Lobster Bar & Grill restaurant at Island Shangri-La has enlisted a guest chef, Alexander Ehrgott, who is the chef de cuisine of 800-year old Schloss Vollrads wine estate in Germany’s Rheingau (famous as Riesling wine region) to prepare his estate-inspired modern German classic dishes. Schloss Vollrads is considered one of the oldest wine estates dating back to the 13th century, the estate’s founding family’s has been credited for putting Rheingau region’s Riesling on the world map.

Chef Alexander has prepared a three-course set lunch and a four-course dinner menu with dishes that pairs with Schloss Vollrads Reisling wines. Highlight dishes include Red Barbel with Mussels on Saffron Fennel (featured),  Shrimps with White Tomato Mousse and Marinated Pepper and Schloss Vollrads Riesling ice-cream.

How much?

Set lunch menus from HK$350++ and set dinner menus from HK$788++

Details:

• Date: January 25-31, 2010
• Where: Lobster Bar and Grill, 6/F Island Shangri-La Hong Kong, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong.
• Tel: 2820 8560

Nicolas Pierron is Island Shangri-La’s Head Sommelier. This week for WInebuzz.hk’s expert wine picks,  he selects a Pinotage from Top of the Hill, South Africa.

Top of the Hill is only produced in exceptional vintages and only when the current, ninth generation winemaker, Daniel de Waal deems it suitable for release.   The name, Top of the Hill is derived from the fact that the vines are planted on top of the hill and exposed to the sun.

The uniqueness of this wine comes from the vines which are more than 45 years old.  On your first glass, you will be surprised by the dark ink-ish colour and intense flavours of rich black plums, cigars, dark chocolate and spices.  It’s a full-bodied wine with a long lasting fruit taste on the palate and with smooth tannins. This wine is not the usual South African pinotage with lots of fruits and an absence of depth.   On the contrary, the wine has been aged well in French oak for 12 months and only released a few years later at its optimum drinking time.

Top of the Hill reflects a particular terroir and the winemaking tradition of the De Waal family.  At Restaurant Petrus, I usually use this wine in a blind tasting and most of the guests think that it originates from the Rhone Valley or is an old world wine.  The production of this Pinotage is limited to 200 cases of six bottles.

Food Pairing

With the game season starting, the Pinotage Top of the Hill is the perfect match for venison, partridge, hare or even with beef if you are a steak lover.

Wine Stats

• Name + year: Pinotage, Top of The Hill, DeWaal, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2002
• Appellation: wine of origin Stellenbosch
• Type of wine/ varietal: Pinotage
• Alcohol content: 13,5% Vol
• Price: HK$890 per bottle or HK$180 per glass

Wine Expert Rating

• 5 stars

5 star= outstanding, 4 stars =worthy, 3 stars = satisfactory, 2 stars = drinkable, 1 star = avoid

Where to buy?

• It is available at Restaurant Petrus at HK$890 per bottle or HK$180 per glass
• Sheffied Limited Tel:  (852) 2488 8517

The Island Shangri-La Hong Kong invites you to indulge in some of the world’s finest wines this November 16 and 17, as they host a series of events showcasing the finest wines from the 11 members of Primum Familiae Vini, an elite association of wine producing families. Choose from a glamorous Gala Dinner, a four-course luncheon or, if you’re in the biz, the invitation-only trade-tasting.

Charity Gala Dinner

• The Gala features a five-course dinner beginning with a champagne reception. Each of the five courses is to be paired with two or three top wines from the members’ estates. Prepared by renowned Chef Frederic Chabbert of the Michelin-starred Restaurant Petrus, the dinner is priced at HK$2,688 per person, with a minimum of eight guests per table.
• The highlight of the gala dinner is the charitable auction for an incredible PFV Collection Case containing one bottle of each member’s finest current vintage. Funds raised will be donated to the Heep Hong Society to benefit children with autism and specific learning disabilities.
• The gala will be held 16 November 2009 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Island Ballroom on level five of the hotel. Reservations are a must and may be purchased through Restaurant Petrus on level 56 of the hotel.

Luncheon

• Meet the elite winemakers and taste the selected wine at the Lobster Bar and Grill’s four-course luncheon cheffed Leung Wing Yeung. The luncheon runs from noon to 2:30 pm on 17 November 2009. As tables are limited, the Luncheon is first-come, first-served, however reservations are available through the Lobster Bar and Grill. The luncheon is priced at HK$488 per person.

Trade Tasting

• A trade tasting for approximately 200 members from the wine industry is to be held on 16 November 2009 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Atrium on level 39 of the hotel. This trade-tasting is invitation only.

The “best wines in the world” don’t come around every day. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to sample from elite wineries and brag to your friends for years!