And the Tastings Roll On

After Tuesday's Port evening, the tastings continued....

First in the office with a 1er Cru from Vosne Romanee from Sylvain Cathard.  I didn't get a chance to try to the Gevrey  before it was gone, but the Vosne was just wonderful.  My bosses are super into Burgundy.  I never drank much (good) before as it's a bit price inhibitive.  I don't generally (ever) shell out $1,000 for a wine, so when my bosses pop one, I jump.  We all jump!

And we had this; Bernard Van Berg's de-classified Burgundy.  This was super strange and I would have in no way ever guessed it to be from Burgundy (Meursault, which is a white wine appellation and this was a Pinot, hence the de-classification.)  My note for it said 'plastic-y, meaty, fruity' but in all of the very best pf ways.  Jay told me that this producer is very avant garde; super tiny production and very original winemaking techniques.  Well, done Bruno, I'm a fan.

And then I left for Restaurant and Bar.  I've not been to an expo (outside of China) as a visitor, well, ever.  I've always worked them, and wow is it so much more fun to go NOT work one.  I met with Simone and Julia and we walked around catching up with wine friends, F&B friends, and of course, trying wine. 

This was super heavy on the acid- would have been great with shellfish or sushi

I had met this winemaker, Paul from Australia, a few months back when he introduced his new wine 1,000 candles.  He brought it back this go round, with some of his other more 'commercial' wines, and let us all have a try.  Again, just a really interesting wine.  He said it really polarized people, but I'm of the 'love it give me more' camp.

Some Champagne?  Why, yes please.

Jon and Julia enjoy some chips and beers

This guy had some wonderful Chard and Cabs from Oz

 

My new favourite Japanese brew master.  Wonderful Kagua beer!

I had perhaps just enough to drink between wine tastings and beer, but deemed it necessary to go meet Allison and Courtney for some "Drinks for Good."  I don't know who organized, or where the money was going, but 40 bars around HK participated, and I suppose for every drink bought a portion of the $$ goes to charity.  Nice little bonus because we had been planning on catching up anyway.  Allison is off to the US for 3 weeks and the only way to prepare is with two bottles of wine....

And Thursday I had a bit of a headache.  The girls made me stay out til midnight.  On a school night! So I had sushi for lunch.  Pretty, no?

 

A little hair of the dog later, Jay and Mandy popped open our newest line of wines.  We only have a few brands that we distribute exclusively (Van Berg and Matchbox being two), and the rest of our wines are bought on the secondary market.  These Matchbox wines are from an artisanal producer in the Clare Valley, Australia.  There's a Riesling, Malbec, and Syrah.  They're all really fruit forward and quite simple, great for summer on the porch!  The Riesling went particularly well with my salmon salad on Saturday afternoon. 

Cool label

After work I popped into an HKU Space WSET alumni party.  It was great to catch up with some people from my class and try some wines from ASC and Golden Vintage.  I had a nice sparkling from Australia, a Chardonnay, and a rose from Italy, but I was tired and called it a night at 8. 

Tersina in the middle and Christophe from ASC on the right

Friday and there was no wine opened in the office.  Say what?  I suppose we had our fill earlier in the week.  After work I walked from Happy Valley to Tai Hang.  It's a lovely little back street walk with trees, birds chirping, and most importantly, very very few people.  I LOVE working in Happy Valley.  It's just so pleasant. 

I met Will and then Paul and then Sarah and then KC and then Patrick and then Courtney and then Jon, and then we'd had enough and went home.  This place Stone's is great though.  Run by an American, Joel, with real American food and really fantastic beers and wines by the glass.  Tai Hang in general is just a really cool, kind of out of the way neighborhood.  Lots of restaurants (Japanes,e Chinese, Vietnamese, American, French...), gourmet shops, an awesome wine shop, and then best of all, Lab Made.  Lab Made uses nitrous to freeze their ice cream, and it really has no rival in terms of awesome deliciousness. 

