HKwineGEEK

Wine Finance?

2011-06-19T19:01:00.000-07:00

Just spotted an article in The Standard about wine financing: Liquid Profit, Business Leader Monday, June20, 2011.

Looks like Wing Lung bank will offer to finance your wine purchase rights (wine futures?) up to 50% at around the HK prime rate plus or minus 1%. Maximum amount is HK$5 million and the Wing Lung brochure is here (Chinese only - target audience obviously not foreigners)

The general consensus is that the demand in China for high-end Bordeaux wines is so strong that the prices will never drop. I've been though a few business cycles here in Asia and I'd be slightly wary of the consensus view. Any unexpected event in China can instantly affect the supply demand equation. The herd like mentality means everyone is a buyer when times are good and then everyone is a seller, all at once, when something happens.

I'm not sure if this wine finance package is innovative or insanity. What do you think?

Don Quixote Wine Country

2010-11-06T21:32:00.000-07:00

Question. What's the difference between the Garnacha grape and the Garnacha Tintorera grape?

If you're like me, the whole Spanish wine segment is a bit of a mystery with a mass of wines and really difficult to pronounce grape varieties.

So it was a revelation to sit in on some educational seminars at the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair 2010 recently. The seminar presented by the Instituto de Promotion Exterior de Castilla-La Mancha (ipex) was an excellent example. They led us though a bunch of wines and explained all the major characteristics. A very informative handout was produced and after the presentation they invited us to taste through 18 wines listed on the handout.

With an hour or so of quality education I now feel quite confident about selecting wines from Castilla-La Mancha. There probably wont be many of these wines in stores here in Hong Kong but next time I'm in Europe I'll be keeping an eye out for some.

I can't wait for the next wine fair so I can learn even more. I see Italy will be lead country at the 2011 fair so that looks like a great opportunity to pick up even more wine geek knowledge.

Oh yes, the answer. The Garnacha Tintorera grape has dark pulp whereas the Garnacha grape has light pulp. Who knew?

And, the Garnacha Tintorera mainly grows (according to the guy from ipex) in the D.O. Almansa region between Valencia and Alicante. Cant wait to visit and try a few more out.

My Old Friend: San Marzano Primitivo Di Manduria

2010-09-30T01:17:00.000-07:00

One night last February I ordered a bottle of wine at the Regal Hotel, Causeway Bay. It was a San Marzano 2007 Primitivo Di Manduria. I loved it. It was fleshy and full bodied and suited my palate nicely. When I tried to order it a few months later at the same venue they had changed the wine list and dropped the Primitivo.

I kept my eyes open when hunting around the many wine shops in Wanchai but never saw it again. Until today. I was browsing in Castelo del Vino (G/F 12 Anton Street, Wanchai, 2866 0587) and spotted the familiar black label with a big gold "SUD" in the middle. It's a 2008 but pretty sure it will be just as nice. Price was HK$118. Report to follow.

Queensland Cote Rotie Challenger?

2010-08-03T03:40:00.000-07:00

Front page headline on The Courier Mail (July31-August 1, 2010): "It's grown here, it's $55 a bottle , it's as good as a $650 Grange, and you can win a case."

Just because a wine gets awarded 96 points in The James Halliday Australian Wine Companion doesn't really mean its way better than a 95 point wine in the same book. They're different blends in different classes.

Whatever. The fact that a Queensland made wine gets such a high score means a Queensland based newspaper can get really excited.

Any wine geeks in the vicinity might want to pop in for a look just in case a revolution in wine making is in progress. Boireann Winerey, near Stanthorpe, winemaker Peter Stark, wine they're gushing about is Maggie's Granite Belt Shiraz Viognier (no vintage mentioned in newspaper article?) Plenty of other wineries in the Granite Belt as well. Friend of HKwineGeek is making wine with Sirromet. Would welcome any feedback or tweets if you do make the trip.

Oh yes, I entered the competition for the case of wine. Cross your fingers.

It's Not Always About Me!

2010-07-08T01:40:00.000-07:00

Mrs. V. has been drinking less and less wine over the last few years even as my "enthusiasm" for tasting new wines has increased. I just put it down to her getting more health conscious as she matured. Turns out I was wrong, again.

Experimenting with Italian white wines, I picked up a bottle of Ricossa Moscato D'Asti (Parknshop HK$89) recently. Served it at dinner a few nights ago and I was shocked at the sweetness. Mrs V. had a sip and started gushing about how much she liked it. We haven't been able to drink anything else since and now she wants to order a case for her friends.

Even though it's a touch sweet for my palate, it still is a lovely refreshing summer drink when really well chilled. I'm more than happy to drink sweet wines just to be able to share a bottle again with my wife. Salute!

