5-Course Bordeaux Wine Dinner: Chateau Beychevelle

7 beautiful wines including 3 vintages of Grand Cru. 5-course meal. You will love it.

When was the last time you truly sat down, sipped your wine slowly, appreciate each whiff of aroma, each tang of flavour and be served with chef-curated lineup of dishes? 

On 11th March 2017, be delighted by Philippe Blanc, the Managing Director of the Château Beychevelle, who will share the winery's history, secrets and, most importantly, 7 beautiful wines, 3 of which are Grand Cru, coming directly from the estate’s cellar, along with their 2nd and 3rd labels.

Chateau Beychevelle is one of the most-sought after estate from the St Julien village’s in the Medoc region of Bordeaux. With a history dating back to the 16th Century, when the Duc d’Eperon, a French Admiral built one of the most beautiful Chateau of the region, and were already producing outstanding wines.

The Chateau, classified as 4th Grand Cru Classe, is a benchmark in the region, producing powerful and concentrated wines, yet balanced with an incredible smoothness and and subtlety that only the Great Grand Crus can offer.

During this wine dinner, guests will be served with an exquisite set of dishes, specially prepared and created by Soleil Chef.  

What to expect at this dinner:
1. A beautiful 5 course dinner prepared by Chef Evert Onderbeke of Soleil Restaurant
2. Taste 7 Chateau Beychevelle wines including 3 Grand Cru  
3. Meet Philippe Blanc, the Managing Director of the estate
4. Mingle with other wine loving individuals

Full Menu

Chef’s Dish - Marinated crabmeat Cucumber, green pea, grapefruit

Wine - Grand Bateau Blanc

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Chef’s Dish - Intermezzo Wine

Wine - Grand Bateau Rouge

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Chef’s Dish - Beef tongue maccarello Beetroot, radish, crispy capers

Wine - Amiral de Beychevelle 2013

Wine - Amiral de Beychevelle 2008

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Chef’s Dish - Slow cooked stuffed Guinea Fowl, Black trumpet risotto

Wine - Chateau Beychevelle 2009

Wine - Chateau Beychevelle 1999

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Chef’s Dish - Braised Veal shank Lemon and garlic trofie, roasted fennel

Wine - Chateau Beychevelle 2013

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Poached Peach Vanilla panna cotta, Bellini sorbet

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Date: Saturday 11th March - 7pm

Venue:  Soleil Restaurant

Lot 7 & 8 Damansara City Mall Jalan Damanlela, 50490 Bukit Damansara

Where to buy tickets:  Online, click HERE 

Limited seats available

SALE Price: RM358
Normal Price: RM388

More about the wines you’ll enjoy at this dinner:

Château Beychevelle    

Ever since it was first produced, and down through the various vintages, Château Beychevelle has reflected the elegance and finesse of Saint Julien's finest terroirs.Graceful and complex, with a tremendous aromatic richness, Château Beychevelle is made from the best plots in the vineyard and undergoes a rigorous selection process. It reveals its character after about ten years, and can be kept for several decades, depending on the vintage.

Amiral de Beychevelle    

The rigorous selection process undergone by the grand vin results in the creation of its younger brother, Amiral de Beychevelle. Despite being made from young vines, Amiral de Beychevelle benefits from the same growing techniques, meticulous sorting, and traditional barrel ageing.It has the same elegance and finesse as its older brother, but reveals its character more quickly, offering wine-enthusiasts the full vivacity of its youth. It can be kept for up to fifteen years, depending on the vintage.

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The Venue: Soleil Restaurant & Wine Bar

In December 2016, Soleil has moved to a new location. Its 4000 sq ft home is at Damansara City Mall located in Damansara Heights. Whilst continuing to maintain its fine dining roots complete with two new private dining rooms, Chef Evert Onderbeke has created a new casual dining menu at a much expanded bar section. This includes an Alfresco area and the Chef’s Table comprising 5-seat dining area which allows a bird eye view of Chef Evert preparing his award winning creations. 

