Everyone knows about Malbec from Argentina but now there is a new wine on the world’s wine tasting lips from this vast country and that is Torrontes.

A light, pale gold wine with heady floral and tropical fruit aromas, locals call it ‘the liar’ because of its deceptively sweet and aromatic nose, when it is actually quite a dry and sometimes bitter wine. Originally hailing from France, the grape was brought to Argentina in a pot-luck plantation of vines like so many other varietals during European immigration. And, like Malbec, it did better in Argentina than its European counterpart.

Surprisingly, it thrived at very high altitudes in dry and sun-filled northern Salta provinces, and has become Argentina’s most well-known white varietal. Cafayate in Salta and La Rioja are the most famous regions for Torrontes, but it’s also being cultivated in other regions such as the Valle de Uco in Mendoza with great results.

Torrontes is a perfect introductory grape for those new to wine, and an easy aperitif to drink by the pool or with light, summer dishes, sushi or spicy food. Keep your eye open in your local wine shop, restaurant or try out some of these:

Bodega Colome Torrontes, Cafayate
How much? HK$95
Where to buy? Wineworld Limited, www.wineworld.com.hk 13/F, Yue On Commercial Building, 385-387 Lockhart Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong. Tel: 3154 9570

Chakana Torrontes, Mendoza
How much? HK$138
Where to buy? Cellarmaster Wines (H.K.) Ltd www.cellarmasterwines.com 9th Floor Tin Fung Industrial Mansion, 63 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Hong Kong. Tel: 2791 6332

Trapiche Broquel Torrontes, Cafayate
How much? HK$157
Where to buy? Soho Wines & Spirits, www.sohowines.hk 49 Elgin Street, Soho, Hong Kong. Tel: 2525 0316

By Amanda Barnes

Argentine Malbec has steadily gained international fame over the past two decades but there is more than one trick to this pony as the country demonstrates a greater diversity with increasingly high standards year-on-year. Here are our five top summer wines, all available in Hong Kong:

Torrontés, Bodega Colomé

The signature grape of Argentina, locals call torrontes ‘the liar’ because of its deceptively floral and sweet nose, while remaining refreshingly dry in the mouth. Thriving at high altitude (1700m above sea level), this particular microclimate from one of the most noted wineries in Salta offers a great tapicity for a full and fruity wine with orange blossoms and jasmine.

How much? HK$102

Where to buy?

• Wineworld Limited www.wineworld.com.hk
• 13/F, Yue On Commercial Building, 385-387 Lockhart Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong. Tel: 3154 9570

Sauvignon Blanc, Pulenta Estate

Pulenta’s Sauvignon Blanc has been turning heads for a while now, and this year’s vintage is supposed to be one of the best yet. A revitalising wine with good herbal notes, citrus fruits and a mineral base typical of the southern Lujan region.

How much? HK$133

Where to buy?

• Berry Bros. & Rudd Hong Kong  www.bbr.com.hk  307-308 3rd Floor, The Lee Gardens, 33 Hysan Avenue, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Tel: 2907 2112

Malbec Rose, Kaiken

Malbec had to make the list somewhere but, for summertime, rose is the way to go. This Chilean owned winery, Kaiken, makes a great Malbec Rose full of strawberries and violets on the nose with a delicate clean finish.

How much? HK$102

Where to buy? Watson’s Wine. Tel: 2606 8828

Pinot Noir, Mariflor: Rolland Collection

Pinot Noir is a fickle grape at the best of times but is creating quite a stir in Argentina for creating unique expressions. And who better than a Frenchman to produce the famed burgundy varietal? International wine guru Michel Rolland includes this Pinot Noir from Mariflor (Valle de Uco) in his ‘terroir’ collection. A subtly complex wine with deep fruit and wet minerals, aged 14 months in French oak.

How much? HK$257

Where to buy?

• Amorosso Fine Wines Ltd. www.amorossowines.com 12, 22/F Wayson Comm. Bldg., 28 Connaught Road West, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong. Tel: 3590 5348

Chardonnay, Catena Alta

Catena Zapata is well known for its reds but this iconic winery made one of the first premium Argentinean Chardonnays. Catena Alta is a multi-layered complex wine with citric notes, fantastic acidity and a buttery mouth feel. A great white wine for more structured food pairings.

