Wineshark weekly - 29 January 2012

This week is the Chinese New Year, let me wish all of you a prosperous Year of Dragon and may all your wishes come true this year! Always be healthy and happy!

Nice to have three holidays to allow me some time to take a good rest, and able to temporarily forget my job. Even though I still need to do something in the holiday, at least I can relax a bit and able to enjoy some quiet and peaceful moments.

On Monday we went back to my parents' home for dinner, and I had opened a really wonderful wine - Arinzano 2001. This wine is from a DO Pago in Spain, a single vineyard DO of exceptional quality. The wine is one of the best I have tried and costing less than $900 per bottle, really a good buy in my opinion. Should try to stock up more of this when I can find it again! You can find the tasting note in cellartracker.com or fb.

On Tuesday we visited Ivy's sister's home for the family lunch, and I opened a bottle of Marquis de Riscal Roblo. An inexpensive wine though a nice drink and suitable for such an occasion, we had a good time and then went to visit some relatives. That night we went to Tang Court in Langham Hotel for dinner, to celebrate Ivy's birthday. We had some wonderful dishes, like the soup, stuffed couch, pan fried garoupe, minced pigeon in cabbage wrap and dessert. A full meal and really delicious, not exactly cheap ($1400) but still a good place to go once in a while.

That night I also visited my friend, who came back from Germany for the CNY holiday. I am really happy to see him and we chatted a lot, and I brought two Marquis de Riscal along, one Reserva and one Gran Reserva. We also talked about planning a trip this summer to Europe to visit some vineyards. This year I really will do it and it seems quite a few of my friends are interested. Looks like we will have a big group and I can already think of all the fun and craziness of the group. Can't wait!

Because of family dinner, I could not go to visit another friend on Wednesday. A pity as I haven't met a few of them for a long time, and really want to reconnect with them. Maybe has to wait for the next occasion. And that ended my holiday...

I started work again on Thursday. With not that many people in office I actually found it quite productive and I was able to clear a lot of my email backlogs. Originally wanted to go to a restaurant in Mongkok that night but then found out it won't open until next Tue! What a long holiday! So instead we went to Jade Garden but it was really disappointing. The dishes were not good. Well, should not complain too much in the festive season probably...

During the weekend still got some places to go. I visited my friend's new home and had good time also. Drunk a bit too much on the night (I brought four bottles along, finishing all with three others) and today went to the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple. The fortune teller told me that I would have changes in my job around Oct, let's see whether it will happen...

Next week will be in Manila for 5 days, need to go packing and wish you all a happy beginning of year!

Wineshark weekly - 22 January 2012

Tomorrow will begin the Year of Dragon, here I wish all my friends and people who read this blog a happy and healthy year!

Yesterday was the day traditionally we would clean up the house. Frankly for me I did not do that much cleaning, mainly putting on the decorations and also buying some flowers and fruit. In the wet market it was so crowded and people buying like crazy on all the stuff to prepare for the festival. The atmosphere was warm and happy, and inevitably one would immerse totally and start to also buy a lot. But who care? This is the season to enjoy and spend!

One of most dearest friends also came back to HK yesterday. Really been missing him (and the gatherings!) but happily going to meet up very soon. Seeing how he and his wife took picture at the airport really brought a smile to my face, how sweet! Bringing particular strong feelings to me also about how we must treasure what we got, because even if someone is at your side for a long time doesn't guarantee that it will always be. So maybe better so speak out what you think and don't keep things in your heart only?

Nothing surprising much this week, went to my third trip in the same number of week since the year, to Manila. To be honest, the more now I am into this additional role, the more I like this even though it got a much bigger pressure than my original. Able to influence and direct the team to achieve something is always nice, but also the opportunity to work across different areas in the business is also rewarding. Unfortunately too much things are now on my shoulder and I simply could not handle everything to the best that I would like. Nevertheless still a good challenge for my personal development.

After coming back to HK, this week we went to the flower market and before that, to a good Vietnamese restaurant in Tai Hang called Cafe Locomotive. Have known this restaurant for a long while but only been there by now. The noodle soup was really nice, which I highly recommend, and the other dishes were also delicious. Definitely one of my favorite restaurants. We had two bowls of noodle, a steamed rice roll, a butter fried frog and some boiled clam. Including two drinks the total was $424 for two person.

I also got my WSET Level 4 unit 6 (fortified wine) results. Pass with Merit is not a bad grade but I think I did not do myself justice on the theory part. Anyway I am still happy and as I promised myself I bought an expensive port (the most expensive port in the world) to celebrate - Quinta do Noval Vintage Port Nacional 1980. Didn't got the money to buy a better vintage but still cost me $3900. Well, I will further age it for a while so possibly it won't see light until 10 to 15 years later...

Continuing my unit 5 studies, this week I had couple of sparkling: Louis Roederer Rose Brut Vintage 2006 and Domaine Dussourt Cremant d'Alsace Brut Riesling NV. The Rose was nice and complex while the Cremant was refreshing and got the signature petrol aroma for the Riesling. Both were very satisfactory buy. I will continue further with some sparkling this week and stay tuned to my FB for the tasting notes.

Will now continue to my study. Once again, wish you and your family a prosperous Year of Dragon!

Wineshark weekly - 15 January 2012

This week I was in Seoul for a change. Weather was cold there and basically at negative all the time I was there. However, indoor because of the heater the temperature was actually very warm, particularly in the hotel the room was so hot that I had to turn off the air-con for a long time to let it cool down before I could go to sleep. On two of the nights I had dinner with my colleagues outside and walked a bit in the weather. Really freezing but also refreshing. I really want to spend some time in Korea on my own to experience more the culture and everything. Even with all the trips I have made in the past years I really cannot say I know much of Korea.

