Top scoring quaffs

OENOPHILES who have come to regard Robert Parker's Wine Advocate as a bible for the finest wines, will be thrilled when the independent consumer wine guide launches the inaugural Matter of Taste event on Nov 22 at the Singapore Arts Museum.

This serves as a chance to sample more than 100 of the most sought-after wines that have been rated 90 points and above by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.

While the Robert Parker Grand Tour focuses on a series of exclusive gala dinners highlighting the world's most prestigious and rare wines, editor-in-chief of the Wine Advocate, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW (Master of Wine), explains that the idea was to "showcase exceptional wines in a format that is accessible to aficionados and wine novices alike, in a casual, walkabout tasting environment".

She adds, "This event is also our way of saying a heartfelt 'thank you' to our members whom we know are the most knowledgeable wine lovers on the planet."

RobertParker.com members are entitled to a complimentary admission to Matter of Taste. Non-members can purchase tickets at (US$99/S$123) which also includes a one-year membership to RobertParker.com with access to over 270,000 wine-tasting notes and ratings worldwide.

The man himself - Robert M Parker Jr - will not be present at Matter of Taste. Still, there is plenty to look forward to as estate owners such as Anna Abbona of Marchesi Di Barolo and Luisa Rocca of Bruno Rocca will be leading Master Classes and tastings. Look out also for the Dominus Estate Master Class (US$60/S$75) which features a rare opportunity to taste across six vintages of this Napa Valley icon, including the 2010 vintage which has been given a perfect score of 100 points by Robert Parker.

The team has chosen to focus on Bordeaux, Barolo, Barbaresco, Barossa, and Bordeaux blends, and Ms Perrotti-Brown explains why: "These regions are famous for producing powerful and prestigious wines." Highlights include the La Fleur Petrus 2009 (RP 97 points) which has been described as a "gorgeous sexy beast" and the stunning Torbreck Run Rig Shiraz 2009 (RP 99).

Singapore will be the first city to see the debut of Matter of Taste before the global series moves on to Kuala Lumpur on Nov 30, 2014, and then to London, Hong Kong and the United States.

"We're very excited that so many world-famous winemakers and estate owners are keen to come to Singapore, some for the first time, to showcase their best wines at Matter of Taste. Singapore was a natural choice to kick off this worldwide series of events. It's a city with a first-rate culinary scene, sophisticated collectors and a rapidly growing base of new wine fans," shares Ms Perrotti-Brown.

What's a wine event without a wine pairing dinner? The Chateau Margaux wine dinner (US$450/S$562) at Saint Pierre on Nov 25 offers a vertical tasting of the first growth matched with classic duck confit, lamb saddle, truffle and foie gras dishes that are typical of the Bordeaux area where the Margaux wines are made. "The challenge was to pair the dishes with the vintages in the right order," says Emmanuel Stroobant, chef owner of Saint Pierre.

Matter of Taste will take place on Nov 22 from 12pm to 8pm at Singapore Arts Museum, The Glass Hall. To book tickets and for more information, visit www.a-matter-of-taste.com