24 Tuesday May 2022
Posted in Hotel, People, Restaurant, Wine
Tags
Bangkok, Banyat Chinpinyokul, cadence, Capella Bangkok, caper, Charity Waltenbaugh, Mandarin Oriental, Pattarapol Ponraritt, professionals, Restaurant, Sommelier, sorn, Thanakorn Bottorff, Vie Hotel Bangkok, Warakorn Ninlawan, Wine
Since this article was written for Thailand Tatler in early 2021, many sommeliers have moved away, to new properties or businesses. Regardless, their impact remains to be seen in our city until today.
23 Monday May 2022
Tags
Capella Bangkok, phra nakorn thai, Thanakorn Bottorff, wine dinner, wine garage bangkok, wine pairing
One-of-a-kind and one-night only wine pairing at the Capella Bangkok coming Monday May 30th 2022. Sommelier Thanakorn Bottorff with Chef Kannika Jitsangworn will be offering a 6-course menu paired with characterful wines made from indigenous varietals. Seats are priced at thb 4,500 plus tax and service. For reservations please call 02 098 3817 or email phranakhon.bangkok@capellahotels.com .
19 Friday Nov 2021
Posted in Events, Food, People, Restaurant, Wine
Tags
baan turtle, Bangkok, chateauneuf du pape, cloud wine, laurent charvin, le clos du caillou, restaurants, Wine, wine garage bangkok, wine lab
We are excited to be kicking off the wine lab again at Cloud Wine, Baan Turtle. Depending on the month, the line up can be either a series of bottles served blind from Coravin, or as shown here a horizontal tasting of five different styles of one of France’s greatest wine.
A great bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge bursts with rich cooked-to-dried aromas (strawberry, cherry, raspberry), as well as roasted notes (plum, blackberry, raisins or figs). As the wine evolves, herbal, floral, and spice notes appear. Francophiles – and the actual French – call the classic herbal play “garrigue,” after the region’s scrubland of sage, rosemary, and lavender. The wine style is full-bodied with alcohol levels reaching above 15% ABV. The texture is lush when young, and can obtain silky characteristics with age. For most but a few, the prime drinking window is between 8-12 years of age.
First up, is a bottle of rare white Chateauneuf du Pape, followed by four reds of different blends and winemaking fashion. This exploration will shed light on the terroir, fermentation and ageing method, as well as the signature of each estate. Our team will guide you through an in-depth experience including:
Michel Chapoutier Bernardine Blanc 2019 RP 90
Le Clos du Caillou Safres Rouge 2018 Vinous 94
Jean Royer Tradition Rouge 2017 Vinous 93
Laurent Charvin Rouge 2017 Vinous 95
Michel Chapoutier Barbe Rac Rouge 2012 JR 18.5 RP 95
Price per person: thb 1,900 for 5 pours of 60ml or thb 2,900 for 5 pours of 90ml
Please book ahead, alone or with friends, and our team will take care of you. Email retail@cloudwine.asia or call Tel 081 588 7238
Wine lab theme Chateauneuf du Pape takes place during November and until 12th December 2021.
***
BAAN TURTLE is located in Soi Suan Plu 2. One of Bangkok’s signature dining spots off Sathorn Road now houses three culinary directions, plus a cigar and whisky lounge, as well as Cloud Wine.
Restaurant Keller by Chef Mirco Keller http://www.kellerbangkok.com
Lahnyai Nusara by Chef Thitid Tassanakajohn http://www.baanturtle.com/restaurants/lahnyai-nusara
M Krub by Chef Man http://www.baanturtle.com/restaurants/chef-mans-table-at-baan-turtle
To contact click details here
10 Wednesday Nov 2021
Posted in Food, People, Restaurant, Wine
Tags
accidental butcher, Central Otago, new zealand, Pinot Noir, provenance lamb, thailand, Two Paddocks, wine garage bangkok
It’s not just consumers who are looking for ingredients of provenance, but also the families who work the fields, the farmland and the vines who seek to nourish the environment for the greater good. New Zealand is naturally an ideal place, and Central Otago, a rugged landscape, where the Crutchleys completely transformed pastures over the past 10 years. They restored biological processes to the soil, moving away from a reliance upon agrichemicals that artificially promote growth. “Building living soil that does the growing for you, has proved a powerful, natural solution for creating nutritious forage,” says David, “the animals are so much healthier, the land so much more productive.” In similar fashion, Two Paddocks, where Sam Neill and his team planted and later turned vineyards to be certified organic. Montage Gourmet Salt harvest their salts mainly in Bali, Indonesia, however the Himalayan Salt comes from higher ground in Pakistan. Together, the combination offers you hand crafted goods that is readily available.
