Top 10 wines in the Asian media

2008 – Vougeraie – Vougeot Premier Cru Le Clos de Vougeot Monopole Blanc

This recommendation came from Jeannie Cho Lee MW on asianpalate.com. She wrote: “I have been able to enjoy this bottle in both magnum and single bottle on many occasions this past year (2012) and each time, the wine is impressive – amazing concentration, intensity and length. Tasted blind, I thought this was a Corton-Charlemagne from a top producer; the wine has such power and intensity that it is certainly worthy of Grand Cru status though it is a 1er Cru. Toasted nuts, minerals, ripe nectarines and apricots mingle in this full bodied white Burgundy. Enjoy it now but ideally it will be best in a few years time.”

2008 Raveneau – Chablis Premier Cru Butteaux

Cho Lee also recommended this wine, writing; “Lovely intensity with sweet ripe nectarine and apricot fruits coming through in the mid palate. Gorgeous spicy flavours along with core minerality and flinty background – a wonderful combination. Fantastic vintage for Butteau. Excellent wine.”

Henriot Cuvée des Enchanteleurs 1998

Chek Wong from TheLocalNose.com wrote that this was “a stupendous effort from the house”, he added, “showing captivating aromas of honey, meal, lees and toast. Focused and intense on the palate, with baked citrus fruit and honeyed notes. Brilliant.”

Krug Grande Cuvée

Wong also recommended this wine, writing: “The house prefers this wine to be called a ‘multi-vintage’ rather than a ‘non-vintage’, hinting at its premier status. With a pedigree as rich as Krug, expectations are high, and the wine does not disappoint. Oat crackers, bread and toast dominate the nose, while the palate is a complex knit of citrus fruit, honey, toast and hints of hazelnut. A wine that pulls you in and refuses to let go.”

Porphyr Lagrein Riserva 2010

In the Bangkok Post, Pamela Tan picked out this wine, writing: “Made from 100% Lagrein grape, the wine has a deep ruby colour and aromas reminiscent of morello cherries and bilberries, with notes of liquorice, coffee beans, vanilla, cloves and black tea, which makes it spicy and fruity at the same time. The wine is harmonious on the palate with very compact and concentrated, multi-layered flavours and a slightly sweet note of dark chocolate rounded off with silky tannins.”

Juvelo Gewurztraminer Passito 2011

Tan also recommended this wine, writing: “This amber-hued wine has a very aromatic and spicy bouquet, with notes of honey, vanilla, quince and candied orange peel. It has a full and voluminous body, with excellent balance between the residual sugar, acidity and alcohol content.”

Tolpuddle Vineyard 2012 Chardonnay

On his wine blog, winexin.sg, Wai Xin, wrote that this wine, “showed promising potential comparable to a Chablis Grand Cru.”

He added: “A neat clean nose with controlled expression of lime, mineral, touch of ginger and layered with a nice streak of oak. Crisp texture by its mouth-watering acidity without being lean, and ended with a long impressionable finish.”

Chateau Kefraya Blanc de Blancs 2009

Wine Times of Hong Kong recommended this wine, writing, “not a 100% Chardonnay as one would expect but a blend of Sauvignon, Ugni Blanc, Viognier, Chardonnay and Muscat (along with a couple of others). The wine is dry and very crisp and refreshing. The wine has a crisp acidity and would make a great pairing to creamy pasta dishes and would work too with cold pasta salads on a sunny summer’s afternoon.”

2010 Brumont rosé

WineKorea.Asia recommended this wine, writing, “from the Cotes de Gascogne region is made from a blend of equal parts of Tannat, Syrah and Merlot and delivers great texture and flavour.

“The wine is a rich salmon colour with fresh strawberry and melon notes, delicate minerality and good clarity through the palate. Tannat adds texture and body to this wine allowing it to perform well at a higher temperature than more delicate pinot noir based rosés. So, less stress about serving temperature on a picnic. Great with gilled seafood, barbecued pork or baked salmon. Pair with almost anything; this is a versatile rose with good fruit and plenty of texture.”

2006 Pinot Blanc Robledo Family Winery

And finally this wine is recommended by Winebuzz.hk, writing: “The Robledo family went from working at the vineyards to eventually owning 14 vineyards and producing its own estate wines. The 2006 Pinot Blanc we tasted was loaded with aromas of ripe melon and sweet honey with a light and crisp finish, a wine perfect for accompanying light cheeses and any chicken dishes.”