Founded by Donald Hess, the first vines on their Mount Veeder Estate, Napa Valley, were planted in 1978. There are three tiers in their range and this represents the entry level. The Select range sources grapes from the warmer North and Central Coasts of California. The Hess family also has …
Read More »Quinta da Romaniera 2016 & 2012
Christian Seely, the Englishman who woke up a sleeping beauty, does the honours at Quinta da Romaneira. Quinta da Romaniera Douro 2016 Violets, rose petals, and blueberries on the nose and palate. The fruit is chaperoned by the loveliest tannins, so very well knitted into the fruit. Medium-plus-ish bodied. A …
Read More »Misha’s Vineyard ‘The Starlet’ Sauvignon Blanc 2016
Proprietors Misha and Andy Wilkinson had lived in Singapore for 17 years. They held regional positions for leading information technology companies in marketing and sales respectively. When it came time to start the second half of their lives, they went to New Zealand (where Andy comes from and which Aussie …
Read More »Gerard Bertrand Ballerine Brut Etoile Rosé
This was tasted yesterday, Thursday 8 November 2018, the opening day of the annual Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair. A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, this sparkling rosé is closer to a light onion skin or copper shine than it is pink. Although Limoux – where sparkling …
Read More »Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron 1988 (en magnum)
In the trio of vintages, 1988, 1989, and 1990, the first is the lightest, even green, particularly when it was tasted in its first, even second, decade. The wine, relative to the other two vintages, is the lightest. The middle vintage – 1989 – was too hot. Even searing. As …
Read More »Chateau Pibran 1997
Anyone who thinks that 1997 Bordeaux is not capable of ageing has obviously never tasted this Cru Bourgeois. Acquired by AXA Millesimes in 1987, this Pauillac property – whose neighbours include Mouton, Pontet Canet and Grand Puy Lacoste – produces wine of a cru classé quality. The 17 ha vineyard …
Read More »Chateau La Sauvageonne La Villa 2017
Located to the north-west of Montpellier, Chateau Sauvageonne produces white, rosé, and red wines. Although this is in the Languedoc in the south of France, the micro-climate ensures cool nights that means the ripening is drawn out, which adds layers and complexity to the resultant wine. Handpicked between sunrise and …
Read More »Triennes Rosé 2017
I tasted this, and then ordered the entire bottle, last Wednesday at dinner in Duddell’s in Central in Hong Kong. It is one of the best Provencal rosés I’ve had. Make that one of the best rosés ever! Elegant fruit, pin-point harmony, and finesse. Over the weekend, I Googled “Triennes” …
Read More »Quinta do Noval Colheita 2000
olheita or vintage Tawny are great as an aperitif or a digestif. Their versatility is such that, like Tawny Port, an open bottle will stay as delicous weeks and months after the bottle has been broached since they have been ageing in barrel all that time. Dried Chinese prunes, cinnamon …
Read More »Chateau La Fleur Saint-Emilion 2002
This estate is owned by the Dassault Family, famed particularly for its involvement in the aerospace industry (although they are also minority owners of Cheval Blanc, Rieussec, and L’Evangile). La Fleur is not as famous as their other St-Emilion property (originally called Chateau Couperie) which when Marcel Dassault purchased in …
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