How much? HK$389

Where to buy? Watson’s Wine. Tel: 2606 8828

Come join Eben Sadie, owner and winemaker of The Sadie Family, for a wine dinner at Posto Pubblico on 23 June. Eben is a former wine-maker at Fairview known for producing some of the best South African wines around. 

The Sadie Family is the first South African producer to earn a 95-point score at Wine Spectator and was awarded Winery of the Year as well as South Africa’s White Wine of the Year.

Wine served:

• Sadie Sequillo White 2008
• Said Family Sequillo Red 2006
• The Sadie Family Palladius 2008
• The Sadie Family Columella 2007

How much?

• HK$600 per person

Details

• Date: 23 June 2011
• Time: 7.30-10pm
• Venue: Posto Privato @ Posto Pubblico, G/F 28 Elgin Street, Central, Hong Kong.

When we talk about Malbec today, it’s as good as talking about Argentina’s red. As Argentina’s emblematic variety, there is no other country on the planet that is able to produce a Malbec like Argentina … not even close. Interestingly, however, Malbec is originally from France; Michel Aimé Pouget, a prominent French agronomist in around 1852, brought Malbec to this land. It adapted quickly to the terroirs offered by Argentina’s rocky landscape, and was developed to its fullest potential and shown different characteristics.

Argentina pronounced April 17^th as Malbec World Day, a global event to celebrate this unique grape. From the Calchaquies Valleys in the north of Argentina to Patagonia in the south, we can find different expressions of Malbec. The altitude of Argentina is a significant factor: the higher the altitude of the area, the greater the buildup of colour from the beautiful sun. For a good Malbec, we always look for a ripe, smooth wine, with good color. When having a richly concentrated Malbec dancing in a glass, we can easily find a deep ruby red color and violet hues, which are very, very typical of this variety. Altitude causes wide temperature ranges, too, which bring out aromas ranging from spices and flowers to red and black fruits. I love Argentine Malbec for its trademark characteristic, bold and juicy fruitiness combined with a smooth texture that is supported by mouth-filling tannins. If you are ready for a Tango wine, here are some bottles you shouldn’t miss:

Wine Stats:

Name+Year: Reginato “Celestina” Rose of Melbec 2008 (Sparkling)

Appellation: Mendoza, Argentina

Type of wine/Varietal: 100% Malbec (14 months sur lies bottle aging)

Alcohol Content: 12.9%

Tasting notes:

A bright, vibrant raspberry pink hue. Plenty of strawberries and pistachios on the bouquet. Bright fruitiness with fresh red berries flavors. Medium-long finish with an elegant touch of tannin. Very interesting & unique expression of Malbec.

Food Pairing: Warm chicken salad ,  Panna Cotta

Wine rating: 4

Where to buy? El OSO Wine. Tel: 9329 6793

Wine Stats:

Name+Year: Mapema pz Malbec 2007

Appellation: Tupungato & La Consulta, Argentina

Type of wine/Varietal: 100% Malbec (Avg. age of 50 years)

Alcohol Content: 13.5%

Tasting notes:

Dark purple color. Beautiful violets, fresh crushed blackberries and currants with a smoky note layer. After sitting for 15 minutes, it brings out pickle, plum and sweet spices on the nose. Smooth and concentrated on the palate, ripe juicy black fruits with great balance. Long and rich finish. Perfect time to enjoy.

Food Pairing: Pan fried duck breast served with blueberry sauce

Wine rating: 4.5

Where to buy? El OSO Wine. Tel: 9329 6793

Wine Stats:

Name+Year: Poesia, Clos des Andes 2004

Appellation: Mendoza, Argentina

Type of wine/Varietal: 100% Malbec (Avg. age of 80 years)

Alcohol Content: 14%

Tasting note:

Decant for an hour. Deep ruby red color. Lovely dark fruits, coffee and spice on the nose. Summer raspberry and plum with a touch of bitter chocolate on the palate. Sweet tannin. Full bodied and a long finish. Nice complexity gain from bottle aging.

Food Pairing: Ideal with roasted red meat

Wine rating: 4.5

Where to buy? Merit Wine. Tel: 2528 5025

Louis Latour, the iconic Burgundy winery, has just released its latest vintage and, on first reflection, this could be one of the greatest ever vintages for Burgundian reds.

Founded in 1794, Louis Latour has for a long time been the benchmark for commercial Burgundian wine. Now in its eleventh generation of family ownership, the Louis Latour winery has turned out some stunning 2009 reds, to match their 2008 vintage that was so successful for whites.