Soleil [pronounced Soh-lay], means Sun in French is a restaurant located in section 17, opened in August 2013. Serving mostly modern European cuisine with subtle Asian influence, the restaurant boasts a plethora of fresh imported and local seafood options as well as other delectable items including a small selection of meats and pastas on its menu.

Soleil continues on their journey to serve guests with its best curation of dishes in a beautiful setting, perfect for enjoyable and memorable dining. 

Valentine’s Day Wine Gifts

Not a big fan of lovey-dovey flowers as Valentine’s Day gift? So am I!

Rather than getting a bouquet of flowers, I’d be more excited receiving a bouquet of fried chicken nuggets, a box of Classified Chicken or Prawn Sensation pizza and maybe, like what my good friend, Rowena, was thinking of…a bouquet of beers and ciders! Yummmm! 

For those of you who are looking for unconventional ideas to give your loved ones this coming V Day, try sending them wine or beer! Wine is classy, creative, perfect for spending more quality time and has wide choices to pick from. Beer is fun, cool and perfect for an evening filled with laughter and cheers!

Whether you're dining out, snuggling up at home or giving V-day a miss, a bottle of wine is necessary but as with all occasions, which wine? Here’s an easy guide to help you pick the right wine:

The Love Flirts 

First date? Just getting to know him or her? Set the mood with a good Italian Cabernet Sauvignon. It's a general crowd pleaser and great with a lot of dinner dishes.

Pick up line pairing: This wine tastes like I'll be texting you later. 

The Romantic Couple 

Cozy up with a seductive bottle of Bordeaux, a classic favorite. It pairs well with most food dishes and has stellar character to carry on for after dinner drinks. Netflix and chill, perhaps?

Pick up line pairing: Wow, and I thought my wine had good legs!

The Adventurous Couple

The ones who couldn't be bothered for a bottle of white or red but prefer beer instead. With the thrill for stepping out of comfort zones, forget the classics and try a few craft beers instead. 

Pick up line pairing: Do you do tequila? How about giving me a shot. 

The Single Ladies 

A day to celebrate your love for your girlfriends, GALentine's Day! Enjoy the sweeter things in life with a bottle of Moscato, keep it peachy with some rosé wine or pop the night with a bottle of Champagne! You can never go wrong with a bottle of bubbly.

Moet & Chandon Rose Imperial Champagne

Beers, Ciders, Wines for Christmas and New Year!

’Tis the season to be shopping…falalalala lala lala!

Yay, it’s December! Few weeks left before we start with 2017. But this year won’t be complete without celebrating the season of giving and sharing great cheers with our loved ones. 

If you love wine, beer and more including gifts, this is the right time to be shopping at Wine Talk. Aside from the ongoing discounts where you can get a bottle of wine for as low as RM46, you can also score freebies with your orders!

FREE Limited Edition Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc Planner 

Simply order 2 x 6-can pack of Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc and you will get the planner together with your order. This is limited to first 100 orders so better act fast. Yay planner! I already received mine with my order last week. 

FREE Asahi Bluetooth Alarm Clock 

Just order 2 x 6-can pack of Asahi Dry Beer and this cool gadget is yours for free. Limited to first 80 orders. 

FREE Vintec chiller worth RM4,900* - for the serious wine lover

Purchase 90 bottles of Penfolds, Wolf Blass or Beringer excluding Penfolds Koonunga Hill, Wolf Blass Eaglehawk, Red Label & Yellow Label and Beringer Classics Range. Limited units available, click here for full details  about the free chiller deal.

Aside from those lovely goodies, there are more great stuff to enjoy this season:

Somersby Day on 21st December 2017 - RM21 OFF

Simply order 1 carton of Somersby bottles or can, use code SOMERSBY21 and you’ll enjoy this deal. Limited to 2 cartons per customer. Must order my apple cider again soon!

