OK, so I thought I'd start taking notes about the wines I've drunk. Keep in mind that I only started seriously learning about wine through books and some sites just a few weeks ago. So at this point I'm just a baby when it comes to discerning wine's many smells and tastes and describing them. Don't laugh, here goes:

Color is ruby red. Smells very fruity, berry-like — like many other reds I've tried. Light to medium bodied. After about 20 minutes after opening the bottle, tastes like brandied cherries — quite pleasant and easy-drinking. Tannins there but minimal. Medium acidity. Sour then pleasant buttery finish.

From a couple of sites I came across, I found out that Claymore Wines just opened in 1999 in South Australia so this is definitely one of their first wines out the door. From the label: "This Claymore 'Nocturne' range of wines represents the combination of exceptional McLaren Vale fruit with traditional winemaking expertise. This, our very first bottling of McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon, has been carefully selected and produced for your indulgence. Our fruit comes from the Wilepena Vineyards in the heart of the McLaren Vale region. The wine has matured in brand new French oak with only 600 cases bottled after 12 months of maturation."

I paid about HK$125 (US$16) from Wine Buff Fine Wines shop located just down the street from our apartment on Queen's Road East. I like this wine better than the 1998 "Clos des Menuts" Saint-Emilion Grand Cru wine from the same shop that cost HK$216 (US$27). Would I buy this again? Probably not since it wasn't exceptional and at this stage I just want to try a huge variety of wines. I don't regret buying it though. Overall, it's an average, quite smooth, pleasant wine to drink. I like it better than many other more expensive wines I've tried and if it were cheaper, it'd consider buying more. Having said that, Gwen just approved of buying more but said we need to make sure we breathe the wine for at least 30 minutes before drinking (she didn't like the first taste). Gosh, you know what?... I''ve drunk almost half the bottle already — perhaps this is a pretty good wine! It's certainly easy to drink.

On the way home tonight, I stopped by Watson's Wine Cellar in Seibu's GREAT supermarket in Pacific Place to pick up a bottle of 1999 Penfolds "Koonunga Hill" Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon. It was on sale for HK$108 (US$14), normally HK$138.

Oh, our Vintec 120 SG wine cellar is being delivered tomorrow morning — woohoo!