The HKwineGeek Spanish Wine Pronunciation Guide

2009-11-06T21:50:00.000-08:00

Alicante - ah lee kahnt

Crianza - cree anne thuh

Duero - do air oh

Galicia - gah leeth ee ah

Jucar - hook car

Mizaran - mith ha ran

Quixote - key hoat hey

Rias baixas - ree arse byce arse

Rueda - roo air duh?

Xarel.lo - cha rell oh

ARNALDO B 2004 MALBEC BLEND

2009-07-18T22:36:00.001-07:00

I picked up a bottle of this Bodegas Etchart Arnaldo B 200 Malbec Blend over at the Marketplace by Jasons (Wong Ngai Chung Rd, Happy Valley) recently. it cost Hk$135.00 and I absolutely loved it. This is definitely going on my top ten quaffing list.

The font label is pretty minimalist but we do find out the wines origin: Valle De Cafayate, Salta, Argentina.

On the back label there is a bit more detail. We find out that it's a blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tannat - a grape variety I've yet to hear of. It's also aged in French oak for 15 months and "is a faithful reflection of it's incredible place of origin".

http://www.bodegasetchart.com/

QUOTE

2009-06-29T17:50:00.000-07:00

"Wine is always different. Each bottle is an exciting adventure, presenting new taste pleasures to explore"

Dan Murphy, June 1981

www.danmurphys.com.au

Header of a Dan Murphy's advertisement see in The Courier-Mail Thursday, June 25, 2009 - Brisbane

PENFOLDS BIN 28 KALIMNA SHIRAZ 2003

2009-06-27T02:46:00.000-07:00

A recent Dan Murphy's full page advertisement listed lots of Penfolds wines. Being a fan, I head over to the Nerang branch to pick up a bottle. I have a hard time deciding between a 2003 Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz at A$26.90 and the 2003 Bin 128 Shiraz selling at the same price. I've had a few 2005 Bin 128s in Hong Kong and really enjoyed them. I finally decide on the Bin 28 because the advertisement shows it was rated 93 points by Jeremy Oliver in the 2007 Australian Wine Annual. The 2003 Bin 128 was rated in the same book at 89 points.

The Bin 28 was very nice and smooth and I enjoyed it. Not sure I'd be quaffing it every night but I wouldn't say no if it was chosen at dinner either.

More importantly, I've learnt that duty free prices at Brisbane airport wine shops are higher than Dan Murphy's prices. What a let down. I assumed wine taxes in Australia were high enough to make a big difference in duty free stores. Not so it seems.

PLANTAGENET OMRAH 2006 SHIRAZ

2009-06-19T03:14:00.000-07:00

Whilst enjoying an excellent dinner at Bellakai (82 Marine Parade, Coolangatta, Australia, 07 5599 5116), I ask the waitress to suggest a nice Shiraz. She comes back with a glass of Omrah 2006 Shiraz. Turns out to be a very good choice and I have at least one more glass. I find out later that it's made in Mt Barker, near Albany, in the south western corner of Western Australia. I cant wait to try some more of their wines.

Picked up a bottle at Dan Murphy's for A$15.99

Plantagenet Website

MAD DOGS & ENGLISHMEN?

2009-06-12T21:45:00.000-07:00

Lurking on Wellcome's bottom shelf over on Sing Woo Road was an interesting looking bottle of wine: Mad dogs & Englishmen 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Monastrell, HK$69.00. Upon closer inspection I see that it's from the Jumilla wine region in southern Spain. The label boasts: "This is a big, bold and beautiful red in the modern Spanish style".

on the back label the boasting continues, "Southern Spain is hot! Well-bred reds like Mad Dogs & Englishmen can only be made in such an extreme climate with expert vineyard management and wine making. It is a harmonious blend of noble grapes with outstanding local variety Monastrell that offers juicy plum and berry flavours. A touch of white pepper and spice makes it a sensational match with grilled and roasted meats, gazpacho or mild cheeses. Try some... it won't bite!"

Despite all the boasting it was a pretty good drink. One I'd happily drink again. Blend as per the rear label was 60% Monastrell, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Shiraz.

NICE ITALIAN WHITE

2009-06-02T03:59:00.000-07:00

Not a Rose but a very nice white wine. Recorded here so I don't forget what it was. Carpineto Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2007. Tasted at the Carpineto 97 Vintage wine dinner held at Cinecitta on 28th April 2009.

Blurb from the brochure: "From 100% Vernaccia. This fruity, elegant and generous wine is one of central Italy's most complete offerings."