Carlsberg Smooth Draught Beer, Somersby Cider and Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc are now available for 3 hour delivery within Klang Valley.

Limited edition mini Moet & Chandon with FREE mini flutes

This set is perfect for parties, that’s why even celebrities take this during red carpet events! It’s pretty, elegant, sexy…just how Champagne lovers ought to feel. 

Wines starting at RM46.00 a bottle - find more choices of SALE products, click here

3 Hour delivery - receive your orders within 3 hours, within the day! A lot of us are often in a rush, preparing for dinner, gathering friends and we sometimes forget the drinks! I personally don't like carrying bottles or cans from the shop to my car. Ordering them online is just easier and faster. It saves me time and effort. 

Win a Helicopter Ride around KL City for 3
If you have lotsa lotsa friends who love beer, wine, spirits or cider, this deal is ideal for you. Refer friends and get a chance to bag this unforgettable experience...fly above KL City in a helicopter! See more details on how - click here 

Here’s to wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas celebration filled with wine, beers, ciders and good cheers!

An Italian Wine Tasting at Soleil Restaurant

October is here! We are closing in to end the year, closing in to the holidays and closing in to an upcoming Italian wine tasting that you wouldn’t want to miss. If you love wine, enjoy wine or a beginner to wine, you will have a great time at Soleil. 

But before I ramble on, take note that the early bird ticket price is ending by 5th October. It’s best to grab tickets soon.  

What:      Italian Wine Tasting

Where:  Soleil Restaurant, Ground Floor, 22A, Jalan 17/54, Seksyen 17, 46400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

When:      8th October, 2016, Saturday, starts at 4:00pm

Price:        RM120 (early bird) / RM140 (normal price and walk-in)

What will you enjoy:

Tasting of 11 Italian wine labels - collection from Antica Vigna and Fattoria Fibbiano

Canapés by Soleil’s Chef Evert canapés 

• Charcoal cone with salmon mousse and citrus pearls
• Ratatouille tart with parmesan cheese
• Seabass goujonettes with beetroot gribiche
• Miso glazed chicken satays
• Fried baby crabs with anchovy dip
• (Live Station) Giant paella pan with squid, chicken and turkey chorizo

Where to buy tickets:     Online, click HERE  or visit www.winetalk.com.my 

More about the wine you’ll enjoy at this event:

Antica Vigna is a range created by Tenute Salva Terra, a family-owned estate, located in the heart of Valpolicella in the magnificent Villa Giona, dating back to the sixteenth century, in San Pietro in Cariano and now run by Brothers Eros and Lucio Furia.  A unique place which stands out for its terroir, where an ideal soil combines with oenological mastery.   They produce a range of Classic Veneto wines, focusing on elegance and personality, rather than overuse of wood barrels. 

New arrival in MY - be one of the first batch of wine lovers to enjoy this in Malaysia!

1. Pinot Grigio
2. Rosso di Veneto 'Appassionato
3. Valpolicella Classico
4. Valpolicella Superiore 'Ripasso'
5. Amarone Della Valpolicella

Fattoria Fibbiano is an agricultural company and farmhouse, located in a magical place, on a sunny hill, bounded by two streams at the bottom of the valley, in the heart of the Tuscan countryside, in an area in the council of Terricciola, in the hills between Pisa and Volterra.   

1. ‘Fonte Della Donne’ Blanco
2. Rose
3. 'Le Pianette'
4. 'Casallini' Chianti
5. 'L'Aspetto'
6. 'Cepatella'

A total of 11 wine labels is waiting for guests, including delicious canapes from Soleil. 

This Italian wine tasting is a collaboration between Soleil Restaurant and Wine Talk.  