Saturday I got BAGELs from Schragels.  Ohhh the things we used to take for granted.  Then worked on my wine paper, for like a minute, and then went on a lovely afternoon run/hike.  It was absolutely gorgeous out yesterday!  I made Paul some delicious little bagel sandwiches, myself a salmon salad, and then we were off for the initial Craft Brewer of HK meeting at the Globe.  Many of the top craft importers got together and decided to start an association that abides by certain quality standards.  Then they asked all of us beer loves to join in.  Each importer brought a nice selection of their craft beers for us to try.  Yum.  The Iron Fist, Kagua, and one of the German ones really stood out as amazing. 

Iron Fist, Chipotle Beer, monk beer x 2, Stout, and German beer.

Apparently HK likes beer!  So many people and there was a good buzz about some local brewers.  Lets hope HK catches up with Korea in terms of our own local brewing scene. 

It being such a beautiful day and all, we decided to stroll along the harbour in the always surprisingly vacant Wan Chai park. 

 

Then had the brilliant idea to go to our favourite tapas place.  We love Taverna del Mar and every time we go in owners Kim and Domenec make us feel so welcome.  They always have something new to show us too.

Sherry. Estrella on draft, baby eels, and homemade bread.  Yum.

 

Anchovies!

And the new fun selection of the night was paella....made with noodles.  My go-to is generally the squid ink rice, but followed Kim's suggestion of the noodles.  Oohh so delicious and seafoody

 

And then being the old people we are, went home at 9pm to watch Into the West.  Does anyone remember this mini-series from like 10 years ago? It's fantastic and I definitely recommend you go download it. 

 

Sunday Funday and I'm up at 7:30.  Debating a run or eating leftover seafood noodles.  Debate may not be the right word there...trying to convince myself to run before eating the noodles.  Run you don't stand a chance...

Holy Wine Season

It must be September because the wine tastings have commenced.  Everyday wine tastings wooh.

Sunday funday meant catching up with old co-workers at Stone Nullah Tavern.  Free wine (yey industry night!), amazing arancini and maple bacon chips, and Julia and Florian.  Sounds like things are same old same old back at HOFWs, prepare for an event, follow up event, prepare for event.  Repeat.  And Julia is enjoying her new job at Telford, one of the top 10 booze importers- emphasis on boozey booze.

Then I ran out to go meet my artistic friend KC for a glass of wine at Enoteca.  KC studied in the US and then came back to HK after college to open his own art studio, conveniently located just near my apartment.  One of these days I will get my act together and get the girls in for some bubbles and paint.  One day...until then I need to get home before 11pm on a school night....one day...

So studious; Titus, Julia and Csilla

Monday was Italian wine tasting day!  My friend Titus who is in my diploma intake has an Italian friend who is interested in importing wines to Hong Kong.  His friend isn't really into wine so he wanted some industry prospective into the commercial potential for some of the wines.  Oh wow.  First of all, Fabio foot the bill for this whole schindig.  I got to invite my wine friends.  And we all got to imbibe on 9 wines and multiple courses of food.  Well done, Fabio, well done.

Simone, Kat, Thomas, me, Vivian, Fabio, Wilson, Titus, Julia and Csilla

Thomas- from my dip- owns(?) a plastic company and is at every tasting
Csilla- my lovely Hungarian friend and wine importer
Julia- from HOFWs and now Telford
Simone- The Happy Wine Woman and dear friend
Kat- also in my dip and an absolute dear, who incidentally was googling something about wine the other day and came across this here blog.  Famous.

Our host Mr. Fabio

My oh my, did we all not know what we got into!  Cheese!  Meat! Shrimp salad! Grilled veg! Smoke salmon!  Delicious cold starters to go with our 'white' selection:

1. Brut Rose (100% Pinot Neto)- twas good but shocking to learn that it has aged on it lees for 36 months- didn't taste very yeasty or bready, instead was quite fruit driven

2. Extra Brut (100% Chardonnay)- twas ok, again shocking that it aged for 48-60 months

3.  No dosage 100% Pinot Noir- this was definitely the tastiest of the sparklers, and with 42 months aging you could finally taste some of that autolysis character.

Umm did I mention the food? Blue cheese and Pecorino all night long....

4. Chardonnay- fat and a bit flabby
5. Petite Manseng- interesting, but still quite flabby

Then the main course which none of knew was coming, and certainly hadn't planned for given all the cheese and salads....fettuccine with beef and cheese.  Delish, but waaaay too much.  And onto the reds...