2009 Louis Latour – the best ever Burgundy vintage?

Louis Latour, the iconic Burgundy winery, has just released its latest vintage and, on first reflection, this could be one of the greatest ever vintages for Burgundian reds.

Founded in 1794, Louis Latour has for a long time been the benchmark for commercial Burgundian wine. Now in its eleventh generation of family ownership, the Louis Latour winery has turned out some stunning 2009 reds, to match their 2008 vintage that was so successful for whites.

In the company of Bruno Pepin, the commercial director of Louis Latour, tasters at their recent showcase were able to preview the 2009 Chardonnays, starting with the Meursault Premier Cru “Chateau de Blagny” which allayed notes of fresh peach and tropical fruits. This was swiftly followed by the Meursault Premier Cru “Perriers” which displayed subtle mineral tones and sweet citrus fruit on the palate.

Of the 2009 vintage Mr. Pepin commented; “At Louis Latour, we only have good and outstanding vintages.” We can’t argue with that. The Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru “Morgeot,” Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru and Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru only highlighted Mr. Pepin’s observations who added; “Burgundy reds of 2009 are as good as or better than the superb vintages of 2005 and 1999.”

The Aloxe Corton Domaine Latour showed light flavours of red berries but, in truth, underperformed. The same, however, cannot be said for the rest of the vintage. The Beaune Premier Cru Vignes Franches is insatiable and, upon drinking, summer immediately springs to mind. Fresh-picked raspberries and blackcurrants are dangerously evident and the finish is eternal.

The Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru “Les Cazetiers” was very fruit-forward and simple, yet somehow ingeniously sophisticated and certainly one to drink now and avoid putting in the cellar. Not like the Chambertin Grand Cru “Cuvee Heritiers Latour” which was full, with great body and structure, matching the tannins which should allow for 3-8 years cellaring.

The stand-out wine was most certainly the Nuits-St.-Georges Premier Cru “Les Damodes.” Earthy and unquestionably made in an old world rustic style, the subtle tannins make for a wine that is palatable and exquisite, coupled with a potential for medium to short term cellaring.

Overall, the Louis Latour 2009 vintage is remarkable in its ability to be the drinking wine of today, and the cellaring wine for the rest of this decade. A fantastic vintage.

Louis Latour is available exclusively through Maxxium Hong Kong.

By Alasdair NicolIn the company of Bruno Pepin, the commercial director of Louis Latour, tasters at their recent showcase were able to preview the 2009 Chardonnays, starting with the Meursault Premier Cru “Chateau de Blagny” which allayed notes of fresh peach and tropical fruits. This was swiftly followed by the Meursault Premier Cru “Perriers” which displayed subtle mineral tones and sweet citrus fruit on the palate.

Of the 2009 vintage Mr. Pepin commented; “At Louis Latour, we only have good and outstanding vintages.” We can’t argue with that. The Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru “Morgeot,” Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru and Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru only highlighted Mr. Pepin’s observations who added; “Burgundy reds of 2009 are as good as or better than the superb vintages of 2005 and 1999.”

The Aloxe Corton Domaine Latour showed light flavours of red berries but, in truth, underperformed. The same, however, cannot be said for the rest of the vintage. The Beaune Premier Cru Vignes Franches is insatiable and, upon drinking, summer immediately springs to mind. Fresh-picked raspberries and blackcurrants are dangerously evident and the finish is eternal.

The Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru “Les Cazetiers” was very fruit-forward and simple, yet somehow ingeniously sophisticated and certainly one to drink now and avoid putting in the cellar. Not like the Chambertin Grand Cru “Cuvee Heritiers Latour” which was full, with great body and structure, matching the tannins which should allow for 3-8 years cellaring.

The stand-out wine was most certainly the Nuits-St.-Georges Premier Cru “Les Damodes.” Earthy and unquestionably made in an old world rustic style, the subtle tannins make for a wine that is palatable and exquisite, coupled with a potential for medium to short term cellaring.

Overall, the Louis Latour 2009 vintage is remarkable in its ability to be the drinking wine of today, and the cellaring wine for the rest of this decade. A fantastic vintage.

Louis Latour is available exclusively through Maxxium Hong Kong.