Update 9th of July 2009 : On the Wine Trail in Italy shares his thought on Venaccia

ROSÉ REVOLUTION

2009-04-17T09:35:00.000-07:00

According to Peter Forrestal in the excellent guide book - The Best Wines in Australia under $15 - Quaff 2009;

"The rosé revolution continues and, if anything, has gathered more force over the past two years. It has swept rosé to a prominence only dreamt of by a few visionaries until recently. Interestingly, the trend is international, with the significant British market taking to the pink drop with the same zeal as wine lovers in Australia"

I agree that the rosé revolution has gained momentum over the past few years internationally but the revolution does seem to be a bit slow reaching the shores of the Big Lychee (Hong Kong). Check out any restaurant wine list and you'll be lucky if they even have one rosé listed. Check out any wine shop and you'll only see four or five types of rosé max. Lets cross our fingers and hope that 2009 will be the year the rosé revolution finally reaches Hong Kong.

GRAN FUEDO 2007 ROSÉ WINE

2009-04-16T08:05:00.000-07:00

Surveying the very limited Rosé selection at Parkview Park'N'Shop (Hong Kong), I narrow it down to two choices; 1. The Moondah Brook 2007 Cabernet Rosé from somewhere in Western Australia (HK$138) or 2, A Gran feudo 2007 Rosada from the Navarra region in the North of Spain (HK$38).

My cheap Charlie instinct kicks in and I grab the Rosada. It's exotic and from Spain and cheap - how bad could it be, right? After chilling for a few hours (the wine, not me) we extract the crumbly cork - why can't the Spaniards get with the screw cap thing? Anyway it has a nice raspberry flavour with quite a long bitter aftertaste. Not really my taste but I'm glad I gave it a try.

Reading the label on the back of the bottle we learn;

From 1647 to the present day our Bodega has been passed on from father to son in the Chivite family

So it's been around awhile then.

Gran Fuedo Rosado is an outstanding success in the world of fruity rosé wines

What's that saying about self praise is no praise at all?

It is made mainly from the Garnacha Tinta Grape, the ideal variety for the production of rosé wines.

According to who?

And the label goes on and on and I'm about done for now. The search for the ideal Rosé continues

CANDLEBARK HILL VERSUS YELLOWTAIL

2009-01-07T00:09:00.001-08:00

The quest finds me at the Queen Victoria Market, this evening, for the Suzuki night market. No Suzukis to be found but plenty of food, drink and entertainment. My instincts direct me to a wine counter operated by Candlebark Hill wines (vineyard at Kyneton, Macedon Ranges, Victoria, Australia, 0412 068 777, David Forster, candle@ozonline.com.au)

The lowest priced wined on offer is of course the.... Rosé. It turns out to be a "Rosé 2004 - fruity, berry character". A thimble is forthcoming for a taste and it passes the first test - it's drinkable. I hand over $4.00 and get a small plastic cup of said nectar in return. Who said Aussie's were cheap? The Rosé turns out to a very pleasant tipple, dry and smooth. Pleasant surprise for the cheapest wine on offer.

Next stop is the Yellowtail bar. They also have a Rosé on offer but this time it's $5 and the humourless waiter doesn't take the bait when I suggest the plastic cup might be a tasting thimble. I nearly choke after the first mouthful as it tastes like liquid sugar. Definitely not the holy grail of Rosé but probably a big favourite for teenage girls with a penchant for sweet liquids.

The winner? Candlebark Hill by a mile. Look out for this one if they ever get past the adolescent business stage. The quest continues....

TELL A STORY AND SELL A BOTTLE OF WINE

2009-01-06T00:01:00.000-08:00

Gazing into the window of Randall's wine shop (186 Bridport Street, Albert Park, 03 9686 4122, Victoria, Australia) I noticed a Rosé promotion wth a nice story attached - "rumour has it that this is the tipple Brigitte Bardot drinks while watching the sun set behind the luxury motor yachts in St. Tropez." Not sure I can verify the story but I picked up a bottle for $18.95 anyway.

The Rosé was a Chateau de la Courlerette, Cotes De Provence, 2007. On the back of the bottle I found out that it was imported by Heart & Soil Wines, 324 Pakington Street, Newton, 3220, Australia, 03 5222 8085

I loved it. Smooth and drinkable and not sweet at all. A classic dry French Rosé. Well done Randall's, I'll be back for more.

While I was picking up my bottle of Rosé I also grabbed a flyer. Inside was a paragraph about this Rosé. "This 60ha vineyard is situated just near the Mediterranean to the west of St. Tropez. The vibrant deep pink colour and the 'serious' flavour concentration is a result of low yields, warm Provencal sunshine and its mix of Grenache 45%, Cinsault 40% and Shiraz 15%. The locals haven't seen this much pink since Brigitte Bardot went skinny-dipping!!!"

Well I'm not sure the last bit was in such good taste but I do know that this wine does taste great. I like the idea of the story and it definitely encouraged me to buy the wine. Tell a story and sell a bottle of wine.