Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009
2005 Barone Ricasoli ‘Castello di Brolio’ Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy (508RMB)
Available from Watson’s. Contact: Lily Li. Email: LilyLi@asw.com.hk www.watsonswine.com
The Barone Ricasoli restored his family’s castle and vineyards in the early 1990s and now makes some of the finest Chianti available.
Predominantly Sangiovese, this wine is a gorgeous dark purple-red colour with a lovely nose of red and black cherry fruit, clove spice and subtle, savoury oak aromas. The palate is packed with sour, but ripe black and red cherry fruit, refreshing high acidity and a wonderful tannic structure with excellent length. Very high quality and superb with turkey, duck, goose or other roast birds!
2006 De Bortoli ‘Noble One’ Botrytis Semillon, Riverina, New South Wales, Australia 375 ml (443RMB)
Available from Torres China. Contact: Jenny Zhang. Email: jenny@torres.com.cn www.torreschina.com
Sweet wines are essential at Christmas! May be you have tasted France’s great treasures such as Sauternes from Bordeaux, Coteaux du Layon or Bonnezeaux from the Loire Valley or the wonderful sweet wines of Alsace. But Australia’s Noble One is among the greatest sweet wines available. In its first vintage in 1982 it even beat Chateau d’Yquem in a blind-tasting!
Deep gold in colour, the nose has lovely honey and citrus lemon with the savoury aromas of noble rot (botrytis). A rich, sweet palate with balancing acidity and wonderful length make for a special Christmas treat! Don’t just think to match this wine with fruit or cream desserts. Try with paté, especially foie gras (fatty goose or duck liver). The trick with sweet wines is: never serve a dish that is sweeter than the wine itself (otherwise your delicate ‘dessert’ wine, so-called, will taste unduly sour).
Sunday, December 20th, 2009
Wines for Christmas
This year Beijing seems to be celebrating Christmas like never before (no doubt the tinsel will stay up until the more serious business of Chinese New Year).
This month we’re going to suggest, therefore, a few tips and tricks concerning wines for the festive season: including wines for parties and what to match with that demanding turkey dinner!
Party wines should be instantly appealing. If you have the budget, Champagne is always a good start. In Beijing, look out for: Pol Roger (Summergate), Louis Roederer (Links China), Taittinger (Torres China), Bollinger (ASC) and Egly-Ouriet (Globus). Duval-Leroy (East Meets West) is also a good option. But if you want something a little more affordable, try the Italian sparkling Prosecco: Bisol (East Meets West) is probably the best Prosecco producer available in Beijing.
For party whites and reds, wines from New World countries rarely disappoint as they are so dependable. They are also more adaptable to the wide range of foods that can appear on party tables. Australian Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay can all work well, as well as New Zealand Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc.
Like Australia, Chile offers especially good value in the Chinese market. Chilean Syrah is very impressive at the moment, but don’t forget Chile’s classic grape Carmenere. If higher alcohol wines are a problem, try Mosel Riesling from Germany (around 7% abv.) or you can enjoy Torres’ new de-alcoholized wine, Torres Natureo (Torres China), a white Muscat anyone can gan bei!
What is a traditional Christmas dinner? Different countries follow their own interpretations, but the American turkey seems to have travelled the world. Personally, we prefer duck or goose! Also, a turkey dinner with various other meat stuffings and a huge of array of vegetables and sauces can be tough on wine.
However, this meal is suitable for riper types of Pinot Noir (from California, Australia, Chile or New Zealand) or spicier versions of Syrah or Shiraz (France’s Northern Rhone, Australia’s Hunter Valley).
Riper red wines from Italy can also be delicious made from grapes such as Sangiovese, Nero d’Avola and Negroamaro. Full-bodied, oaked Chardonnay can also work well or even Alsace Gewurztraminer in dry or off-dry styles.
