The word “taste”, because it is often used to denote a certain level of eloquence in our consumer choices, can sometimes suggest a bloated sense of prestige.

That is why it is important to remember the subjective nature of the word when considering the opportunity to revel in some of the world’s best wines and vintages at the inaugural Matter Of Taste wine fair on Saturday.

Yes, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, arguably the world’s most recognised — if not most trusted — authority on wine, has chosen Singapore to unveil this one-day-only, no-holds-barred wine tasting experience built around some of the most sought-after wines and some of the most talented winemakers to date.

“I’ve always said your best palate is your own, not mine — I’m a guide post,” said Parker. “I provide my readers with certain guidelines on the wines that I have tasted. The type of wines one enjoys depends on the individual’s taste and preferences; therefore it’s all about a ‘matter of taste’.”

A heavy workload means Parker will not be in town for this leg of what is slated to be a world tour of sorts — it moves on to Kuala Lumpur at the end of the month before crossing over to Hong Kong, London and select cities in the United States next year.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate’s Singapore-based editor-in-chief and master of wine, said: “He is a reviewer as much as he is our CEO and he has two very large reports to get out for The Wine Advocate at this time of the year: The Napa report (which included around 1,500 tasting notes) and the Sonoma report (due out end of December).”

But she remains confident the wines will speak for themselves. It is a phenomenal list of wines, both in stature and number: More than 100 wines, all of which have been scored 90 points or above by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate for their exceptional complexity and character, available to taste.

“This event allows wine enthusiasts to experience world-class wines in an entirely new way while meeting the winemakers and producers,” added Perrotti-Brown. “We are particularly excited to kick off this global series of events in a city with a first-rate culinary scene, sophisticated collectors and a rapidly growing base of new wine fans.”

And it is perhaps this new breed of consumers that will find themselves like a kid in a candy store. It will no doubt be hard not to drool over the likes of Petrus and Jean-Pierre Moueix.

Thankfully, there will be representatives — such as mother-daughter duo Anna and Valentina Abbona of the historic Marchesi di Barolo; and Paul Pontallier, General Manager of legendary Bordeaux First-Growth Chateau Margaux — to lend those all-important insights.

Even so, a novice might struggle to navigate all the varieties, so it might be best to do as Parker advises and let your personal taste lead the way.

“At large tastings like this, it can be difficult if not impossible to taste every wine,” Perrotti-Brown said. “Begin with the styles you know and love. So perhaps start with the colour of wine you prefer and maybe a favourite region and/or grape variety.

“If you make it your goal to pick your way around the tasting room discovering examples of your comfort-zone wines, I guarantee that once you begin engaging with the attending winemakers, you will be introduced to a whole world of delicious new wine discoveries along the way.”

This could very well be an all-day affair, with dedicated master classes that should, she added, help guests understand from grape to glass precisely what makes a great wine outstanding and, in very rare cases, extraordinary.

“And I’ve noticed that there are some 98-, 99- and even 100-point wines on offer … which are truly rarefied experiences worth seeking out,” she said. Just don’t ask her which ones. “This is for our guests to discover.”

She did, nonetheless, spot a few extraordinary but lesser-known beauties among the wines to be tasted, including Pewsey Vale 2008 The Contours Riesling Eden Valley (with a score of 93+); Teusner 2010 Righteous FG Shiraz Barossa Valley (96+); and the John Duval 2010 Eligo Vineyard Shiraz Barossa Valley (98+).

However, the Wine Advocate team is in no way involved in the pricing or sale of wines at the event, said Perrotti-Brown. If you are planning to purchase a few to cellar or to impress the in-laws this Christmas, this is a unique opportunity to splurge.

“Our goal is to simply facilitate the purchase of the wines that our subscribers fall in love with,” Perrotti-Brown said, adding that there will be great offers on the day and that many of the wines are firmly in the “collectible” category.

“In fact, Bordeaux blends, Barossa Shiraz and Nebbiolo grape wines such as Barolo and Barbaresco — the themes of this event — are all potentially among the longest-living wines on the planet.”

And that’s not just a matter of taste.

Matter Of Taste happens on Nov 22, noon to 8pm, at the Singapore Art Museum. Members of RobertParker.com get complimentary admission. Tickets at US$99 (S$128), includes a one-year membership with access to over 270,000 wine tasting notes and ratings worldwide. More details at http://www.a-matter-of-taste.com.