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 Meet the IWC Team
Tersina Shieh Lisa Parrotti-Brown MW Ned Goodwin MW Neal Martin Bettane & Desseauve
Tersina Shieh Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW Ned Goodwin MW Neal Martin Bettane & Desseauve

The Independent Wine Centre team combines technical qualifications, hands on practical experience and cultural awareness to provide an unmatched range, depth and quality of service: corporate events, seminars, tutored tastings, private functions and more. Email us for further discussion.

Meet the team
 
 IN THIS ISSUE
DECEMBER 2011
FLAVOUR COLOURS NEAL MARTIN'S JOURNAL
THE VINTAGE PORT ACADEMY BETTANE & DESSEAUVE ON FRENCH WINE
WHAT'S IN THE GLASS?  IWC PERSONALISED TASTING AND COURSES
HKIWSC 2011 TROPHY WINNERS  TASTE THIS SPACE
MASTERS OF WINE INSIGHTS YUMMY QUIZ
   
 FLAVOUR COLOURS
Brown: Braised pork with sweet preserved vegetables 梅菜扣肉
A brown dish that is hearty and tender in texture. The sweetness of the preserved vegetable lifts the otherwise fatty and oily sauce. A big red from Barossa Valley such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Grenache blend will be a good match. Or be adventurous and try it with an Oloroso Sherry.

Check out this and more Chinese food and wine matches in Flavour Colours, our Chinese food and wine pairing iPhone/iPad App.

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THE VINTAGE PORT ACADEMY

Following its success in 2010, The Vintage Port Academy (VPA) was back in Hong Kong for a series of masterclasses and tastings from 24th to 26th October, led by Nick Heath of Fladgate Partnership and Euan Mackay from Symington Family Estates.

The kickoff event was a rare tasting of six 2004 Single Quinta Vintage Ports from six different houses: Graham's, Fonseca, Dow's, Warre's, Croft's and Taylor's. It was attended by selected journalists and writers, who, after the tutored tasting, were asked to blind taste the wines in random orders. Both Jake Lee from Wall Street Online and Jakki Philips from Hong Kong Tatler identified three wines correctly and shared the prize of a bottle of Malvedos and Vargellas 2011. Congratulations Jake and Jakki.

 


The two VPA masterclasses were attended by over 50 F&B professionals and retailers, all eager to learn the difference between wood aged and vintage ports. Participants sat a short examination consisting of multiple choice questions and a commentary on how to persuade customers to order a glass of Late Bottled Vintage Port. The best answers were from Ian Wo of the Hong Kong Jockey Club who wrote '... This wine would pair perfectly well with heavy red meat dishes..... For Chinese food, don't forget to try this with a BBQ suckling pig. You'll fall in love with it!', and Leo Au from Peninsula Hotel, '... On the palate, nice balance between sweetness and flavour,...... gives you a strong wonderful mouth-feel every sip....'. Both answers won approval from Nick and Euan for their enthusiasm and passion. Ian and Leo each received a set of two Vintage Ports, and all those who passed the examination were awarded a VPA Diploma and a bottle of Late Bottled Vintage Port. Well done Ian and Leo. The masterclasses were followed by a lunch paired with three contrasting styles of port: Late Bottled Vintage, 20 Year Old Tawny and Single Quinta Vintage.

This year’s consumer port and wine pairing tasting was held at Kee Club. Over 200 wine lovers came along and were treated to:

  • Graham’s Late Bottled Vintage 2005 with FRANCESCA Bari almonds
  • Graham’s 20 Year Old Tawny with foie gras and Graham’s 20 Year Old Tawny Jelly on chocolate biscuits
  • Graham’s Vintage 1980 with venison patties
  • Taylor’s Late Bottled Vintage 2005 with encrusted Camembert with cranberry jam
  • Taylor’s 20 Year Old Tawny with mini crème brûlée
  • Taylor’s Vintage 2007 with FRANCESCA Dark Java 64% cocoa content.

