Top wines in the Asian media

Domaine Benjamin Leroux, Auxey Duresses, 2009

Wai Xin from winexin.sg, picked out this wine, writing that “Benjamin Leroux is very well-respected among his peers in Burgundy.”

He added: “While 2009 had been a highly acclaimed vintage, the fruits were shy with a light splash of oak influence. No lack of acidity and that gave a lean skinny palate. Finishing, however, was remarkably long and impressionable.”

Domaine de Bellene, Savigny les Beaune, 2009

This is another recommendation from winezin.sg‘s Wai Xin, who wrote about this wine: “Neatly wrapped in a distinctive woody aroma on first impression. Melon and pear-like fruits were noted, yet subtle.

“The round and medium bodied palate was well supported with zesty acid on medium and back palate. Finish was clean, but ended abruptly. Like how Jack Sparrow jumped over the cliff.”

Château Le Moulin Brut, Pomerol NV

Joshua Hall, writing for winekorea.asia, said: “If you’re bored with sparkling at this price point then this is a fun alternative that will also pair well with samgyeopsal and moksal (grilled pork).

“Made from 100% Merlot, this sparkling is fruit driven with soft texture, rounded acidity and clean fruit. Raspberries, gravel and sandy textural interplay through the palate. Summer fun at 70,000won (£40).”

1969 Domaine de La Romanee-Conti – Richebourg Grand Cru

This was picked as the “wine of the week” by Jeannie Cho Lee MW, in asianpalate.com. She wrote: “This is an exceptional bottle of Richebourg from a Hong Kong collector that has had a DRC allocation for over two decades. The wine has been beautifully stored and this bottle is exceptional. Gorgeous array of evolved flavours including dried roses, jasmine and sweet spices. The tannins are incredibly fine and silky and the flavours hauntingly long in the finish.”

2010 Caelum Malbec

Chee Wee Lee from Singapore’s The Local Nose, picked out this wine, writing: “Black olive, currants and balsamic vinegar notes with hints of dry twigs. The acidity gives a kumquat and floral character to the otherwise dense, black fruit flavour. Soft tannins and a tiny bit of dark chocolate bitterness on the end. There’s a lot in this wine.”

Dominio del Plata Crios Susanna Torrontes

Another recommendation from one of the team at The Local Nose, this time Lucia recommended this wine, writing how it “exploded in the nose with jasmine and frangipani, and mouthfeel of white peaches, conjuring the most exotic feminine image of a long haired lady with a flower behind her ear.”

Lucia added: “And it will go with spicy Asian foods. If we take it to a zhi char, what would we order? ‘Almost everything can [go with this wine]’ says Tommy Lam, president of the Sommelier Association of Singapore. Mapo tofu can, cereal prawn can, prawn paste fried chicken also can.”

Massaya Blanc 2011

This wine is recommended by the team at Wine Times of Hong Kong, in a feature on “Lebanese white wines for summer.” The review noted that this is “a very interesting wine and one that is not your typical white wine because of the blend of grapes and the unique flavours it comes with.”

Adding: “The wine has a long, explosive finish that calms down after about an hour (so I would suggest, if drinking this at home, that you decant it – obviously no one takes a decanter to the beach, but do give this wine a little time to breathe). The palate taste and feel made me think of food and dishes such as barbecued haloumi, garlic lemon and coriander prawns, garlic clams and Lebanese sausage with pomegranate molasses spring to mind. This is definitely a great refreshing summer wine and a great wine to share with friends and pair with food.”

Ixsir Altitudes White 2011

The Wine Times of Hong Kong also recommended this wine, writing: “Lastly, we highly recommend that you get your taste buds ready for what could possibly be one of the best white wines ever. I have tried this before over dinner at Kasbah Restaurant here in Hong Kong and wrote about it on our blog back in January. This is what my original scribing said about the Ixsir Altitudes White 2011 – ‘we were uncertain of what secrets it held within the bottle but once opened and the heady, fruity aromas began to work their way through the olfactory system, we knew we were onto a winning win’”.

This time round the review noted: “Let me now say that my opinion has not changed. This is an incredible wine from a young and incredibly good winery (their reds are amazing too). I wrote last night during tasting that ‘I want to bathe in this wine’, not just because it tastes so good but because the nose on it is just phenomenal; you cannot imagine that something that smells so good could be followed up with a great palate, but it’s even better. Stunning notes of honey evaporate from the glass and I think pairing this with barbecued Merguez sausage and cous cous would be incredible.”

2012 Plantagenet Riesling

Belle Taylor from the China Daily described this wine as “excellent”, adding that it is “light and dry with lovely citrus flavours, it would pair well with white fish or a leafy green salad.”