Top 10 wines in the Asian media

Montes Alpha Casablanca Valley Pinot Noir 2010

This wine is recommended by Chek Wong in The Local Nose, he wrote: “Leafy with sweet cherry notes, cinnamon and orange peel. High alcohol, giving an impression of sweetness, but well integrated. Expressive fruit and varietal character.”

Misha’s Vineyard Verismo Pinot Noir 2009

This is another wine picked out by Chek Wong, who wrote: “An elegant and layered nose of cloves and small red berries gives way to intense redcurrant and raspberry notes on the palate. Showing gorgeous precision and length.”

2001 Heytesbury Cabernet

The Wine Times of Hong Kong wrote that “the reds from Vasse Felix show great consistency through the vintages and have great ageing potential.”

Adding that the 2001 Heytesbury Cabernet “was a delight to drink and one of the last vintages bottled in cork.” Vasse Felix chief winemaker Virginia Willcock told the publication: “It’s more restrained, rustic and earthy in style. It’s a wine that can be compared with the European styles such as Bordeaux”.

Santa Sofia Recioto di Soave

Another recommendation from the Wine Times of Hong Kong, writing: “A stunning sweet wine made from Garganega, Chardonnay, Trebbiano and Pinot Bianco. There’s loads of orange fruit on the nose and vanilla on the palate. But it’s not cloying at all; it’s sweet on the front palate and then tapers off with good acidity, inviting the drinker to drink more.”

2010 Lagar da Condesa, Rias Baixes

This recommendation comes from Winebuzz.hk, who wrote: “Although usually unoaked, this Albariño has spent a couple months in the barrel for a touch more weight. Tropical fruit and a tangy finish.

2003 Pazo de Senorans Seleccion de Anada Albariño

Winebuzz.hk wrote of this wine: “This is the Queen bee of Albariños, from specially selected vines the wine has spent 27 months on the lees for extra complexity and a great ageing potential. For a special experience.”

2010 Hirsch San Andreas Fault Estate Pinot Noir

This wine is recommended by Jeannie Cho Lee MW, on asianpalate.com. She wrote: “A delicious, savoury Pinot Noir that has restrained fruit and lush tannins. Only 13% alcohol from Sonoma Coast, this is my kind of Pinot – understated and classy with black fruit and smell of earth and forest leaves. It is much better than when I tasted it earlier this year in NYC, more open and revealing. It will continue to open and drink well over the next 6-8 years.”

1996 Pahlmeyer Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Cho Lee also recommended this wine, writing: “This is a beautiful Cabernet blend that just at its peak now. Velvety tannins, lush fruit with bottled aged characters of dried berries and earth with notes of mushrooms. Supple, balanced red that has aged gracefully.”

2011 Rutherford Ranch Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine is recommended by Wai Xin CSW on winexin.sg. He wrote that this wine “illustrated a classy expression of Rutherford.”

He added: “Despite being a difficult vintage, the signature ‘Rutherford dust’ showed through with a sufficiently ripen nose. Firm tannins from both Cabernet and oak, along with a good juicy weight contributed by a dash of Merlot and a splash of Zinfandel. Considered a very restrained style of Napa Cabernet.”

2009 Neudorf Nelson Chardonnay

And finally this is the wine recommended by Joshua Hall on Winekorea.asia, he described it as being “brilliant with elegance, intensity and lift.”

He added: “Peach, nectarine and subtle oak bouquet Subtle pepper and nuttiness on the finish, this wine is young and lively only revealing itself in the last few glasses. It would benefit from a gentle decant. Gorgeous creamy texture and elegance with a long sustained finish.”