Guests were surprised by the versatility of port and its ability to pair with savoury dishes. A big thankyou to Kee Club for ensuring a continuous replenishment of food throughout the evening.

 

If you are thinking of a sweet Christmas gift for your loved ones, FRANCESCA is putting together perfect chocolate and port gift sets. Contact her for more information.

The purpose of The Vintage Port Academy is to promote the knowledge and appreciation of port. Visit its website for more information and register for next year’s masterclasses.

 
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 WHAT'S IN THE GLASS
Did you know?
Tersina Shieh Lees
Lees are the sediments left in wine after fermentation. Some wines are deliberately left on lees (sur lie) for a period of time to increase their complexity and mouthfeel. Such wines acquire a toasty aroma and have a better integration with oak. Lees stirring (bâtonage) is a technique that promotes the uptake of lees flavours. Because the lees absorb oxygen, wines aged on lees for longer are fresher. This is particularly obvious when one compares a Dom Pérignon Oenothèque and Vintage of the same year. Oenothèque is aged on lees for 14 years but it tastes younger and fresher than the Vintage, which is aged on lees for 7 years. Taste the difference.
Tersina has made wine in Portugal, South Africa and England. Follow her blog or email her for any wine queries.
 

Spain and Tempranillo
Victor Pascual, President of the Rioja DOCa Regulatory Board, was in town for the first Grand Tasting of Top Wines from Spain. He said Tempranillo’s personality is closely linked to the territory in which it is grown, and it reaches its fullest expression in Rioja. Moreover, oak, whether American or French, new or old, is an integral part of Rioja, giving wines from the region their individual characters. Rioja wine is balanced in terms of alcohol level, acidity, body and structure. It's easy-to-drink character is a safe choice for consumers and matches a wide range of cuisines. If Tempranillo is the national grape of Spain, then Rioja must surely be the national wine. A nice summary of Tempranillo, but one should not forget the other great regions of Spain. The one I tasted that gave me the best impression is Pago de los Capellanes Parcela ‘El Nogal’ 2005, 100% Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero. It is vibrant and concentrated with a long length but not heavy. Available from Ponti Wine Cellars. Read more

 
Winefuture 2011
The Hong Kong Government must have been delighted with its decision to host Winefuture, a conference that attracted a Who’s Who of the international wine industry, reaffirming Hong Kong as an important wine hub in Asia. Most speakers were professional and provided insights to the audience. I particularly enjoyed the panels ‘Looking ahead - regions, varieties, styles’ led my Tim Atkin MW, and ‘The use of the Internet and social media’ led by Lulie Halstead. Tim had obviously done his homework and threw probing questions to his panel speakers, while Lulie was brilliant in leading an interactive discussion among local and remote speakers (Gary Vaynerchuk was talking through Skype). However, I found some panels superficial and one-dimensional. Even so, for those who listened, there were definitely some thought provoking insights. Thanks to organiser Pancho Campo MW, all panel discussions will be made available on the Winefuture website. Read more
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 HKIWSC 2011 TROPHY WINNER