At the recent Royal Easter Wine Show held in New Zealand recently, Whitehaven – an award-winning winery from Marlborough known for their wonderful Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir – won the much coveted award category of the show, the Sauvignon Blanc. Whitehaven has been one of the leading Sauvignon Blanc labels in New Zealand and have been distributed in Hong Kong for over 10 years.

Next time you’re not sure what to order from the white wine menu, now you know another Sauvignon Blanc wine from New Zealand other than Cloudy Bay. They are usually in the better wine menus.

The Royal Easter Wine Show is New Zealand’s oldest wine competition, held every year at the Auckland Showgrounds since 1953 to provide an opportunity for winegrowers in the region to have their wines assessed, and to provide a guide to consumers on the best New Zealand wines available.

Where to buy?

• Boutique Wines
• 1603 Horizon Plaza, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong.
• Tel: 2872 4234

With the much anticipated Union Des Grands Crus de Bordeaux 2008 Vintage Tasting taking place on March 10th at the Intercontinental Hong Kong, hundreds of trade professionals in the wine industry assessed the 2008 vintage in a mega tasting event that featured 98 chateaus from Bordeaux, including names that are music to a Bordeaux lover’s ears: Château Angélus, Domaine de Chevalier, Château Lynch-Bages, Château Lascombes, Château Beychevelle, and many other Bordeaux classified growth wineries.

So how are the 2008′s drinking? “Very tasty,” says wine educator Ian Symonds, “If these are fruity and easy drinking now, imagine them in another ten years or so. Bordeaux is finally on a level playing field with the New World because of consistently nice weather in the last few years. This means that the grapes are ripening well for better tasting wines. It wasn’t too long ago that drinking such young vintages were unthinkable.”

Dominque Befve, the general manager of Château Lascombes, a second-growth, agrees. “Similar to the ’05 and ’06, the ’08 shows good concentration and softer tannins. We have good maturity and ripeness giving wines that are easy to drink now. 2008 is a classic vintage.” Overall and very broadly, the Bordeaux left bank (Margaux, St-Julien, Graves, etc.) shows more fruit, drinkability and potential than the Bordeaux right bank (St-Emilion, Pomerol) for 2008, though there are great variations from appellation to appellation. The St-Emilions, with a few exceptions, seem not quite fully awake yet; the Médoc and Haut-Médoc on the left bank also have less exciting offerings. St Julien shows the greatest success with lots of fresh red fruits and ripe tannins.

Some highlights:

Château Angelus (St-Emilion) 2008: Rich and creamy with intense smoky fruits and complex spiciness. Big yet defined structure, a lovely weight in the mouth.

Clos Fourtet (St-Julien) 2008: Powerfully sweet on the nose and supple on the palate. Astounding elegance and balance; clearly built for the long haul.

Chateau Léoville-Barton (St-Julien) 2008: Creamy concentration with plenty of smoky fruits and a polished structure. Firm tannins, very dark and black on the palate, and a beautiful finish.

Domaine de Chevalier Blanc (Pessac-Léognan) 2008: The white wine of Chevalier may not be as famous as its red, but what a delightful treat! Pure fruit with layers of complexity, hints of passion fruit and green plums, and a bold finesse on the palate, yet delicate in substance.

Chateau Lascombes (Margaux) 2008: The clear winner among the Margaux offerings at the UGC tasting—bursting with red fruits complemented by the toast and chocolate of oak. A rich silky weight on the palate that leaves you wanting more.

- By Jessica Lam Hill Young

We here at Winebuzz.hk are big advocates of tasting before you buy. However, there’s only so many days of the week you can allocate to wine tasting! This article by Snooth on the best wines to drink from two of French’s most famous regions – Bordeaux and Burgundy – serves to narrow down some of the most top value buys. We’ve updated the story with where you can purchase these wines in Hong Kong.

2005 Boyd-Cantenac from Margaux

A fine deal on a classy Margaux from an excellent vintage. Around US$50 a bottle on release. In Hong Kong you can buy a bottle for HK$490.

• Sinolink Fine Wines. Tel: 2408 3090

2002 Chateau Sociando-Mallet

A classic, old-school style of Bordeaux that has a herbaceous side. A wine that is full of character and will reward in cellaring. The 2002 can be found in the mid US$30 range. In Hong Kong, you can buy it for HK$438 at the Good Wine Store.

• Good Wine Store. Tel: 2311 0339

Fronsac

The satellite appellations of Bordeaux offer good value and exhibit classic Bordeaux traits in this exceptional vintage. The wines of Fronsac (like 2005 Chateau La Dauphine)  can be found at under $30 a bottle or HK190 at Watsons Wine Cellar.