Too much food.

6. Cab Sav- fruity, easy, would be a commercial hit
7.  Super Tuscan- delish!  Finally something that tasted Italian- kind of ironic....
8. 85% Shiraz and 15% Petite Verdot- this was totally my favorite as it was balanced with some layers of fruit, spice, and wood. 

And finally we wrapped it all up with some almond cookies and

9. Ripasso Petite Manseng, Viognier, and something else. I can't read my handwriting... Too sweet...and too late.  We were in TST (my first time back to Kowloon since I left HOFWs in July!) and coudn't get a cab!  #firstworldproblems.  So we MTRed it home, just before midnight....

Poor Paul misses his roommate. 

Tuesday was Port day!  But first Jay opened up some wonderful! Riojas in the office.  Have I mentioned I love Ginsberg + Chan?  First we had a 1994 Lopez de Heredia Gran Reserva- nose was full of red fruit- cherry, vanilla, meat/leather, burnt toast (from the producer- love that!) and on the palate sour cherry, old school, traditional, and oh so not what you would expect from a Rioja.

Wonderful

The next wine was amazing.  I had a Lopez de Heredia 2003 not too far back and it was funky.  In a cool, weird, interesting, weird kind of way.  Emphasis weird.  This 1981 (1981!) Blaco Gran Reserva was amazingly fresh and vibrant, and older than me!  Aromas of dandelion, lemongrass, a deep nuttiness, marzipan....and on the palate honey, yeast, apple core, green apple...again you wouldn't have ever guessed a 34 year old Viura.  Mmmmm.

Delicious

Then Port! Nick of Fladgate was in town to lead a group of us through 6 different ports; one Taylor's Late Bottle Vintage (invented-ish by Taylors), Taylor's Vintage 2007, 2009. 2011, Fonseca 2011, and Croft 2011.

Jean my fortified friend with her back to us, Tersina who finds out her MW results tomorrow!! and Nick of Fladgate

I don't know how much you know about Port, but I read an entire book about it (Port and the Duoro by Richard Mayson) and it's amazing.  There is just so so so much history.  And so much deliciousness.  This is a booze beverage that traveled and was known world wide in a time when it was really not easy to get around world wide.  And let's be honest, it's crazy tasty.  High booze burn, but layers of caramel, fig, vanilla, spice, strawberry, blackberry, jam, juice, cherry, and it just gets deeper and more complex the longer you leave it in the basement (note- vintage port only.  Tawny, ruby, LBV, drink now, not for storing!).  Yum, yum, yum. 

So studious.  And soooo cold.  Turn down the AC Cliftons



Which reminds me of a time when I had a bottle of Port at my parent's house in NJ whilst waiting to go to Asia.  I left it on the counter and my unsuspecting dad poured himself a glass thinking it was red wine.  haha as delish as Port is, you probably don't want to take a huge mouthful of it...or maybe you do...

You know what's even better than Port?  Sherry!!!  Get in on it.   The wine tasting week continues...

 

 

Bali Booked

Now that some of you have booked your flights, I guess its high time we prove that we actually do intend to get married. 

Hong Kong to Denpensar

April 18th

10:20 am

 

Back to HK

April 27th

10:50 pm

 

 

 

Racking up the points this year............

My shampoo selection.  I was advised to go with ginger

In other news I went to Airplay, the blow dry bar.  It was just lovely!  They served a sparkling rose (which was surprisingly delicious and surprisingly not Prosecco) with some chocolate.  Then shampooed my hair and blew it out, all while showing Project Runway and some stupid SJP movie.  Well done, I will definitely go back net time I'm going to a fancy dress party. 

Asia Killed My Run

But I am determined to get it back.  Today I finished my first 10k in definitely way over a year and it took me one hour and one minute.  10k in 1:01!!!  What is this nonsense?  In my running hay day, now 4 years ago, I could kill a 10k in 46 minutes. 

Post run breakfast

 

Asia has also aged me.  Since when am I almost 30!?  And it's also added this ring of little squigginess around my middle.  This is no way has anything to do with the wine I drink every night, and the cake I often have for breakfast dessert.  I think it's just being in Asia. 