To prepare the leg of lamb, please follow these simple steps. Serves 3-4 adults
Preparation
Cooking
For making gravy from pan juice read here ; serve with vegetables and starch of your choice
To order call Accidental Butcher Tel 02 02-713-2800 Email: gm@theaccidentalbutcher.com LINE ID @theaccidentalbutcher
Provenance Lamb is farmed at an altitude of 1,500 metres above sea level. Being raised at high altitude brings fatuous benefits to the eating quality and flavour of the lamb. These lambs are raised on regenerative farms (no chemical use on farm, being artificial fertilizers, nitrates, etc). Animals graze free range on mixed pastures of herbs and grasses (no chemicals are used on the soils where the sheep graze)
Montage Gourmet Salts: Have you ever wondered how Himalayan salt gets its pink tint? Unlike regular table salt, the natural harvesting process of Himalayan salt allows it to hold over 84 different minerals and trace elements. In fact, it’s these very minerals, especially iron, that give it its characteristic pink color. The Pink Salt Flakes are the perfect finishing touch to make your dishes pop with color and to add that beautiful crunch.
Two Paddocks: Featuring the Proprietor’s Grandfather, Sidney Neill – Wine Merchant, on the label, Picnic is the perennial favorite – the wine to enjoy everyday and a wonderful introduction to the pleasure of Central Otago Pinot Noir. This fruit was sourced from Two Paddock’s own vineyards in Alexandra and Gibbston and Bannockburn. Picnic Pinot Noir is made in a diminutive style aimed to reflect the characters that Central Otago Pinot does so very well – black and red cherry fruit, spice and a generosity that keeps you reaching for the next sip.
CONTACT LIST
ACCIDENTAL BUTCHER / 53 Soi Ekamai 10, Khlong Ton Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110 http://www.theaccidentalbutcher.com
Tel 02 02-713-2800 Email: gm@theaccidentalbutcher.com LINE ID @theaccidentalbutcher
MONTAGE SALT
Andaman Gourmet Co., Ltd. / 44/561 Phahonyotin Road / Anusawaree, Bang Khen / Bangkok 10220
Email: montage@montagesalt.com LINE ID @montagesalt
…and abroad
Provenance Lamb E: http://www.provenancemeat.co.nz
Two Paddocks E: http://www.twopaddocks.com
22 Wednesday Sep 2021
Scott Bilbro, one of Chris’ 4 sons, who took over the winery explains about this wine “The sum is greater than the parts. It was inspired by the old field-blend blocks and cooking with his (Chris) friends. It put Marietta on the map and has been a great connector. He’d blend on the hoof for a particular meal. Used Zin as the base at around one year old and two-year-old Syrah and three-year-old Petite Sirah.“
At a time when blends were making way for single varietal wines, something many still regard highly, California’s real treasure trove lie in the heritage vineyard sites of unheralded locales.
Old Vine Red is a proprietary red wine made to replicate the field blends of many of the above mentioned vineyards in Sonoma and Mendocino counties. Predominantly comprised of old vine Zinfandel, this iconic label offers year-in-year-out pure fruit, a supple mouth feel and a rich, solid structure.
To get to these grapes, a strong bond had to be made, and that was Chris’ strength in the early days, fostering relationships with meals and simple hand-shake agreements.
“Deep ruby-purple in color, the NV Old Vine Red Lot 71 has bright black cherry on the nose, with accents of fresh tobacco leaves, wood smoke iron and potpourri. Medium-bodied, grainy and fresh, it has spicy, mineral-laced fruit and a long, lifted finish.” Erin Brooks, 94 points
03 Friday Sep 2021
Portugal is remarkable for finding value and offers wines of character from indigenous varietals. Even if the Douro has cemented itself as the oldest demarcated region in the world, their red wines only became more familiar about 20 years ago. So how can one compare them to the reds of the Dao?
At the more premium end, the Douro can be powerful with fine tannins, and the Dao shows comparatively softer with plenty of refreshing acidity. As with all Portuguese reds, except for the fruity styled, these will age extremely well.
The granitic outcrop and pine tree lined region of the Serra d’Estrela is were Antonio Madeira came home too. To resuscitate neglected vineyards is ambitious, but can be achieved as a side project. The initial vintages were made in his parent’s vacation home, and within a few years the promising wines were so well received, he made it is calling and relocated the entire family to focus on micro-parcels and historic preservation of vines well above 100 years old.
Antonio cultivates over 20 plots across multiple villages, totaling 6 hectares of vines. Ferments and ages them now in his own winery producing around 6-7 cuvees each year. The wines are medium to full bodied, dark toned, energetic and perfumed, finishes spicy with plenty of layered fruit. We tried this over multiple days opened and the wine keeps on getting better at this stage. A blend of Tinta Pinheira, Negro Mouro, Tinta Amarela, Baga, and many more varietals, farmed biodynamically and aged for 18 months in neutral barrels. Alc 14.5%
06 Friday Aug 2021
Tags
Chris Mercier of Wine & Spirit IQ will host this zoom tasting on Thursday August 26th – starting at 630pm.
He will share general content about the tiniest of French appellations, and cover the following 5 wines from Stephane Tissot’s stable:
Chardonnay Patchwork 2018
Arbois Savagnin 2016
Poulsard Vieilles Vignes 2018
Trousseau Singulier 2018
and Pinot Noir Sous La Tour 2018
To register please email: marketing@winegarage.asia. The price including some Comté cheese will be thb 1,650 per person and the tasting kit of 5 x 60ml bottles will be delivered during the day of the event.