The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine and Spirit Competition 2011 saw over 1,700 entries, up some 30% from the previous year. Here is the list of trophy winners:
Trophy Winners Wine Hong Kong distributor/contact
BEST WINE VARIETIES    
Best Argentine Red Finca Sophenia Synthesis Malbec 2008 Valdivia Limited
Best Australian Shiraz Deep Woods Block 7 Shiraz 2009 producer's email
Best Cabernet and Cabernet Blend Katnook Odyssey Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Watson's Wine
Best Carmenère and Carmenère Blend Mayu Carmenere Syrah Reserva 2009 producer's email
Best Chardonnay Petaluma Chardonnay 2009 ASC Fine Wines
Best Italian Red Brancaia Il Blu IGT 2008 Wino Cantina Ltd
Best Merlot Willunga Creek Black Duck Merlot 2006 Wines Connection Ltd
Best New World Bordeaux Style Blend Justin Isosceles 2008 Golden Gate Wine Co Ltd
Best New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Invivo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Winestore
Best New World  Chardonnay Petaluma Chardonnay 2009 ASC Fine Wines
Best New World Pinot Noir Framingham Pinot Noir 2009 IW Hong Kong
Best New World Riesling Rockburn Central Otago Riesling 2009 Wine Exchange Asia Pte Ltd
Best Other Red Kindzmarauli Marani Saperavi Barrel Select 2006 producer's email
Best Other White Laurenz V Friendly Grüner Veltliner 2010 Montrose Fine Wines
Crown Wine Cellars Best Pinot Noir Framingham Pinot Noir 2009 IW Hong Kong
Best Riesling Rockburn Central Otago Riesling 2009 producer's email
Best South African Red Wine MAN Vintners Tormentoso Bush Vine Pinotage 2010 producer's email
Best Sauvignon Blanc Invivo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Winestore
Best Shiraz/Syrah Deep Woods Block 7 Shiraz 2009 producer's email
Best Tempranillo and Tempranillo Blend Ysios Reserva 2006 producer's email
Best Touriga Nacional and Touriga Blend Quinta Da Pedra Alta Touriga Nacional 2007 producer's email
BEST STYLE CLASSES    
Best Sparkling Wine Piper Heidsieck Cuvée Brut Champagne NV Telford Inernational Co Ltd
Best Sweet White Alana-Tokaj Kft Tokaji Aszú Eszencia 2006 producer's email
BEST OF ASIA    
Best Wine from Japan Château Mercian Ensemble Moegi 2009 producer's email
BEST VALUE AT KEY PRICE POINTS    
Best Wine with Bubbles below HK$400 Flor del Montgo Cava Brut 2009 $350 Ample Vision Holdings Ltd
Best White Wine HK150 and under Flat Rock Riesling 2009 $150 Northerner Group Ltd
Best Red Wine below HK$200 Five Oaks Yarra Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 $140 producer's email
BEST WINES WITH ASIAN DISHES    
Best wine with Sashimi Bird in Hand Sparkling Pinot 2011 Northeast Wines & Spirits Ltd
Best Wine with Kung Pao Chicken Jean-Baptiste Adam Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Kaefferkopf 2009 Syba (China) Ltd
Best Wine with Peking Duck Wooing Tree Pinot Noir 2009 At Style Wine
Best wine with Dim Sum Paxton Thomas Block Chardonnay 2009 producer's email
Best wine with Braised Abalone Escargot Barbera 2002 producer's email
BEST SPIRITS    
Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky 15 years and under Auchentoshan Three Wood Single Malt Whisky 15 Year Old Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd
Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky over 15 Years Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whisky 25 Year Old Maxxium Hong Kong Ltd
Best Blended Scotch Whisky Dewar's Signature Blended Scotch Whisky  producer's email
Best Cognac Louis Royer Extra Grande Champagne Cognac Raylook Trading Limited
Best Tequila Tequila 30-30 Reposado Wines R US (Wolrdwide) Ltd
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 MASTERS OF WINE INSIGHTS
 
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW
Lisa Parrotti-Brown MW
 
Lisa, "Where I come from in Maine, USA, we have this saying: "March is in like a lion and out like a lamb," in reference to the weather – the harsh winter giving way to a gentle spring. In the southern hemisphere of course the phrase should be swapped, but wherever you are itʼs a time for change. So shake off your old tried and trusted wines styles and reach for something new! My tip: New Zealand aromatic varietals (Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer)...theyʼre really coming of age."
 
