Steve Pannell chaired the judging panel through a tasting of over 120 entries from small growers and hobbyists, right through to established and well known wineries.

And it was the single-estate vineyard, Hentley Farm, which came up trumps again on the back of last years 5 trophy haul. This year the boutique winery, with its follow up vintages won 5 of the 12 trophies awarded, including best wine of show and best young Shiraz for its 2010 Hentley Farm Shiraz, and best exhibitor of show. It also took out best Grenache or Grenache dominant blend with ‘The 2011 Stray Mongrel’ GSZ and best Cabernet with the 2011 Bloodline.Other winners on the night included Whislter, Rolf Binder at Veritas, Seppeltsfield, Milhinch, Balthazar, Tscharke and Kalleske  who also took out the ‘People’s Choice’ trophy voted for by the public.

All entries came from the iconic Western Barossa sub-region, which lies to the Western side of the  Para river and South of Moppa  road in the Barossa Valley and is home to well-known and acclaimed wineries including Torbreck, Two Hands, Greenock Creek, Hentley Farm, Kalleske, Seppeltsfield, Tscharke, Whistler, Murray Street, Barossa Valley Estate and Rolf Binder. So while the show complies with the National Wine Show standards, it avoids the criticism often levelled at larger wine shows that it is unrealistic and unproductive to compare wines that are completely different in style and come from regions with totally different climates.

In last Saturday’s Daily Telegraph Magazine (the best selling broadsheet newspaper in the UK) the TerraVin Pinot Noir 2010 was featured as one of Hamish Anderson’s summer wine choices.

This is what it said:

‘Mike Eaton set out a decade ago to make world-class Pinot Noir in an area obsessed with Sauvignon Blanc. The 2010 vintage proves he was not mad. It fills the mouth with plums, dark cherries and Asian spices, yet is also ethereal and perfumed. Don’t let it get too warm and serve with a slow-cooked shoulder of lamb.’

Blackbilly Chardonnay 2007, McLaren Vale, Australia (an award-winning wine); and
Borgogno Barbera d’Alba 2009, Piedmont, Italy

Here are photos of the wine list taken from Café Causette!

Cuvees Wine By The Glass at Mandarin Oriental 1

Cuvees Wine By The Glass at Mandarin Oriental 2

Eddie’s vision for his wine retail shop is very consistent with ours at Cuvees – to make wine consumption fun and enjoyable. Other similarities we share is that we started off not carrying any French wine at all. Of course, if you dig a little deeper, you’ll fine both Eddie and I having our own secret stash of French wines kept somewhere else (Note: Cuvees started off not distributing any French wines, but over the course of the last year or so, a lot of loyal customers have asked us to help them source for specific wines, and so, as an added service, we’ve decided to stock a little bit).

Aside from showcasing our Bodegas Resalte and Swanson labels this month, we are also stocking a few other labels at this innovative retail store. You’ll be able to find the following wines at The Flying Winemaker this month:

Swanson Vineyard Pinot Grigio 2008
Swanson Vineyard Merlot 2006
Swanson Vineyard Alexis Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Bodegas Resalte Crianza 2005 (WS94)
Bodegas Resalte Reserva 2004 (WS94)
Bodegas Resalte Gran Resalte 2000 (WS94)
Lemelson Vineyards Meyer Estate Pinot Noir 2008
Testamatta di Bibi Graetz 2007 (RP95)
Ottoventi Punto 20 2009
Luigi Einaudi Moscato d’Asti 2010
Pike & Joyce Sauvignon Blanc 2011

Stay tuned for more events between Cuvees and The Flying Winemaker in the months to come.

Also, Ms. Shelly Eichner (representative from Swanson Vineyards) and Ms. Laurence Colson (representative from Bodegas Resalte) will be visiting Hong Kong at the end of month for the Vinexpo. They’ve kindly offered to share some insights regarding their respectively wineries on the following dates:

May 27th (Sunday) 3:30PM to 7:00PM at the Flying Winemaker
June 4th (Monday) 6:00PM to 9:00PM at the Flying Winemaker

Flying Winemaker Window Display in May 2012

Flying Winemaker Wine Listing in May 2012 - 1

Flying Winemaker Wine Listing in May 2012 - 2

Flying Winemaker Wine Listing in May 2012 - 3

Flying Winemaker Wine Listing in May 2012 - 4

Flying Winemaker Wine Listing in May 2012 - 5

Flying Winemaker Wine Listing in May 2012 - 6

3-Michelin Stars

Donostia – San Sebastian
Arzak (Chef Juan Mari and Elena Arzak) – 8th in the Top 50 Best Restaurants Awards
Akelarre (Chef Pedro Subijana)