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Behind every great restaurant is a great head chef and his team…

Heading the creative and amazing kitchen of Soleil is Chef Evert Onderbeke. He was born in Ghent, Belgium in 1976. He has always been fascinated by restaurants and at 15 years old began his studies at Belgium’s most famous culinary school, ‘Ter Duinen in Koksijde’. After qualifying, he assisted in the opening of a new restaurant in Ghent before relocating to New York to study under Belgian Chef Steven Debruyn. He returned to Belgium and soon joined the premier in fine dining catering company, ‘Diner Prive’ in 2003. There, he was mentored by the legendary 2 Star Michelin Chef Roger Souvereyns, who instructed him on the art of fine dining.  

Chef Evert moved to Malaysia where he was the head of kitchen at ‘High Tide’ (Time Out KL award winner Best Seafood restaurant 2010, MIGF award winner best all round cuisine 2010) before joining ‘Batu Batu Resort’ in Pulau Tengah, Johor. He has now been here for 7 years and currently heads the culinary team in Soleil Restaurant (Time Out KL award winner best European restaurant 2014, winner of 13 awards at MIGF 2015 including gold award Best all round restaurant).

Chef Evert creates finely well-balanced seafood dishes that hinge upon the styles of European cuisine but his true mastery is conveyed in blending local and imported ingredients to created his unique world of flavours. Each dish served on a plate is a product of his deep passion and creativity, making Soleil a truly memorable restaurant to dine in.  

Soleil [pronounced Soh-lay], means Sun in French is a restaurant located in section 17, opened in August 2013. Serving mostly modern European cuisine with subtle Asian influence, the restaurant boasts a plethora of fresh imported and local seafood options as well as other delectable items including a small selection of meats and pastas on its menu.

The restaurant layout is split into two floors with the ground floor catering comfortably for up to 45 persons. The first floor houses the restaurant's wine cellar as well as the cigar lounge and private room. Upstairs has a maximum seating capacity of 35 persons.

For inquiries about dining at Soleil, visit www.soleil.my 

For more Italian wine choices and wine tasting events, visit www.winetalk.com.my 

Wine Shopping Made Easy for East Malaysia

Do you like wines but have difficulties finding them in your area within East Malaysia? Are you in Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan or Bintulu where your wine choices are limited? Don’t you wish there was an easy way for you to look and shop for wines then get them delivered to your home? 

Wine Talk, Malaysia’s largest online wine shop, has recently launched and extended its delivery service to East Malaysia. For the past years, Wine Talk has successfully delivered wines to major cities in West Malaysia. This time, it is happy and pleased to expand its services to the beautiful East Malaysia islands and cities. 

Wines from various winemaking countries can be found at Wine Talk East Malaysia site. These countries include France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Australia, Argentina, South Africa, Chile, USA and Uruguay. Be spoilt for wide choices of wine grapes such as Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and more. If you love popular brands like Penfolds, Wolf Blass, Lindemans or Gerard Bertrand, you’d be delighted to find it at Wine Talk.  

Wine delivery in East Malaysia is now just a few clicks away. When you log on to www.winetalk.com.my, just select “East Malaysia” as your “shipping to” option and you can start choosing your wines. Need help on which wine to choose? No problem! Wine Talk is the first wine shop in Malaysia to have an online shopping advisor, both for West and East Malaysia locations. Simply log on to www.winetalk.com.my during work hours of weekdays and you’ll find an online advisor who can help you decide with your shopping. Whether you need advice on which wine goes well with a dish or which wine can you buy within a certain budget, Wine Talk’s wine shopping advisor can help you. 

Wine Talk is an online wine delivery service in Malaysia, providing fast, efficient and easy way for wine enthusiasts to shop online for wines, wine accessories such as wine glasses, wine chillers and decanters. May it be red wine, white wine, sweet wine, Champagne, sparkling wine or even non-alcoholic wine, searching for wines that you like is easy at Wine Talk. 

Online shopping at Wine Talk is made even easier with various payment options such as credit card, online banking, PayPal and cash-on-delivery (for selected Klang Valley areas in West Malaysia). You can also get assistance from Wine Talk for corporate orders, wine event requirements and wedding wines.

