Top 10 wines in the Asian media

Yena Alicia Park recommends a wine that she describes as “one of New Zealand’s finest Chardonnays”, while Jeannie Cho Lee MW picks out “a seductive Pinot with a delightful aroma.”

Park, writing for winekorea.asia, recently attended an event hosted by the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Korea, which was “held in the waterfall garden of the Grand Hyatt”. She added that “there were plenty of good wines” at the event. She went on to recommend a number of wines that “stood out on the day.”

As well as the “seductive Pinot” Cho Lee, writing for asianpalate.com, also recommends a Chinese which comes from “one of the highest altitude vineyards in China” and was “one of the highlights” at a recent tasting of Chinese wines.

Click through the following pages to find out which wines these and other writers and bloggers in Asia have recommended recently.

Tanguero Malbec 2011

Timothy Goh and Ying Hsien Tan, from the Local Nose in Singapore, recommend this wine. Goh described it as “powerful and intense black fruit aromas on the nose with a whiff of alcohol coming through. Sweet and ripe in the mouth; this is a really good value wine.”

Ying Hsien Tan wrote: “Spicy, herbal red-plum flavour. Medium-full bodied, with a moderate level of soft tannins. Ripe, red fruit concentration through the long finish. Simple and straightforward but quite good.”

Los Boldos ‘Momentos’ Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon

This is another wine recommended by the team at the Local Nose, Suzanne Brocklehurst wrote: “Black, fleshy, ripe fruit. Simple and sweet fruit like a lolly on the nose. It is sort of a ‘cherry ripe’ chocolate bar in a bottle with fine tannins.”

While Chee Wee Lee described it as having “traces of capsicum and quite intense black fruit aromas. Soft entry, clean and easy – this is a juicy and very simple style of Cabernet Sauvignon. Still, it’s good.”

Kanonkop Pinotage 2005

Tersina Shieh from Winebuzz.hk wrote: “Most people who try Pinotage associate it with a barbecue smokey nose, and some even extend this to other South African reds such as Shiraz. Right now, for those who think burnt rubber is Pinotage, try these examples and think again.

She added: “Rich and complex with black fruits and spices and a hint of coffee (rather than burnt coffee) on the back palate.”

Rob Dolan, True Colour Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2012

Wine blogger Wai Xin CSW from winexin.sg recommended this wine, writing: “Rob Dolan is a big man by my measurement, that is considering that I stand six-foot tall and weigh more than two-hundred pounds. Rob has been crushing berries and fermenting juices for over 20 years and is one of the most experienced and respected figure.”

He added: “The irony about his True Colour Sauvignon Blanc Semillon was there wasn’t much colour to describe. Almost pale as water, the initial impression of mineral notes was quickly replaced by lime-like aromas. A sip and waves of rich salivating acid and citrus fruits crashed onto the taste buds.”

Domaine Wardy Sauvignon Blanc 2012

Mischa Moselle from the South China Morning Post, wrote of this wine from Lebanon: “Pale straw colour with plenty of tropical fruit on the nose. Refreshing with prominent acidity – there’s a hint of lime but melon is predominant. Makes a great aperitif.”

The Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2006

Wine Times Hong Kong, wrote of this wine: “This was my favourite wine of the lunch (which included 1997 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, Rosso di Montalcino 2009 and Brunello di Montalcino Annata 2006).”

Adding: “It has great fruit, very clean on the palate and has a long, juicy finish. Give this a little more time, 5 years says Jacopo, and it will be as elegant as the iconic 1997 vintage. Definitely worth a buy, a try and, if you can, a good couple of years more in the cellar.”

2011 Beaux Freres – Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

This is the wine that Jeannie Cho Lee MW described as “a seductive Pinot with a delightful aroma of wild flowers and sweet spices”, when writing for asianpalate.com.

She added: “The palate is gentle, silky and equally attractive – weaving together a wonderful array of flavours backed by firm acidity and moderate tannins. Fairly long finish. 91 points.”

2010 Silver Heights The Summit Gaoyuanyuan Vineyard

Cho Lee also recommended this wine, writing: “Among the 14 Chinese wines tasted, this was one of the highlights. According to winemaker Emma Gao, this vineyard is one of the highest altitude vineyards in China at 1,200 metres above sea level. The wine made by one of the few female winemakers in China, Emma Gao, who has a Diploma in Oenology from Bordeaux, is a lovely medium bodied red from Helan Mountain.

“This wine is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Cabernet Gernischt (Carmenere) and offers flavours of plums, blackberries, cherries and fresh herbs. Tannins are supple and very well handled. Fairly long finish with potential to age.”

Hunter’s MiruMiru Sparkling NV

This is one of the wines picked out by Yena Alicia Park from the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce tasting in Korea. She wrote in winekorea.asia: “Nose of peach, citrus, and unripen plum, with strawberry and melon. Mousse fills the mouth pleasantly and palate stays long enough with medium length finish. The name for this bubbly comes from the means bubbles in Maori language. A blend of 57% Pinot noir, 30% Chardonnay 30%, 13%. Pinot Meunier.”

2009 Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay

Park also recommended this wine, writing: “Restrained citrus and tropical fruit, underpinned by fine acidity, crushed rock and oysters. Sustained finish. A refined and elegant wine that is drinking beautifully now. Whole bunched pressed with 100% malo-lactic and barrel fermentation and 11 months in barrel. Certainly one of New Zealand’s finest Chardonnays.”