Girona
El Celler de Can Roca (Chef Joan Can Roca) – 2nd in the Top 50 Best Restaurants Awards

Lasarte
Martin Berasategui (Chef Martin Berasategui) – 29th in the Top 50 Best Restaurants Awards

Roses / Cala Montjoi
El Bulli (Chef Ferran Adria) – 1st in the Top 50 Best Restaurants in 2009

Sant Celoni
Restaurante Can Fabes (Chef Oscar Velasco)

Sant Pol de Mar
Sant Pau (Chef Carme Ruscalleda)

2-Michelin Stars

Barcelona
Lasarte (Chef Martin Berasategui)

Caceres
Atrio (Chef Juan Antonio Perez)

Denia
Quique Dacosta – El Poblet (Chef Quique Dacosta)

Errenteria
Mugaritz (Chef Andoni Luis Aduriz) – 3rd in the Top 50 Best Restaurants Awards

Madrid
La Terraza del Casino de Madrid (Chef Paco Roncero, with Ferran Adria advice)
Arola (Chef Sergi Arola)
Restaurante Can Fabes Sant Celoni (Chef Oscar Velasco)

1-Michelin Star

Arriondas
El Corral del Indianu (Chef Jose Antonio Campo)

Axpe
Etxeberri (Chef Bixente Eguiguren)

Barcelona
Abac (Chef Jordi Cruz)
Alkimia (Chef Jordi Vila)
Comerc 24 (Chef Carles Abellan)
Dos Cielos (Chef Javier y Sergio Torres)
Gaig (Chef Can Gaig)
Hofmann (Chef Mey Hofmann)
Restaurante Moo (Chef Felip Llufriu)
Via Veneto (Chef Jose Monje and Pedro Monje; Sumiller Jose Martinez)

Cambrils
Can Bosch (Chef Joan Bosch)

Deia
Es Raco d’es Teix (Chef Josef Sauerschell)

Donostia – San Sebastian
Restaurante Kokotxa (Chef Kokotxa y Daniel Lopez)

Girona
Massana (Chef Pere Massana)

Humanes de Madrid
Coque (Chef Pere Massana)

Leon
Cocinandos (Chef Juanjo Perez & Yolanda Leon)

Madrid
La Broche (Chef Angel Palacios)
Kabuki (Chefs Ricardo Sanz & Mario Payan)
Kabuki Wellington (Chef Ricardo Sanz)
Restaurante Zalacain (Chef Juan Antonio Medina)

Oiartzum
Zuberoa (Chef Hilario Abelaitz)

Olost
Restaurante Sala (Chef Chema andOscar Martinez)

Salamanca
Victor Gutierrez (Chef Victor Gutierrez)

Sevilla
Abantal (Chef Julio Fernandez Quintero)

Valencia
Ca’Sento (Chef Raul Alexandre)
La Sucursal (Chef Jorge Breton)

Valladolid
Ramiro’s (Chef Jesus Ramiro Flores)

Vitoria
Ikea (Chef Jose Ramon Berriozabal)

Zaragoza
Bal d’Onsera (Chefs Carmen Arregui y Josechu Corrella)

With Michelin Star in 2010

Donostia – San Sebastian
Kursaal (Chef Mikel Gallo)

Ezcaray
Restaurante Echaurren (Chef Francis Paniego)

Others

Madrid
Restaurant Ferreiro (Chefs Feito, Manolo & Ernesto Ferreiro)

One of the first Masters of Wine in Asia, Debra Meiburg is a celebrated wine journalist, TV personality and speaker. Meiburg Wine Media, her multimedia platform for wine “edutainment”, reaches over 60 million Chinese viewers monthly. She is also the founder of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine and Spirit Competition and authored the first-ever Guide to the Hong Kong Wine Trade.

Debra was asked, “I have a date with a very picky eater and drinker. Is there a wine you would recommend that should please most palates?”, in which she answered “Go with a soft, fruit-forward wine such as a Napa or Sonoma Merlot (although if they’ve seen Sideways, they may turn up their nose), Marlborough or Tasmanian Pinot Noirs, and Syrahs from Paso Robles, California.

And she’s chosen to go with Josef Chromy Pinot Noir 2009!

Crave - Liquid Counsel Issue25_SOMMELIER'S PICK_0426

Thanks Debra!

