Top 10 wines in the Asian media

Jeannie Cho Lee MW picks out a “beautiful, subtle wine, with great class” while Singaporean wine blogger Wai Xin CSW recommends a red wine with a “brilliant presentation of spices and chocolate”.

Having attended a Victorian wine tasting in Singapore Wai Xin wrote: “The distinctive point about Victoria is there appears to be no distinct variety. Sounds contradictory, but a quick look at the wine regions will prove this.

“In the coastal regions of Henty, it is crisp Chardonnay, perfumed Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling. In Geelong, savoury Shiraz, fine Pinot Noir, pungent Sauvignon Blanc and mineral Chardonnay. Bendigo for Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Heathcote for its Shiraz, Malbec, Sangiovese and Nebbiolo. Go deeper inland into Rutherglen and we can see Liqueur Muscat.”

Cho Lee also describes her recommendation as an “amazing white” with a “very long finish”.

Click through the following pages to find out which wines these and other Asian wine writers have recommended over the last week.

Achaval Ferrer Malbec 2011

Ying Hsien Tan, writing in Singaporean wine blog The Local Nose, picked out this wine which he described as “a finely textured example of Malbec that’s dry.”

He added: “Stewed slightly baked red berries, roses and red fruit on the nose. Medium-full and dry with moderatet tannins framing spiced, blackberry flavours. It’s balanced and finely textured with a touch of herbaceous, dried herb flavour. It will show best with food and perhaps some more bottle age.”

Kaiken Brut Sparkling

Sarah Mayo, also of The Local Nose, picked out this wine, writing: “This is a really yeasty style of sparkling with toasty notes over bright lemony aromas. It’s fresh and full of citrus on the palate with a reasonably long finish. Perfect for the holidays.”

Ben Rye Passito Di Pantelleria 2007

This wine was chosen by JC Viens, in winebuzz.hk, he wrote: “Made with the “Appassimento” method so particular to Italy with grapes dried in the sun for 20-30 days to obtain extra concentrated sugars and flavours, this fascinating wine is lusciously sweet thanks to Moscato’s telltale orange-blossom nose, with a diabolical intensity of apricot and peach, orange and grapefruit peels, dried figs, honey and sweet spices like cinnamon and cloves.

“The finish is extremely long, fresh and complex making it exceptional to pair with dark chocolate or cakes made with nuts and fruits.”

Goona Warra Vineyard Cygnus 2008

Wai Xin CSW featured wines from the Australian state of Victoria on his winexin.sg wine blog. In describing this wine, he wrote: “Named after the biological name of a black swan, Cygnus Atratus, the bottle shared the same grace with black and gold label. Goona Warra vineyard is in Sunbury, one of the five regions that make up the Port Philip Zone, and a short distance from Melbourne.

“At the southern part of Victoria and close to Mornington Peninsula, one would always expect cool climate wines. Instead, Cygnus is made from Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Ripe dark plums sweetness packaged with a brilliant presentation of spices and chocolate. This blend was well-balanced with acidity and body.”

Harcourt Valley Vineyard, Old Vine Shiraz 2010

Wai Xin also recommended this wine, writing: “Harcourt Valley Vineyard is in Bendigo, a region inland after Macedon Ranges. With a Mediterranean climate like Southern Rhone, this is one of the places for Victoria Shiraz.”

He added: “The vines are close to forty years old, and the wine delivered a great deal of complexity with sweet herbal spicy notes along the classic black fruits. Smooth fine tannins with acidity left a juicy impression of deep finesse.”

Ratzenberger Spatburgunder 1 Lage “Spatlese” 2009

This German Pinot Noir was recommended by the Wine Times Hong Kong, who wrote: “The Ratzenburger Spatburgunder was a ‘hidden gem’ and drank superbly well with some savoury and flinty notes on the palate and goes very well with dishes such as roasted pork and char sui (barbeque pork).”

Kruger Rumpf Spatburgunder 1 Lage “M” 2010

The Wine Times Hong Kong also recommended this Pinot, writing: “Whilst the Kruger Rumpf “M” was very Burgundian in style with a delightful nose and an incredible finish. This is certainly more complex than the first wine and pairs very well with roasted chicken and beef.”

1976 Haut-Brion – Blanc

This is the wine that was chosen by Jeannie Cho Lee MW as her “wine of the week” for asianpalate.com. She wrote: “Gorgeous Haut-Brion Blanc with a nose of mature Sauternes. While the nose is filled with sweetness, the palate is savoury and gentle with layers of dried jasmine flowers, dried violets, roasted herbs and dried apricots. Beautiful, subtle wine with great class and breeding. Very long finish. This wine will continue to remain at its peak for at least another 5-8 years. Amazing white.”

Comte de Cadillacs Gigondas 2007

Ofilos, writing for the heritagewineclub.com, recommended this wine, which he said had a “very nice deep ruby red colour. We can find a toasty flavour and spices on the nose, such as black and white peppers, thymes and quite powerful black fruits. It is complex and intense, accompanying the spicy side in the mouth, still soft.”

He added: “This bottle carries the abundant sunshine of Gigondas. Keep it for another couple of years and a more complex wood and spicy side will be present.”

2010 Chateau Tanunda Grand Barossa Shiraz

Joshua Hall, writing for winekorea.asia, recommended this wine, describing it as, “elegant cool blue fruit with focus and expressiveness opens up to layered spice complexity and aromas of blackberry, plum, cardamon and black pepper.”

He added: “Tannins and well integrated with dense spicy fruit, lively acidity and freshness throughout. Not jammy or bombastic, this wine could be mistaken for a Rhone, not just because of the French looking label but because of it’s more controlled and focused fruit. Young and good for another 3-4 years cellaring but drinking beautifully now.”