Ned Goodwin MW
Lisa Parrotti-Brown MW
 

Ned, 'When drinking wine ask yourself if you would like another glass, or perhaps another. If one is naturally inclined to drink a third glass, it is proof that a wine is balanced and clearly, for me at least, delicious.ʼ

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 NEAL MARTIN'S JOURNAL

NealIWC is delighted to introduce Hong Kong wine lovers to Neal Martin, an internationally acclaimed wine writer. We will feature Neal's humorous yet informative wine diary on our website. Here is an excerpt from the latest entry:

The Vines that stood their ground: Laville, Mission & Haut-Brion
In a somewhat solipsistic seaside town I enjoyed a blissful, parochial childhood, oblivious to anything much further than the A13. Like the toy-towns on TV, I grew up convinced that everything in Southend-on-Sea would remain the same, at least until the end of time. C&A at the entrance of the Victoria Shopping Centre, Tomassi’s ice-cream parlour at the bottom, Keddies the grand department store its centre of gravity, the magical toy shop opposite Dixons and Lavelle’s the stationers, where I would buy my weekly Beano with a packet of Pacers. I assumed that this conjugation of retail outlets had been in situ since time immemorial until one day, mum broke the news…“Lavelles is closing down,” she told me casually. “That is why some of the shelves are empty.”  .... read more

 BETTANE & DESSEAUVE ON FRENCH WINE
 

How to choose a good wine in a restaurant without breaking the bank?

High mark-ups are making it harder and harder to make a good wine choice in a restaurant. The first and most spontaneous way of going about things is to ask the advice of the chef or sommelier who knows his cellar and who, in principle, has an interest in satisfying you so as not to lose your business. Sadly, we ourselves have too often paid the price of a naive confidence in this approach and drunk unspeakable brews, advised by unscrupulous professionals who just want to offload the contents of their cellar. Still, if you are a regular you may decide that the owner has your interests at heart. In provincial restaurants in wine growing areas the local wines are often well chosen and of course cheaper than the great classics. The Michelin guide’s philosophy is to recommend these, and in many cases it makes life easier. Otherwise one should give priority to those regions that aren’t abusive on matters of price. Among Muscadets, even the best are undervalued relative to Sancerre and make outstanding accompaniments to seafood and grilled fish; the less fashionable Beaujolais labels offer better value for money than Rhone Valley wines; quality Rieslings are more reasonable than Burgundy chardonnays; and so on. Finally, a careful reading of the wine list—perhaps the day before the reservation so you can take your time—gives the informed wine lover the chance of discovering a ‘forgotten’ wine offered at a more favourable price than a young vintage bought at today’s prices. But that’s increasingly rare as restaurant owners become more and more familiar with market prices!

   

Click here for Bettane & Desseauve's ratings on 2010 Bordeaux.

 IWC TASTING AND COURSES

Get your friends and family together for a private tasting or wine course. IWC can tailor and personalise any tasting or course that suits your interest and schedule. Each session lasts for two hours and can accommodate a maximum of six people. Each tasting includes a minimum of eight wines. Some of our most popular themes are:

  • Introduction to Wine: HK$12,000
  • New World vs Old World Cabernet Sauvignon: HK$14,000
  • Bordeaux Masterclass: HK$18,000
  • Vintage Champagne Tasting: HK$15,000
  • Red Burgundy Masterclass: HK$22,000
  • Sweet wine of the World: HK$15,000


Call us to make a booking or discuss your favourite wine region.

 TASTE THIS SPACE

Geoff Merrill talks about Henley from McLaren Vale. Available from Northeast

Taste This Space
 YUMMY QUIZ

Last month's question was: “Which wine producing region is this?” The correct answer was Mosel. The winner this time is Ashley Ng. Well done Ashley, you have won a mystery bottle from IWC’s cellar.

This month’s question:
“In which Chateau can you find this portrait?”

Prize: A bottle of wine from IWC’s cellar (with all our global wine friends, you know you’ll be in for a treat!)

Send Us Your Answer here!

 Get In Touch
For further inquiries, please visit our website, email, or telephone: (852) 2549 0081
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