What type of wine do you like? Are you looking for a certain wine label and not sure where to find it? Try searching for it at www.winetalk.com.my. If you can’t find it on the website, just chat with a wine shopping advisor or send an email to info@winetalk.com.my for assistance. They’d be more than happy to help you in all your wine needs!

More good news? Voucher offer? You can use my personal voucher code to enjoy RM50 OFF on your first purchase! Use my code CELESTE50 on RM250 worth of normal-priced wines, valid for West and East Malaysia.  

A view from the top with KL Sky Tour Helicopters!

Wine Talk and Cempaka Helicopters bring fun and excitement to a new level

Have you tried sitting inside a helicopter and flying in it? Wouldn’t it be exciting to try?

Malaysia’s Premier Heli-Tours, KL Sky Tours by Cempaka Helicopters had recently brought 30 lucky Wine Talk customers up in the skies to a beautiful view of Kuala Lumpur. The unforgettable helicopter ride lasted 6 minutes each and trust me, this 6-minute ride will give you something to remember beyond just 360 seconds. 

Starting from the helipad at Titiwangsa, the sight of 2 shiny helicopters is impressive. The moment those rotor blades started spinning, guests got excited to soar high and fly! 

The 2 helicopters, The Robinson R44 and The Robinson R66 Turbine, are a sight to behold. But these are not just beauties; these are armed to deliver best-in-class service. The R44 carries 3 passengers excluding pilot, powered by Lycoming IO-540 six cylinder engine and has a cruise speed of 110 kn (200 km/h: 130 mph). The R66 carries 4 passengers excluding pilot, powered by Rolls Royce RR300 Turbine engine  and has a cruise speed of 125kn (144mph, 231km/h).

Take a look at those sexy leather seats. Another great thing about the seating design of each helicopter is the access to panoramic view for each guest. Everyone (except the pilot!) can take photos, selfies, wefies and videos to capture moments up there!

Couple by couple, guests started on their first and amazing 6-minute sky tour. Guests enjoyed a spectacular bird’s eye view of KL’s famous landmarks such as:

• Istana Budaya
• Petronas Twin Towers
• KL Tower
• The Royal Selangor Golf Course
• National Stadium
• National Mosque
• Dataran Merdeka
• Batu Caves

Views from the top:

Wine Talk guests and team had a great time with Cempaka Helicopters. The pilots and the entire crew were friendly, helpful and full of smiles, despite the heat of a warm day. 

Cempaka Helicopters provides rides to individuals, tourists, locals and even corporates. Whether you want to enjoy view from the top of the city or just need to get somewhere really fast, you can book a helicopter ride.  

4 basic packages available:

The KL Express - 6-minute tour that will take you on a sky view of KL’s main attractions including KL Tower, Merdeka Square, National Stadium and Petronas Twin Towers. 

Price - RM198 per person + 6% GST, minimum of 3 passengers per flight

The City Explorer - 15-minute tour to enjoy a sky view starting from The Batu Caves, site of the annual Thaipusam festival, whisking over to Jalan Duta, home of Federal Territory Mosque and the National Palaca along with KL’s homes of the rich and famous, ending up with a sky tour of the majestic buildings of downtown KL. 

Price - RM488 per person + 6% GST, minimum of 3 passengers per flight

The Jungle Escape - 30-minute tour to enjoy all the sights from The City Explorer plus KL’s untouched and pristine rainforests along Quartz Ridge to the Batu Dam. 

Price - RM960 per person + 6% GST, minimum of 3 passengers per flight

The Mountain View - this is the ultimate 45-minute indulgence. Flight rises to 6,000 feet over valleys and mountains covered in lush rainforests to the famous Genting Highlands. Flight back to the city covers panoramic view of KL city skyline, the Batu Caves, KL’s royal quarters and downtown iconic buildings. 