Paul and his colleague who got the axe

 

In order to finally combat this ring round the middle, and perhaps shave a few years off my age (if I increase my likelihood of living longer, really I'm younger, % wise, in my life) I'm going to run a half marathon.  And I'm going to do it in less than 2 hours.  13 miles in 104 minutes.  Boom.

 

 

I've been meaning to run the Standard Chartered race since I've been in Hong Kong, but somehow keep missing the deadline.  This year it's mine. With my new 10am start I have plenty of time to squeeze in 8-10 k before work, and I just got some fly new Mizunos (don't even get me started on my sneaker saga), so it's on.  168 days of training to go....

Happy birthday, David!

Last Saturday we had the lovliest day with Nina and Kenny.  I went over to their apartment early to drop off my wedding dress.  I decided that it would probably not be the wisest idea to leave it at home where I would have direct access.   Thank you guys for holding it!! xox

 

 

Then Paul came and met, Nina, Kenny, David (English friend), and Linda for an American breakfast at the Green Waffle.  Twas delish and then we decided it was imperative that we get Ms. B's cakes to celebrate David's birthday.  In fact, there is never an occasion that doesn't warrant Ms. B's crack cake.  Seriously the best cake I have ever had (more on cake later.  We schlepped back up to Kina's for cake, bacon donut beer, and best of all Sharknado.  I wasn't expecting much, and yet somehow it managed to under deliver.  A perfect afternoon followed by a little run and then more eating.  We met Nina, Kenny, Will, Michael, Lisa and Jeff for some Korean BBQ.  I had never been to this one and it's definitely top 2 for Korean places in HK.  Amaze. 

Caroline, Tom, Kenny, Nina, Lauren, Paul, Captain

 

Last Sunday found Paul and I on yet another junk, the difference this time was that the weather finally worked with us.  It was absolutely gorgeous out!  Our English friend David organized this awesome little boat for 20 of us.  The boat was different than a normal junk in that it was a little smaller, but nicer and definitely more intimate.  Also different about this junk was that we had 2 masseuses on board.  Paul and I both utilized this.   We cruised down to Po Toi which was a stunning ride, and then we parked, swam, and ate ourselves silly. 

 

My local and favorite wine guy Kevin hooked up an impromptu Friday evening tasting.

Monday I met with the ladies, Simone and Csilla, to discuss our upcoming project!  We're making some headway and will have our first official meeting next week, and then we should be set to go live.  More on that later....

 

Tuesday Simone and I met for a pre-wine auction tasting.  We kept looking around trying to figure out what the catch was, but decided it was just a reception to get people excited about the auction which is tomorrow.  This free tasting offer up quite a few lovely wines, cheese and ham, and Simone and I were definitely the only guillos (non-Chinese) there, and two of very very few women.  We tasted a reallly nice Vouvray, a really really nice Chablis, 3 Burgundy Pinots, 2 reds from the Langedoc, a Chateauneuf du Pape and finally a Brunello.  My favorite of the night was one of the reds from the South of France.  So full of strange flavors, and if I remember correctly it was Carignan heavy.  Very interesting indeed.

Soave, pork rinds, and Champer notes

 

Wednesday I met Allison and Julia at Stone Nullah Tavern.  I love Stone Nullah Tavern and the whole IHM group (Linguini Fini!).  Everything they do, they do with passion and love and it just makes you want to keep going back.  As I was studying and waiting for the ladies to show up, Chef Vinnie came over introduced himself and started telling me more about the new menu and what's been going on.  Then he send over some amazing pork rinds, which aren't my thing but these were addictive.  It was great to have a ladies night to catch up and swap stories with Julia about wedding planning.  She has less than a month to go!

China's smallest wine expo

deliciously old rum

 

 

Thursday found me back in China.  Man that's three trips within the past 6 months.  My colleague Joe and I MTRed up to the Convention Centre to check out the Beverage Expo.  A bit of a misnomer because it was more of a medium sized tasting.  This place was tiny (by expo standards) and there were probably equal amounts tea/non-booze beverages as there were wine.  We tried a few Champagnes, some Muscadet from the Loire, a really delicious 10 and 20 year rum, and then pretty much decided we'd seen it.  We wrapped up the day with a pretty horrible lunch (chicken feet, seriously!?) and then a really wonderful head/shoulder/foot massage.  That's what I call a Thursday. 