World Class Wine Education Introduced At Josef Chromy Wines -Tasmania

Renowned in the Tasmanian food and wine industry, Josef Chromy OAM has owned and developed some of Tasmania’s leading wineries including Rochecombe (now Bay of Fires), Jansz, Heemskerk and Tamar Ridge. Josef Chromy Wines is the culmination of his experience in the Tamar Valley and its unique vineyard site (60 hectares), multi-million dollar Restaurant, Function Centre, Cellar Door and Winery is delivering exquisite table and sparkling wine as well as providing one of most memorable food and wine experiences in Tasmania.

With an increasing reputation as one of Australia’s premier food and wine experiences, Josef Chromy Wines is thrilled to announce the arrival of the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) in Tasmania. Founded in 1969, the Wine & Spirit Education Trust is recognized as one of the leading educators of wine and spirits and its qualifications internationally recognized.

With the appointment of Curly Haslam-Coates as Cellar Door Sales / Wine educator, Josef Chromy Wines will now be able to provide WSET Levels 1, 2 and 3 to wine enthusiasts and industry. “It is exciting times as we embrace the quality of Tasmanian wines in the broader international context and educate the wine community. Josef Chromy has always sought to invest in Tasmania, and this is a fantastic opportunity to continue the professional development of the newer members of industry and enthusiasts alike without leaving the state. To have the vineyard and winery adjacent to the class room, will provide an unsurpassed educational experience and domestic and international enquiries are now coming through”. Ms Haslam Coates said.

Described by Wine Australia as “one of the most exciting regions in Australia”, Tasmania has been receiving international attention of late having recently hosted the 2012 International Cool Climate Symposium. Ms Haslam- Coates adds “the recent investment in Tasmanian Vineyards by Brown Brothers and Shaw & Smith helps confirm the region’s position to produce world class cool climate wines. We’re privileged to have such world leaders in sparkling wine in Dr Andrew Pirie , Natalie Fryar , Ed Carr and Karina Dambergs. Tasmania has much to look forward to”.

*To launch the WSET program in Tasmania, Jude Mullins WSET’s Business Development Director, Asia-Pacific will be guest of Josef Chromy and conduct an information session, open to all trade and wine enthusiasts interested in furthering their knowledge and / or career.

When: Wednesday May 16th. 2.00pm
Where: Josef Chromy Wines. Restaurant.
370 Relbia Rd, Relbia. Tasmania 7258.
RSVP- wine@josefchromy.com.au by Monday May 14th

WSET Courses from Foundation to Advanced will commence over winter 2012. Please contact Curly Haslam-Coates on curly@josefchromy.com.au or 03 63358706 for further details.

For more information about Ms Haslam-Coates, Josef Chromy or his wines, please contact:

David Milne
Josef Chromy Wines Pty Ltd
Sales & Marketing Manager

370 Relbia Road RelbiaTasmania, Australia 7258
Phone: + 61 (0) 3 6335 8704
Mobile: +61 (0)400 859 332
Fax: + 61 (0) 3 63358774
Email: dave@josefchromy.com.au
Web: www.josefchromy.com.au

You are cordially invited to the Thursday May 3rd, 2012 HK Interclub Alumni Mixer hosted by: Brown, Canadian University Alumni, Cornell, Duke, Fletcher, Georgetown, Harvard Business School, Harvard Club, HEC, HKUMA, IMD, INSEAD, Imperial College, John Hopkins, London Business School, Kellogg, London School of Economics, MIT, NYU Stern, Oxford & Cambridge, Stanford, Thunderbird, UBC, University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania, University of Wisconsin, USC, UVa, Wellesley, Wesleyan, Wharton, and Yale.
This will be a cash bar, no cover event. RSVP is not required. Exclusive to the Alumni & Guests of the above universities.

Mixer on Thursday May 3rd 2012, 7-10PM
Venue: Casa, 1/F., Wo On Bldg, 8-13 Wo On Lane, Central, Hong Kong

Casa is offering a Buy One Get One Free Drink Special and has offered to provide 20% of its drink sales to the Asian University for Women, who are committed to graduating skilled and innovative women who will promote intercultural understanding. For more information, please refer to the following website: http://www.asian-university.org

Hope to see you and your friends there, thank you for all your support!

