Wine Swine
On Wednesday night, the Millennium Seoul Hilton held another impressive wine tasting evening. These different from conventional wine tastings in that that they are seated. They are quite luxurious and elegant...
Upon arrival, you are greated with welcome cocktails and salted peanuts. Everyone mingles in the lobby outside the grand ballroom. At 7:00, everyone enters the ballroom, which is set up like a wedding. There are round tables decorated with crisp white tablecloths and lovely centerpieces. Ambience is wonderful: lights turned low, candles burning everywhere, large presentation screens showing picturesque images of vineyards...
The tables are impressive. 8 appropriately-sized glasses of wine sit at your place setting, waiting to be filled with wine. A wine expert introduces the vineyards and each wine. There is also a booklet for you with detailed descriptions of each wine to write your observations in. Only glasses of water and plain baguettes are at the table, for palate cleansing.
The waiters swoop in, one per table, to pour the wine. The wine expert leads the tutored tasting session and the drinking begins...
Corte Giara Pinot Grigion 2003 The first wine is a Pinot Grigio from Corte Giara, from the Veneto region in Italy. It was lovely! You can taste honey, pear and lemon. It has the perfect combination of dryness, crispness and acidity. It was a lovely wine...my favorite for just drinking. (In fact, my friend kindly bought me a bottle since I liked it so much!)
Nekeas, Viura Chardonnay 2004 Then came a Viura/Chardonnay blend from Nekeas, Spain. It was much heavier than the first white and had a bit too much bite from the Chardonnay. Also, I felt the alcohol was a little overpowering. However, with food, the bite was removed and the other flavors (citrus and grapefruit) became more apparent.
Nekeas, Tempranillo-Merlot 2003 The first red was a Tempranillo/Merlot blend also from Nekeas, from Navarra, Spain. It was very smoky, which was a turn off for me. But interesting to note that the smokiness doesn't come from the barrel but from the grape itself. Tempranillos have a very smoky flavor. I wonder if this selection would be improved by a pairing with roast or grilled meats?
Chateau Haut Tucaou 2002 The next red was an Organic wine from Bordeaux. It was a Merlot/Cab Franc blend. During the tasting, I really did not like this wine. It was too earthy for me. However, when I drank it while eating gruyere cheese, it was wonderful! It become a very smooth wine and the fruitier elements came out. Really lovely!
Domaine du Bourdieu 2003 This wine was a Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend. It was nice bu nothing spectacular in my opinion. This won the Gold medal at the Bordeaux Organic Wine Challenge 2003/2004.
Cade de Gombaude 2002 Also an organic wine, this was a Merlot/Cab Franc blend. It was nice...well balanced. This is the only Pomerol organic wine and ages quite well. It doesn't pair well with spicy dishes though.
Col d'Orcia Rosso di Montalcino 2001 The is a Brunello (Sangiovese) from Tuscany. It has a lot of tanins and benefits from a lot of breathing. In fact, the wine expert said this wine tastes better the day after it's been opened!
Col d'Orcia, Brunello di Montacino 1998 This was a super fine wine! The wonderful piece de resistance of the evening! One of the finest wines in the world, this wine is so deep and intense and so smooth and full of flavor. A wonderful wine! Quite expensive, though!
After the initial tasting, we were invited to partake of the light dinner buffet provided. Lots of cheeses, salads and several hot dishes (including a delectable spinach pasta in carbonara sauce and spicy chili con carne egg rolls!). The desserts were dreamy. All in all, an angelic nite...especially for this wine swine!
Upon arrival, you are greated with welcome cocktails and salted peanuts. Everyone mingles in the lobby outside the grand ballroom. At 7:00, everyone enters the ballroom, which is set up like a wedding. There are round tables decorated with crisp white tablecloths and lovely centerpieces. Ambience is wonderful: lights turned low, candles burning everywhere, large presentation screens showing picturesque images of vineyards...
The tables are impressive. 8 appropriately-sized glasses of wine sit at your place setting, waiting to be filled with wine. A wine expert introduces the vineyards and each wine. There is also a booklet for you with detailed descriptions of each wine to write your observations in. Only glasses of water and plain baguettes are at the table, for palate cleansing.
The waiters swoop in, one per table, to pour the wine. The wine expert leads the tutored tasting session and the drinking begins...
Corte Giara Pinot Grigion 2003 The first wine is a Pinot Grigio from Corte Giara, from the Veneto region in Italy. It was lovely! You can taste honey, pear and lemon. It has the perfect combination of dryness, crispness and acidity. It was a lovely wine...my favorite for just drinking. (In fact, my friend kindly bought me a bottle since I liked it so much!)
Nekeas, Viura Chardonnay 2004 Then came a Viura/Chardonnay blend from Nekeas, Spain. It was much heavier than the first white and had a bit too much bite from the Chardonnay. Also, I felt the alcohol was a little overpowering. However, with food, the bite was removed and the other flavors (citrus and grapefruit) became more apparent.
Nekeas, Tempranillo-Merlot 2003 The first red was a Tempranillo/Merlot blend also from Nekeas, from Navarra, Spain. It was very smoky, which was a turn off for me. But interesting to note that the smokiness doesn't come from the barrel but from the grape itself. Tempranillos have a very smoky flavor. I wonder if this selection would be improved by a pairing with roast or grilled meats?
Chateau Haut Tucaou 2002 The next red was an Organic wine from Bordeaux. It was a Merlot/Cab Franc blend. During the tasting, I really did not like this wine. It was too earthy for me. However, when I drank it while eating gruyere cheese, it was wonderful! It become a very smooth wine and the fruitier elements came out. Really lovely!
Domaine du Bourdieu 2003 This wine was a Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend. It was nice bu nothing spectacular in my opinion. This won the Gold medal at the Bordeaux Organic Wine Challenge 2003/2004.
Cade de Gombaude 2002 Also an organic wine, this was a Merlot/Cab Franc blend. It was nice...well balanced. This is the only Pomerol organic wine and ages quite well. It doesn't pair well with spicy dishes though.
Col d'Orcia Rosso di Montalcino 2001 The is a Brunello (Sangiovese) from Tuscany. It has a lot of tanins and benefits from a lot of breathing. In fact, the wine expert said this wine tastes better the day after it's been opened!
Col d'Orcia, Brunello di Montacino 1998 This was a super fine wine! The wonderful piece de resistance of the evening! One of the finest wines in the world, this wine is so deep and intense and so smooth and full of flavor. A wonderful wine! Quite expensive, though!
After the initial tasting, we were invited to partake of the light dinner buffet provided. Lots of cheeses, salads and several hot dishes (including a delectable spinach pasta in carbonara sauce and spicy chili con carne egg rolls!). The desserts were dreamy. All in all, an angelic nite...especially for this wine swine!
posted by Nooner @ 9:21 AM
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