations such as ox tongue with crystalline ice plant, riberry and balsamic beurre noisette.
Oso Ristorante in Bukit Pasoh Road will host an "Icons of Italy" dinner on Oct 21 and its chef Diego Chiarini will whip up new dishes for the event.
Italian wines such as the Barolo and Brunello will be served at this dinner and chef Chiarini hopes that the menu will "accentuate the fine quality of wines" served.
For the walkabout tasting session on Oct 22, visitors will get to taste wines from famed wine-producers such as Tenuta Dell'Ornellaia from Italy and Champagne Tendil & Lombardi from France.
Mr Stephane Lombardi, who is one of the producers of Champagne Tendil & Lombardi, says the brand is gaining recognition in France and abroad as an exclusive boutique champagne that is found on the wine list of gastronomic restaurants.
It is a young champagne house - its first cuvee hit the market only in 2011 - and Mr Lombardi is looking forward to the exposure the event will bring for his brand.
"I hope that our cuvees will be a pleasant surprise for the visitors," he says.
Wine masterclasses held on Oct 22 at Grand Hyatt hotel will feature wines rated 100 Robert Parker points.
These labels include the 2011 Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Three Star, the 2010 Il Marroneto Brunello di Montalcino Madonna Delle Grazie and the 2010 Pian dell'Orino Brunello di Montalcino Bassolino di Sopra.
Masterclass topics will take wine lovers through the depth and complexity of various types of Austrian, Italian, German, and French wines.
Tickets for the masterclasses, walkabout tasting and the dinners can be booked online at a-matter- of-taste.com/Event/index/157.
The dinners are hosted at various venues and cost about $250 and $350 a person.
Every dinner ticket purchased comes with the walkabout entry and a one-year personal subscription to Robert Parker Wine Advocate worth $143.