Price - RM1,388 + 6% GST, minimum of 3 passengers per flight

For VIPs, Private Charter Flight is available for arrangement. This is for people who need point-to-point travel service, which can be used to serve various needs including business purposes or transfers from airports to island resorts, short breaks, attending special events, whether it is a special family occasion such as a wedding, a relaxing lunch away from the city, a major sports event or just a day out visiting family and friends. It’s fast, easy, private and simply an elegant way to travel. Why else do a lot of celebrities travel by chopper?

Flights depart from the new KL City Helipad in Titiwangsa. If you don’t want to drive over, just use Grab or Uber to get you there!

Here’s the Wine Talk team and the Robinson R66 Turbine at the helipad!

Want to experience an amazing helicopter ride?

You can book your helicopter rides at http://www.klskytour.com/

Or visit Cempaka Helicopter at 

Titiwangsa Helipad

Tasik Titiwangsa, Titiwangsa, 53200 Kuala Lumpur

www.klskytour.com

Good Food Always Goes with Great Wines

If you love good food then it's the perfect time to shop for great wines!

What’s up with the weather these days? Sometimes it’s sunny then it will suddenly rain…oh, man, I just washed my car! 

But whether the weather is wet, hot or humid, one thing’s for sure; it’s always a great time to have a glass of great wine. Wine Talk, Malaysia’s largest online wine shop with more than 2,500 wines in its selection, is currently having a limited sale offer of 25% OFF on selected wines. Simply use the code WHYNOT upon checkout to enjoy this discount. Valid for 1-time use per customer only, limited stocks and time, shop at www.winetalk.com.my/sale/special-sale.html for your wines. No minimum order required. By the way, it comes with free standard delivery across West Malaysia with an order of RM120 and above.

Some of the beautiful wines included in this special:

(White wine) Wine Men of Gotham Sauvignon Blanc - This Sauvignon Blanc displays tropical aromas of lychee, passionfruit and hints of cut grass.

(White wine) Wine Men of Gotham Pinot Grigio - This Pinot Grigio displays lifted aromas of citrus fruits, pear, and lime. The palate is clean with crisp acidity and a lovely array of floral and fruit flavours.

(White wine) Gotham Wines Clare Valley Riesling - This wine displays characters of lemon, lime and grapefruit along with touches of mineral.

(White wine) Domaine Maby 'Variations' Cotes Du Rhone White - This cuvee is a classic white Rhone-Blend, crafted with local varietals which bring a great balance of flavours and minerality. This is a cracking wine, very aromatic with hints of lemon, white flowers and a generous palate with fresh fruits combined with hazelnuts, white flowers and apricot; a beautiful wine with elegance, strength and balance.

My personal favourite is this one...

(Rose wine) Domaine Maby 'Variations' Cotes Du Rhone Rose - This cuvee is a classic Rose Rhone-Blend, crafted with local varietals which bring a great balance of flavours and minerality. Fresh, fruitful with strawberry, blackcurrant, and raspberry, this is smooth and well-balanced. A perfect match with a selection of tapas or a BBQ – shared with friends.

(Red wine) Gotham Wines Langhorne Creek Cabernet Sauvignon - Lifted aromas of chocolate and dark cherries, combine with a richly flavoured palate of spicy, ripe plum and hints of oak.

(Red wine) Wine Men of Gotham Shiraz Grenache - This Shiraz Grenache is an aromatic medium bodied wine combining fresh blackberry flavours with gentle floral aromas and notes of strawberry.

(Red wine) Printhie 'Ashburnham' Cabernet-Merlot - Their classic Bordeaux blend offers a rich bouquet of ripe plum and black cherry with hints of sweet berries. The palate is full with dark plum and blackberry, gently layered with soft oak influences and velvety tannins. A very friendly and generous red – to enjoy with friends. 

You can even order just 3 bottles and it will be nicely packed in this cool green box!

Don’t let the weather or other things (like no Pokemon Go) ruin your mood! Have a lovely time with wines, with friends and with good food!

Happy wine shopping at www.winetalk.com.my