Icky lunch.  Check on the chicken feet (bottom right in the big dish)  Joe, my colleague on the right.

 

Yesterday was wine day at work!  Yey.  We opened up a 2009 Saint Emilion Grand Cru.  Not my favourite wine, but certainly drinkable.  Especially at 3pm at work.  Then Paul and I had a nice night in.  I (lightly) cooked up some tuna steaks, put em over a rocket salad for me and pasta for Paul, opened a bottle of German fizz (meh) and watched a pretty horrible movie.  Bad Marriage or something.  It was pretty absurd.  And by absurd, I mean the ex-wife slept with her ex-husband who's been with her best friend for 20 years, and all is forgiven immediatley.  What!?  Lesson learned- go ahead and sleep with married men (or whoever) as long as there are no feelings involved.  No one gets hurt.

** out of *****

And then run today!  I will leave soon for a blow out at the Blow Dry Bar.  Apparently this is all the rage in the US, and now HK has finally caught on. Laura got a free one and passed it to me.  I have a pretty horrid hair cut, so I don't think any amount of blow out will help.  There is Prosecco from what I hear....then I NEED NEED NEED to get my paper started.  I meant to have it finished by the end of July.  Here is is September and I haven't started...hmm..

 

<3 Friday

Paul's at school.  hahahah poor Paul.  xo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Work Week

Another week finished.  Time in Hong Kong surely goes faster than anywhere else in the world.  I'm telling ya. 

Very hazy/polluted this week

Last weekend we went on a lovely Sunday junk.  Despite the grey skies, we still managed to get a little tan, meet some new friends, and catch up with some old.  HK knows how to summer.

Yum, pork.

Monday I went and saw a fantastic new movie, Red Obsession.  The overall message may be a little narrow/short sighted, but it was beautifully shot and really conveys why people love wine.  It's history, tradition, social, agricultural, spiritual, and just damn tasty.  You should watch it just for the scenery!

 

Tuesday Paul and I had a sushi date followed by suit making date.  A woman I interviewed with a few weeks back suggested this guy as she had used him recently for his wedding.  He's been fantastic.  He's on top of emails, will serve as the liason with Scott and Steve, taking Paul and I out of it, and when I went in with a dress and a couple of Paul's old shirts to get tailored, they said no problem.  Paul has all of these shirts from several years back that are made for someone three times his size.  He's since become European and likes a tighter fit, which is great for me because the shirts are in great condition and will make excellent new skirts.

 

Wednesday I met with two of my girl friends, Csilla and Simone.  We are working on a new project together which we're all really excited about.  We have our second meeting on Monday, and will hopefully go live with the new project with in the next few weeks...more on that later.

 

Thursday I met my other girlfriends Sarah, Nina, and Zara for some pampering.  We got our nails did.  I've decided that with my new job, and my new super well dressed co-workers, that I need to step it up.  From now on my nails will be did.  Have you tried gel nails?  They last for weeks and don't chip or break.  I'm onto that next round.

Friday afternoon wine

 

Yesterday at work we opened up a lovely 2006 Brunello di Montalcino from Fanti.  I hadn't had a Brunello in a while, and forgot how much I loved them.  They're so full of oxidized aging with flavours and aromas of leather and meat.  In a good way.

 

Post work, Paul and I had a cheese and wine party.  Blue cheese with a 2008 Cote Rotie.  This was my first Cote Rotie!!  I've been dying to try one for a long time, but hadn't due to their exorbitant price tags.  This we found less than $400, which is maybe the only one I have ever seen less than $400.  It was divine. 

 

For those unaware, Cote Rotie literally translates to 'roasted slopes.'  It's a region in the Northern Rhome where they only grow Syrah and Viognier.  Interestingly, Cote Rotie's co-ferment Syrah and Viognier (that's a red and white grape) because the white grape helps extract more color from the red.  Science. 

 

Yum yum

But yes, divine, and this wine probably deserved a steak more than blue cheese, but it was amazing either way.  Pepper, pepper, pepper.  And also some sour cherry, cranberry, black strawberries if they existed.  It still blows my mind how excited I can get over a drink.  And I saved a glass for today.  This is definitely the type of wine that will be better after a day or so.  I've also realized recently that I need a decanter.  For the time being I pour the wine between wine glasses a few times and that seems to do the trick.

