HITT 2016 competition wines revealed

Following the drinks business HK’s second successful Hong Kong International Top Tasters event, we finally unmask the identity of the blind tasting competition wines…

Last Saturday’s HITT 2016 blind tasting event was a great success for the drinks business HK team, in collaboration with auction house Acker, Merrall & Condit (Asia), and in aid of Hong Kong charity, Po Leung Kuk.

There were also some stunning wines that exemplified their region of origin and grape variety(-ies) but left some of the teams stumped…

Here we reveal the true identities of the 12 wines…

1. 2015 Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc, Ken Forrester Vineyards, from Stellenbosch in South Africa

Surprisingly. only one team (out of 14) spotted that it was a Chenin Blanc from South Africa and therefore got full marks!  

2. 2014 Mâcon-Azé, Domaine de La Garenne, from Mâconnais in Burgundy, France

While most teams guessed it was from Burgundy, no one thought it was from Mâconnais, with a lot of people pointing towards Meursault and Chablis.

3. 2011 Pinot Gris Calcaire, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, from Turckheim in Haut-Rhin, Alsace

One team guessed it was a Pinot Gris from Alsace while others guessed the distinctive grape variety correctly but not the country of origin.

4. 2013 Merlot, Chateau Ste Michelle from Columbia Valley in Washington, USA

This was one wine which inspired a lot of creative guesses, including Shiraz, Zinfandel, Barbera, Tempranillo, Pinot Noir and Carmenère!

Only one team spotted the dominance of Merlot but didn’t spot the region of origin, sadly.

A couple of teams got as far as saying it was from the US but thought it was a different grape variety. 

5. 2012 Marlborough Pinot Noir, Churton, from Marlborough in New Zealand

Two teams correctly guessed Sam Churton’s Pinot was indeed from Marlborough with a lot of other guesses for Pinot Noir from different countries.

However, New Zealand was a popular answer, followed by the USA. 

6. 2005 Gran Reserva 904, La Rioja Alta, from Rioja Alta in Rioja, Spain

This was another wine which inspired a lot of interesting guesses for grape varieties, such as Malbec, Syrah+Viognier, GSM, Sangiovese and Nebbiolo with ‘Bordeaux Blend’ also being put forward. Four teams did guess correctly that it was from Rioja, however. 

7. 2009 Herencia Carmenère, Santa Carolina, from Peumo and Los Lingues in Chile

A lot of hit and miss guesses for the dominant grape variety here, including interestingly, Dolcetto, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon and Aglianico!

Sadly no-one guessed it was the lovely Carmenère…

8. 2012 Old Vine Grenache, Yangarra Estate Vineyard, from McLaren Vale in South Australia

Surprisingly, almost everyone thought it was an Italian indigenous variety…..only one team spotted the Grenache but failed to point to the country of origin!

9. 2010 Château Pedesclaux, Cru Classé, from Pauillac in Bordeaux, France

Only two teams guessed this was from Bordeaux but sadly missed that it hailed from powerful Pauillac..

10. 2013 Cayas, Syrah du Valais AOC “Réserve”, Jean-René Germanier from Valais, Switzerland

A lovely Syrah from Switzerland… one team imaginatively described aromas of ‘lava’ and then suggested Aglianico from Campania….while another team thought it was a Bandol with garrigue and lavender notes…(Ed – more Swiss wine education required?!)

However, a few teams did spot Syrah as the grape variety but only one team got as far as Switzerland, though missing the Valais region. 

11. 2014 Gran Reserva Malbec, Finca el Origen from Uco Valley in Mendoza, Argentina

Well done to the two teams who correctly guessed that this ripe and juicy number was a Malbec from Argentina!

Others mistook it for Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Primitivo and Touriga Nacional.

12. 2007 Barbaresco DOCG Pajoré, Rizzi from Barbaresco in Piemonte, Italy

A lot of teams correctly identified this as hailing from Piemonte but only two came up with the magic word of Barbaresco.

The drinks business HK would like to thank all 14 teams for participating and well done for a lot of imaginative and inspired blind tasting work.

Look out for our HITT 2016 event write up in an upcoming online newsletter and in the next issue of the drinks business HK magazine!