Top wines in the Asian media

2008 Union of Winemaking Cooperative of Samos – Samos Nectar

This wine was picked by Jeannie Cho Lee MW as “wine of the week” on asianpalate.com. She wrote: “A lovely sweet wine with honey, caramel and toffee notes. Dried fruit notes of figs and apricots come through on the palate with a lingering sweet finish. A beautiful sweet Muscat from Greece.”

2009 Grace Vineyard Chairman’s Reserve

Cho Lee also recommended this wine, writing: “This is a full bodied, generous Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Grace Vineyard. Among the three vintages tasted including the 2008 and 2010, this was by far the most substantial and complex.”

She added: “The palate offers a range of ripe flavours – blackberries, cedar, vanilla, savoury roasted herbs and plums. Tannins are firm and well managed with good density and depth showing potential to age and evolve.”

2012 Gris Gris by Funky Chateau

Writing on the Singapore wine blog, The Local Nose, Charles Lawrence picked out this wine. He wrote: “In the bottle, as well as the glass, the wine is salmon coloured, with pinkish glints. Bits of grape matter are visible at the bottom of the bottle, showing that it is indeed unfiltered and unfined. The nose is redolent of fresh sakuranbo, or Japanese cherries, and hints of violets, while the palate is alive with zingy acidity and pure, crystalline fruit and a rounding touch of sweetness on the generous finish. Excellent with homemade, garden fresh Gazpacho.”

Massandra Rose Muscat 2009

The is one of the wines picked out by Sarah Wong in the South China Morning Post. She wrote: “One of the best expressions of Muscat, showing the region’s potential. Intense perfume, floral aromatics. Full bodied, very sweet. Rich, concentrated, long finish. Can age for decades.”

Massandra Livadia Red Port 2008

This is another wine recommended by Wong in the South China Morning Post, she wrote: “The blend differs from traditional varieties – this port is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark blackcurrant, grapey notes. On the palate, the wine is concentrated, high in alcohol with a high level of residual sugar, firm tannins and long finish. Still youthful with long term ageing potential.”

McGuigan The Shortlist Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

This wine was recommended in the Bangkok Post. The newspaper said: “From the famous wine-producing Coonawarra region in South Australia, the former is an intense red with purple tints, a wonderfully complex Cabernet Sauvignon with aromas of blackberry, plum and mint and a soft tannin structure and an infusion of oak.”

2003 Chateau d’Aiguilhe Querre, Cotes-de-Castillon

Joshua Hall, in winekorea.asia, wrote, “this often overlooked appellation delivers great value and Chateau d’Aiguilhe Querre is no exception.”

He added: “Layered fruit with clarity and finesse leads to a snappy finish with satisfying acidity that would work well with hanwoo. 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc.”

2012 Plantagenet Riesling

Belle Taylor, in the China Daily, wrote that this wine “is excellent”. She added: “Light and dry with lovely citrus flavours, it would pair well with white fish or a leafy green salad.”

Rives-Blanques Blanquette de Limoux 2010

And finally this wine comes recommended by Wai Xin CSW, writing on winexin.sg. He wrote: “Blanquette de Limoux is the unique sparkling of Languedoc. Made using the traditional method from 90% Mauzac along with a mixture of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay, this was a good sparkling that can hold its own stage. Initial nose was restraint and neutral, but gradually open up with hints of apples. Bright tingling sensation on the palate before ending with a persistent long finish.”