18 Friday Jun 2021
It’s hard to believe that bottles from this region rarely made an appearance outside of Galicia until the 1990s. But once restaurants in London and New York got a taste for these thirst quenching and aromatic dry whites wines, there was no holding back.
Dr. Guenther, a Wine Garage partner visited Eulogio, the professore among the ever increasing number of producers, in 2018, and witnessed why Eulogio has the native Albarino in his genes. His vineyards lie about one kilometer away from the ocean, thus refreshed by the wind from the sea, and the high trellised pergola vines help aerate against mildew. Several generations of experience in this area cannot be fast tracked.
Eulogio told Guenther “the problem with Albariño is that the message has been ‘drink young, drink young, drink early, drink young’ for the last 20 years. But the best thing with Albariño is to make wines that last.” Their old vine and great healthy soils make Albariños that are not only the best white wines of Galicia, but potentially in all of Spain.
Over the years, many myths regarding Albarino was spread, among them “that this grape originated in the Rhine valley or was brought by French Cistercian monks on pilgrimage from Cluny in the 12th century. Today scientists at a research institute in Galicia have debunked theories and confirm it was cultivated from wild strain and has been in the region since Roman times” (Guardian Aug 2020).
We recommend to try this fresh, mineral and balanced cuvee, and if you enjoy it, later opt for their single vineyard wines, which will delight when around 5-7 years old. These are a world class act in line with the best Chablis, Muscadet and dry Rieslings.
Luis Gutierrez of Robert Parker “The eponymous 2019 Zárate is their entry-level Albariño, a vintage with structure and acidity, still very young, a powerful vintage with more of everything and probably a long-distance runner. It’s varietal and clean, characterful, powerful and with a long, tasty finish, vibrant and almost salty. 64,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2020.” – 92 points
04 Friday Jun 2021
Tags
alejandro fernandez, dehesa la granja, legend, pesquera, ribera del duero, tempranillo, tinta de toro, tinto fino, toro, zamorra
We are too far apart, and don’t know the full story of the family feud during his last year’s of life, so will only focus on the legacy of his prime during the 1980-1990s.
Spanish wine, and yes also food, wasn’t popular, and this one man’s mission made a great impact, at the same time when American wine critics began to move markets. Alejandro’s foresight to develop vineyards not only in Ribera del Duero, but also Toro and La Mancha, eventually created a behemoth with other agricultural products and a hotel.
Today’s preferred wine style has moved to the fine-boned, elegance, perhaps also lighter, but we find in these classics, the truth about soil and people in this western part of Spain. It is the combination of the scorched earth, the power of tannins, and the intense fruit profile that takes as back to the old days, when wine was made for the people.
These are wines that need time, something many don’t have, or perhaps also no space to keep for maturation. It is therefore even more particular to have such a jewel ready to drink at a reasonable price. Salud Alejandro. You will always be remembered.
28 Friday May 2021
In 2014 we began representing different domaines from Chateauneuf du Pape in Thailand. Understanding the sizeable region of over 3,000 hectares and 180 wineries, offers a varied range of styles. Along with Laurent Charvin, we choose the cuvee Quartz from Le Clos du Caillou and later added Jean Royer and also Roche Audran.
The Papal wine claimed the first AOC back in 1932. Since then, throughout the world the crested bottles has been synonymous with French wine history and grandeur. According to The Wine Cellr Insider “Le Clos du Caillou dates back to at least the first part of the 20th century in the Southern Rhone Valley. However, the modern era for Clos du Caillou began when it was purchased in 1956 by the Pouzin family. The domaine was managed by Claude Pouzin until 1995. At that point in time, Sylvie Pouzin, the daughter of Claude Pouzin and her husband, Jean-Denis Vacheron began to run the estate, taking Clos du Caillou in a new direction. Tragically, Jean-Denis Vacheron died in an accident in 2002. Sylvie Pouzin took over managing the estate from that point forward. While the property has a history in Chateauneuf du Pape, the reason there are no great older vintages, or any older vintages for that matter is simple. Until 1993, they sold the majority of their harvest to negociants. From that point forward, they began bottling and selling their own.”
Le Clos du Caillou has plots scattered across the plain, and grows mainly Grenache and Syrah on sandy or limestone as well as rocky soils. The entire range consists of 10 different Cotes du Rhone wines and 5 from Chateauneuf du Pape. In their vinification the team uses stainless steel tanks for the white and rose wines and wooden and cement tank for the reds. Aging takes place in foudres and in oak barrels during one year and more, in the underground cellar, built in the safres, with a natural temperature (13 to 15°C). Foudres and demi-muids composed the maturing cellar. Bruno Gaspard along with the cellar team experiments as well with amphora.
The sole wine, that has a different approach is this Esprit Nature. It does share the same texture and purity, but has been raised solely in tank, and bottled early before the next spring. The grapes come from the same organically farmed vineyards, aged around 30 years. Yields are ridiculously low at 20L/h. Throughout harvest and winemaking and prior to bottling no sulfites added. The resulting wine is smooth, concentrated and fresh.
garage notes 