 

We also watched the movie Mud.  It was pretty good, so I would recommend it.  And finally after years of watching TV and movies on the computer, we (Paul) figured out all we need to do is to put our downloads on a USB stick and put it in the TV.  So easy, and so much easier to watch movies!

 

And poor Paul's summer has finally come to an end.  He worked 9-4 Thursday and Friday and today he's in until noon.  The kids don't start until September, but he has prep work to do I suppose.  Paul also starts his other school next Tuesday.  Every Tuesday 6-9 and Saturday 9-12, Paul has teacher school!  The hours wouldn't be bad if the school wasn't 1.5 hours away.  It's only two years :)

 

I'm heading over to Nina's in a bit for some closet shopping and lunch, then tis time to write this wine paper I've been putting off for months.  I suspect I won't get a whole lot done today....and then we're off to Mike and Jule's place for some rugby and probably an early night as we have another junk tomorrow.  Yey junks!

 

EMILY'S GETTING MARRIED!!  I'm so bummed not to be there, but so excited for Emily and Shannon to get hitched!  Congrats! xo

Sarah Lily (married earlier this month) and Stac

 

 

 

 

The (newest) results are in

2 more passes, which brings me up to a grand total of 3 out of 3!!!

Closed Book Case Study-   PASS with distinction (the highest)
Fortified Wines- PASS with merit (2nd highest)

Whew, I was nervous about that fortified test, but I suppose for no reason.   Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Now I need to get back into gear.  It's difficult finding much literature about Champagne, and I have a book for the liquor section, but my god is it a lot to remember.  Base sugar and how to extract it, regions, aging requirements, distilling processes, etc.  Meh. 

Good thing I have til November.....................

 

One Work Week

When I left you the pumpking chocolate chip oatmeal cookies were still cooking in the 'oven', and as you can see below, they finished!  And they were delicious, all 1.5 days they lasted.  Paul spent the better half of the afternoon making gnocchi and then tomato sauce.  He was quite pleased with his efforts, and I'm pretty sure the entire 5lbs of his gnocchi were wolfed down long before the cookies.  By Paul.  I stuck with the cookies.  

 

Is anyone else obsessed with frozen bananas?  Way better than luke warm!  We buy in bulk

Thursday Mandy and Jay, my bosses, took the team out to a really delcious Chinese meal as they were off for Canada the next day for the next two weeks.  What lunch is complete without a few bottles of wine?   Have I mentioned how cool my new company is???  We had a really delicious Zind Humbrecht Riesling from 1994 that went pretty well with most of the food- spicy chicken, cheung fan, turnip cakes, shumai, mushroomy noodles, meatballs, fungus (delish!), cucumbers, and sponge cake, and also a 1988 Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Burgundy.  It was fine, but probably a bit past its hey day.  

 

I can't explain how nice it is to work in a proper office again.  Everyone is so nice.  Sooo nice, and polite and professional, and really well dressed.  Like really well dressed.  I need to step this wardrobe up.  When they say the hours are 10-6, the hours are 10-6 exactly.  We have subscriptions to all trade publications, all of the software is sinced up with the other software, and it's just nice. 

 

I've been working on a project to re-write our producer profiles so we can use them for a catalogue later on.  Tis a bit monotonous, but I've learned more about Bordeaux in the past 2 days than in the past 2 years.  Monday I'll start in on Burgundy which I know very little about.  Oh and my colleagues:

 

Janet, Jerry, Joe, Jay... and Mandy and Lauren.

 

Jerry between Burgundy and Alsace

 

 

 

After work Thursday, and after an entirely too long bus ride, I met Simone over at Wine Beast in Wan Chai for a little tasting.  They had asked her to come on in to try some grower Champagnes and she was kind enough to invite me along.  Wine Beast is a brand new wine shop where they want to build relationships, not just peddle off a bottle here and there.  And damn, are they doing it the right way! 