Originally I was coming back to HK on Thu, but when I left that day I was caught in bad traffic and at the end had to stay behind one more day because I could not catch my flight. I left office in pretty much the time I normally do but the taxi driver took a route that went through in the most busy area and basically I had spent more than 1.5 hour on the road without even reaching the highway. Fortunately my colleague in HK had helped me to cancel my online check-in and re-booked me for the next day's flight. And I had Andong Chicken for dinner that night to spice up my mood also! This is my first time I cannot catch my flight and have to stay one more day...

I went to Sang Kee Congee in Sheung Wan on Friday. Have not been there for a while. It was quite late when we arrived and I ordered the Fish Ball and Pig Liver Congee. The liver is really good there and one of the best in my experience. We pretty much were the last customer and they closed at 9pm. $61 in total for two person. Their beef is also famous though I cannot testify because I did not eat beef.

This week I only opened a bottle of wine: Quartz Reef Methode Traditionnelle NV from Central Otago. Quite cheap at $138, for a mid-priced New World traditional method sparkling still a good quality and value buy.

Saturday is my wedding anniversary and it was already five years since I got married. Time flies, it was just like yesterday... I'd learnt a lot in the last year, particularly to cherish what you got. So I will live life to the fullest and walk together with you on the journey...

Wineshark weekly - 8 Jan 2012

This year will be a tough year for me on my job, I can already foresee that. Nothing to worry too much, but certainly there are a lot of challenges and difficulties I will need to overcome. Life is full of such anyway, and I will do my best. And I know there are others who support me, which is what pushing me on. I really grateful for all of them...

I have told people also that my travel would be quite crazy this year. In January alone I will have four trips. This week I started with Manila, and next week going to Seoul. Before starting my trips, on Monday I went to 'Ser Wong Fun' in Central to enjoy some good food. It was quite crowded and as you know at the restaurant it is needed to share tables with others. On the same table was a group of foreigners and it was quite interesting to see how they ordered.

We had ordered the Snake Soup, Lamb Hot Pot and Clay Pot Chicken Rice with Chinese Sausages. The food was really delicious, and I like the Snake Soup very much. Maybe if it was less crowded it would be even more enjoyable. Total cost was $655 for two. I recommend the restaurant but remember to bring cash, they don't accept credit card.

In the first quarter of 2012 I will be focusing my wine tasting on sparkling, to prepare for my upcoming examination in March. This week I had opened a Moscato d'Asti and a Prosecco. The Asti was really too sweet for me, but maybe good for some ladies. The Prosecco though was off-dry, did pair very well with hot pot (yes, I drank close to the whole bottle myself last night during hot pot). I have posted the tasting notes on my FB and cellartracker account so if you want to know more how they tasted, please check it out.

Yesterday I went to Ocean Park, trying to buy the Shark doll that I have been searching for a long while. Looks like it is not going to be made anymore, with only one remaining (a big one!) on display in one of the shop and it is not for sale. Feel very upset about that. Mine at home is getting a bit worn out and I would like to get a new one to 'keep'. But still bought a few other dolls plus playing the games and winnig couple more. So I have two full bags of dolls bringing home, and people may think I am a bit childish when I took those out along the way back, haha... 

So need to go pack for my trip tomorrow, until next week, take care my friends!

Catalunya

It is a region that does not feel like Spain. It is easy to forget the border separating it from Roussillon. With the vineyards stretching from Mediterranean coast to altitudes where cold is a useful quality factor, the region produces a wide range of wine.

There is Cava, Spain’s answer to champagne, of which 95% is produced in Catalunya, mainly from vineyards in and around Penedes. The industry is dominated by Codorniu and Freixenet. The winemaking method is the same as Champagne but the grapes are very different, with netural Macabeo dominating the blend. The late budding provides insurance to growers against spring frost. The flavors come from Xarel-lo, which is best planted at lower altitudes. Parellada is regarded as the finest Cava ingredient, providing apple flavors and crispness, if not over-produced. Lower yield and longer bottle ageing steadily improve the quality.

Penedes is the leading DO for still wines. International varieties are widespread than anywhere else in Spain, from pioneers like Miguel Torres. He is now nurturing the Catalan grapes for his finest red Grans Muralles. Catalunya DO encompasses all Catalan regions.

The hottest and lowest vineyards by the coast traditionally supply super-ripe Moscatel and Malvasia for dessert wines. Recently they are also producing Monastrell, Garnacha and Carinena for blended dry reds. Tarragona DO, immediately west of Penedes, also supplies raw material for Cava and also traditional sweet, heavy red wine, sometimes aged for long period to take on a rancio character.

Since 2001 the higher western vineyards had their own DO Monstant, with serious concentrated reds made from a wide range of grape varieties. Imported red varieties have replaced Garnacha Blanca in Terra Alta DO. The Costers del Segre DO is comprised of four widely scattered subzones, dominated by Tempranillo and other international varieties, with light but spicy varietals made on lower grounds in the northeast, while in the north it is similar to Somontano. The wines are more New World than Catalan.

Wine: Can Rafols dels Caus El Rocallis

Region / Country: Penedes Spain

Vintage: 2007

Grape: 100% Incrozio Manzoni

ABV: 13%                    

Price: HK$348

Tasting Date: 29 December 2011

Wineshark Score: 91

Very good quality Penedes premium white with pale gold colour and wide watery rims. Fairly intense and youthful nose of butter, toast, pear, ripe apple, cream, lemon and honey, the wine has medium acidity and fairly full-bodied, with good intense palate of lime, apple, toast, butter, pear, yeast, tropical fruit and oak. A fairly long length with a good balance on both fruit and autolytic characteristics. Ready to drink now but has potential for ageing of another 2-3 years.