Warmest regards,
Angela

Interclub for AUW at Casa

Penn Club of Hong Kong

This excerpt was taken from the Penn Club of Hong Kong Alumni newsletter for the month of May:
Wine Tasting & “German Photography 1960‐2012” (May 3, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM)
Fellow alums, you are cordially invited to a private viewing at Ben Brown Gallery, who will be hosting us for our May happy hour at their premises in the Pedder Building. The show, entitled ʺGerman Photography 1960‐2012ʺ features the work of Bernd and Hilla Becher, Thomas Demand, Gunther Forg, Andreas Gursky, Candida Hofer, Axel Hutte, Anselm Kiefer, Jurgen Klauke, Astrid Klein, Imi Knoebel, Sigmar Polke, Gerhard Richter, Thomas Ruff, Thomas Struth, and Wolfgang Tillmans.

For more information, please see the link below:

http://www.benbrownfinearts.com/exhibitions/55/overview/

We also thank Cuvees, who will be sponsoring the wine for the event. Please visit their website if you would like to order wine from their store: http://www.cuvees.com/shop/

German Photography 1960‐2012
Date: Thursday, May 3rd
Time: 7‐9:00pm
Location: Ben Brown Gallery, 301 Pedder Building, 12 Pedder Street, Central

We will also be co‐hosting the event with our friends from the Columbia Alumni Club.

RP96 – Maculan Madoro Rosso Veneto IGT 2009
The 2009 Madoro flows from the glass with plums, black cherries, mocha, espresso, grilled herbs and spices. Maculan has decided once again to age Madoro in French oak as opposed to steel. The result is a rich, textured sweet wine loaded with personality and class. The intensity of the fruit flows through effortlessly to the long, gracious finish. This is a fabulous showing from Maculan. The 2009 Madoro is 80% Marzemino and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in French oak barrels, 50% new. By Antonio Galloni (Feb. 2012)

RP94+ – Maculan Torcolato DOC 2008
The 20089 Torcolato is heady and sensual in its white truffles, dried flowers, honey, wild herbs. Myriad aromas and flavors continue to emerge from the glass as this complex, kaleidoscopic wine shows off the full breadth of its personality. The 2008 boasts gorgeous inner perfume and spectacular overall balance. I imagine it will still be magical in two decades’ time, especially if purchased in full bottles (as opposed to 375s). Torcolato is 100% botrytised Vespaiola aged  in French oak barrels, 1/3 new. By Antoniolo Galloni (Feb. 2012)

RP94 – Maculan Fratta IGT 2009
The 2009 Fratta dazzles from start to finish. I love the energy and focus here. Layers of dark fruit flow effortlessly through to a long, explosive finish buffered by beautifully integrated tannins. Everything is simply in the right place. Fratta is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot that spends 12 months in 100% new French oak. By Antonio Galloni (Feb. 2012)

RP93 – Maculan Dindarello Moscato Veneto IGT 2010
The 2010 Moscato Dindarello is a joyous wine bursting with personality. Hints of mint, tangerine, orange marmalade and flowers are woven together beautifully. The 2010 shows quite a bit of mid-palate richness, in fact, this is one of the bigger vintages of Dindarello I can recall. The pedigree here is spectacular, especially for the money. By Antonio Galloni (Feb. 2012)

RP91+ – Maculan Crosara Rosso DOC 2009
The 2009 Merlot Crosara comes across as very ripe in this vintage. There is no shortage of intensity as layers of fruit built effortlessly to the long, opulent finish. It will be interesting to see where the 2009 goes from here given the wine’s outstanding track record of ageability. Maculan gave the Crosara 12 months in 100% new French oak barrels. In my view, this wine is being released far too early. By Antonio Galloni (Feb. 2012)

RP90 – Maculan Brentino Merlot / Cabernet IGT 2009
The 2009 Brentino, 55% Merlot / 45% Cabernet Sauvignon is a great introduction to Fausto Maculan’s wines, not to mention the 2009 is flat-out striking. Dark cherries, plums, tobacco and sweet spices are just some of the notes that emerge from this beautifully delineated, supple wine. Floral notes add freshness and lift on the finish. The 2009 is a stunning wine for the money. By Antonio Galloni (Feb. 2012)

Rp88 – Maculan Pino & Toi IGT 2010
The 2010 Pino & Toi is a pretty, entry-level white graced with crisp pears, flowers and apples, all of which come together in an attractive mid-weight style best suited for near-term drinking. By Antonio Galloni (Feb. 2012)

Maculan
This is another strong set of wines from Fausto Maculan, one of the leading lights in Veneto. My only real criticism is that the top reds are being released far too early for wines of such pedigree. These wines rank among the very best being made anywhere, but it is not surprising they remain relatively unknown considering they arrive in the marketplace too young to be fully appreciated. Sadly, there is no new release of the flagship Acininobili, but there are plenty of other great choices in this strong line-up.