They hired Vincent, seen decanting below, a former Four Seasons Paris Sommelier to be the shop Somm.  And damn, kid knows his stuff, and his passion is just crystal clear with every suggestion he makes.  They are still in the beginning phases of figuring out what people want here, etc, but rumor is that a shipment of more grower Champers, Loire and Southern French wines are en route. 

 

Vincent taught us that even some Champagnes benefit from being decanted.  We tasted the Pierre Gimonnet before and after decanting, and we all agreed it was much more approachable and expressive after.

 

It's not everyday you're invited into a new wine shop just to taste some wines, and it just goes to speak to the kind of wine shop they want to be.  When Vincent walked us around he pointed out some of his favorites, and let me tell you, they weren't the most expensive.  They have Cote Rotie for $400!  Beat that Watsons. 

 

We started with Jacques Lassaigne Blanc de Blancs (100% Chardonnay) which is my new favorite Champagne.  Not that I had an old favorite...This is a grower Champagne which means the people who grow the grapes make the wine.   Moet, Veuve, Krug, etc., don't do that.  <-They purchase grapes from lots of different farmers and vinify the wines themselves. 

 

Anyway this wine was awesome.  So full of flavor and had more body that I would have expected from a Blanc de Blancs.  Perhaps this is because it underwent malolactic fermentation.  Another thing to note is that there is no sulpher dioxide added.  No hangover!  And one final cool thing was that the producer stamped, every so lightly, the disgorgement date on the front of the label.  You would only know it was there if you were looking for it, but it provides a great clue to the consumer about the freshness of the wine.  The closer to disgorgement date the better.  But alas, Champagne companies think that the consumer will think it's a 'best by' date, so many leave it off.  Fair enough I suppose.

Complex and divine

I could drink this everyday with breakfast

The second wine we tried was another grower wine Pierre Gimonnet & Fils.  This was a blend of mostly Chardonnay with some Pinot Noir.  This was the more complex of the two and was really tasty too.  I wish I took notes because I'm at a loss for words now...let's just go with apple and brioche.   I've been reading recently about a push to bring Champagne into the everday.  With it's bright acidity, it's perfect for matching with food, so perhaps we should open our minds (and wallets) and bring more Champ to the dinner table.  Especially with Asian food.

 

 

 

Friday at work and the bosses are gone.  It was another rainy day, but it was Friday, and Friday is WINE day!  Jerry asked if there was anything I wanted to try (we have an inventory of 10,000+ bottles- I want to try everything!), but I declined to see what he would pick.  Well, well, Jerry.  Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2004 by Gerard Raphet.  That's a Burgundy Grand Cru, my friends.  It was absolutely delicious and stuck in my mouth for hours.  It was still very very young and filled with primary fruit flavors, but also a strong presence of oak and the beginning of some tertiary aromas like mushroomy forest floor.  Well have to check back in with this in a few years...

 

Waiter, clearly not a photographer

Following work I met Paul at Posto Pubblico which is part of IHM (also Linguini Fini and Stone Nullah Tavern).  Paul and I have been in for drinks, and I came for brunch with the girls once, but this was our first dinner.  

Yum yum.  Everything IHM does, they do well.  There's no bullshitting with fancy garnish or senseless embellishment.  Meatballs, caprese salad, eggplant rollatini, and some lovely Parm and ham apps with homemade bread.  This is New York Italian at its Hong Kong best.  Thank you, Nina, for the thoughtful/awesome/totaly delicious birthday gift certificate!!

We rounded out the night with some Cali wine at California Vinatge.  I love that place, and the wines are all really tasty.  I've yet to find one I don't like.

It's another rainy Saturday,which is a beautiful thing.  Went for a long run/quick (ie my typical 15 min stint) gym sesh, followed by blogging, a pedi, and hopefully some wine paper writing.  Please, anyone send me your thoughts on the convergence of supply and demand of wine (European bulk wine) in 2012. 

Paul's up in the middle of no-where border of China for his school orientation.  Hopefully he'll get his fall schedule and it won't be up at that campus.  It's a solid 1.5 hours from home.  Tomorrow we're off on a Jaspas junk.  I haven't been on one of these since I first came here 3 years ago with Emily...it's basically the reason we moved here.  Boat with full staff, quesadillas, pizza, and Mai Tais.  Get better.

I need a pug.