• Watsons Wine Cellar. Tel: 2606 8828

Burgundy

Search for village wines or look to less famous appellations and producers. Mugneret-Gibourg Vosne-Romanee, Joseph Voillot Vonay, Robert Chevillon Nuits St.Georges and Rene Leclerc Gevrey-Chambertin.

• Joseph Voillot Vonay Les Fremiets 1er Cru 1083. HK$550. New Fame: Tel: 2753 5310
• Robert Chevillon Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru Les St Georges, 2001. HK$940. Sommelier at Large. Tel: 8176 0639

Cote de Beune

Lots of value and some excellent producers – Jean-Marc Pavelot, Simon Bize, both in Savigny are true artisans crafting wines from the cellar but the market has yet to respond to their wares. They are delicious and structured Burgundy perfect for the savvy cellarer.

• Savigny Les Beaune Les Grnds Liards  Simon Bize 2005. HK$305. Blue Tree. Tel: 3711 3258

To read more, visit Snooth

photo source:  Luxuo.com

8th Estate has just launched their much- anticipated 2010 Australia Old Vine Grenache and Viognier. The wines are made from grapes from McLaren Vale, Australia, and the Grenache has already been listed as one of the top 6 wines of the 2010 HK Restaurant and Bar Show.

This is 8th Estate’s third batch of wine to be produced in Hong Kong by Master Vitner, Eddie McDougal. The production of these wines is limited and they sell out quite quickly so we suggest you contact 8th Estate early if you’re interested in purchasing any of these wines.

2010 Old Vine Grenache

Harvested by hand from 90 year old bush vines, this Grenache can only be described as “beautiful.” The purity of sweet fruit flavours and a delicate feeling in the mouth makes this wine a completely blissful experience. The aromas flow nicely from sweet cinnamon through to candied raspberries. Made under artisan methods and gentle handling, this Grenache has been molded to become a fantastic wine for now and the years to come. It is proven that this wine pairs well with dishes from the Middle East. Cellaring 5+ years.

2010 Viognier

This wine is a distinctive reflection of artistic wine-making, grape variety and region, made with incredible flare and a strong emphasis on extracting the most complex flavours Viognier has to offer. An ultra intense wine with a full-body of flavour is a result of the craftman’s handling. The fruit is carefully fermented on skins with indigenous yeasts, then gently pressed prior to its maturation on lees for 8 months. The flavour profile stretches from apricots, pickled ginger, elderflowers and to hints of macadamia. This wine is perfect for the dining table and is well suited for international cuisines. Cellaring 5+.

Where to buy?

• The 8^th Estate Winery
• Tel: 2518-0922 of email info@the8estatewinery.com
• www.the8estatewinery.com

The history of Lynch-Bages takes us back to the late 17th century when John Lynch arrived in France from Ireland to the bustling port of Bordeaux. Today, the vineyards total 90 hectares situated on the Bages plateau near the village of Bages itself, just southwest of Pauillac, and are planted with predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon (73%), 15% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.

The grand vin has to be Chateau Lynch-Bages which, although classified as a fifth growth, often produces wine worthy of a higher classification.

The Lynch-Bages 2008 has an unusual nose of slightly caramelised fruit with a hint of smoke and gamey meat. There are some spicy Pauillac elements behind it that, while less aromatic on the palate, still manage to be bold and structured. In fact, despite seeming quite unexpressive in the mouth at first, there’s actually an attractive combination of gritty substance and gentle tannic structure we found interesting.

Robert Parker agrees, rating the Lynch-Bages 2008 at 91-93+ points and commenting that;

“This strong effort from Lynch-Bages may turn out to be the finest wine produced here since the 2000. It is a backward, powerful, opaque purple-colored 2008 with fine acids, firm but sweet tannins, and thick, dense levels of attractive blackberry and cassis fruit intertwined with notions of underbrush, lead pencil shavings, and roasted herbs. It appears to be a denser, richer effort than some of the more lightweight Lynch-Bages offerings of recent years.”

This wine has an anticipated maturity year of between 2013 to 2030 and succeeds in doing what every wine grower should set out to do – start the conversation.

How much?

£920 (GBP) per case

Where to buy?

Bordeaux Index,  Tel: +852 2504 1122