Dip of the Christmas - Visner di Pergola & Biscotti

Thanks for the family gathering last weekend.

Nice bungalow at Lantau Island: with freezing swimming pool, cute doggie called "lily -_-", lots of cheese, wine, my Vietnamese coffee, and most importantly my family members and family friends~

It is my first time enjoying the homemade Italian Christmas Dinner. Aunt Jeannie and her son came to Hong Kong for celebration with us. Bringng along the pandoro, making italian salad, serving the crackers with brie, blue cheese, chaubier cheese; italian style chicken wings...

Aunt Jeannie brought a yellow package biscotti with hint of lemon zest. She introduces the pairing with Visner di Pergola.

Visner di Pergola - A dessert wine with strong hint of wild berries, dominated by cranberry smell. Sense of twigs. The taste is unique! Scented and sweet.

Pairing is not just drinking wine and bitting the biscotti. It'sssss Dipping the biscotti into the wine, the dry and spongy body of biscotti will absorb the wine to become red biscotti. The harmony of biscotti and wine is bringing another revolution to the mouth. Perfect Match.

Gluttony, starting from here.

(p.s. my dad got the remaining back. Anybody interested please let me know, I can bring to share :P)

Greatest Motivation Today~

From:xxxxxx
Subject:
Permission to use photos

Hi Lillian;My name is xxxxx, and I'm working on a course development team that's putting together a course on Hong Kong conservation and biodiversity to be presented to students at the Open University of Hong Kong.Our students would really enjoy and benefit by seeing some of your photos! I'm particularly interested in your diving photos from Tung Ping Chau. Would it be possible for us to have permission to use some of these in our course materials? The course is online only, and is restricted to registered students, so their use would be purely educational, i.e. we'd not be distributing the photos in any other way. We would of course include a credit in any form you'd like.If you agree, I'll send along a list of the photos we'd like to use.Thanks much for your attention,xxxxxx Course Designer, Open University of Hong Kong

Home Wine Delivery from Cathay Pacific Airways

On the way back to Hong Kong, discover a separate wine on delivery pamphlet on flight, with eye-catching title: Estate Wines Direct from The Great Wine Regions of The World

Generic and easy drinking wine list, covering wide varieties of geographical location, symbolizing Cathay's competitive advantage: Globalization.

Mainly focusing red wine of widely known brands like Lynch Bages and Liversan; and several Champagne of title Taittinger. All these wines suit both the purposes of hectic businessmen running out of gift ideas for friends or for everyday drinking passengers amazed by sumptuous consumption on plane.

Another example demonstrating Hong Kong's style of indefinite business opportunities.

Pavilion @ Crown Plaza Hotel Causeway Bay

Knock the door by chance, in the fame of my uncle n dad's design and recommendation, we step into the world of wonder tonight.

Originally aim to club 28, driven by curiosity of it's name 'pavilion', we were then stepped into this authentic lounge. Half open space occupying top 2 floors of the hotel. With splashes of flowing water surrounding the spacious layout, each table / couch is well preserving guests' privacies.

Despite the layout, you will be amazed by the stunning view of happy valley racecourse and glamourous causeway bay demostrating the typical cosmopolitan. Then it might trigger your consideration in buying a flat at leighton heights in future.

Some couches there are specially designed with flexible shade covering adjustable swirling sofa, with several cozy cushions laying around; whereas some are like beach benches with movable table for drinks. Varieties bring hospitality.

Pretty comprehensive drink list serving wines, cocktails, mocktails and cigars.

The only essence to add is music. It's gonna be awesome if you come in autumn, enjoying all the tranquility and breeze. The sad thing is that they don't serve parties and it closes at 12am at the moment. Have reflected this suggestion anyway, see how they deal with it~

Enjoyed the moment that I almost lost my consciousness, dwelling in this mist of dream and fantasy...

Reference: http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/hkglr

Château Lamothe Cissac 2005 - Cru Bourgeois Haut Medoc, Bordeaux

Sharing dad's treasure again, here we go from Chile!!! --> of France~

Tasting

Legs: long tears

Smell: Strong alcohol, majority dominated by Cabernat Sauvignon, some hazelnut / corn smell, should be from other grapes, blended.

1st taste: thick tannin, tar, fruitful, mouthful of berries, heavy body is comparatively acidic
2nd taste: flowery, tannin is still strong, body is more balance than 1st taste, hint of vanilla from aftertaste

Comment: can age for a while. Shall have this wine with meat rather than enjoy it alone. Cheese is a good companion.

History

The vineyards of Château Lamothe Cissace were planted by the Fabre family in 1967 on clay and limestone soils and gravel slopes. Spread over 33 hectares..

As there were already 17 Châteaux bearing the name of Lamothe in Gironde at that time, Gabriel Fabre called his estate Lamothe-Cissac to avoid any confusion. Business prospered from then and in 1991, Gabriel’s son, Vincent took over the running of the property along with winemaker Luc Fabre and sister Marie-Odile Fabre-Roger.

Classified as a Cru Bourgeois, Lamothe Cissac’s flagship wine comprises 70% Cabernet Sauvignon (for firmness, longevity and nobility), 26% Merlot (richness and smoothness), 2% Cabernet France (suppleness) and 2% Petit Verdot (breeding and distinction).

Reference: http://trade.heritagewine.co.uk/wine/ch%C3%A2teau-lamothe-cissac-2005-cru-bourgeois-haut-medoc-bordeaux

Wine tasting @ Watson cellar 3

La fleur de gay 2006
Leather licorice meaty wif lamb

Chenin blanc
Sweet guava mango peach

Gnd shiraz australia barossa valley
Licorice tar strong grassy smell

Batitu - Chile 2007

Importance of Symbol:

$90 offer from Red Dot company. Attracted by its bird like african tattoo, and its calligraphy, symbolize the historical background of wine.
From Chile.
Its an extraordinary cabernet sauvignon, very strong black currant and licorice taste, unlike the normal french and australian cab sau.

Light body, not very stunning, but surprised by its long aftertaste. Recommended as everyday wine if you look for some charcoal aftertaste.

Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival 2009

With more than 300 counters set right aside the Harbour, the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival 2009 ended with a success. This is probably the most, and the only one spotlight event highlighting the Food & Wine Year by Commerce and Economic Development Bureau. Only a weekend event attracts more than 200 thousand visitors, we can't look down upon the impact of import tax reduction on wine.

A setting of hay ground with sunshine and breeze, it looks quite alike with those American village yard fair, of course with a romantic harbour view which defeat all the other normal fairs.

Wide range of activities which kept me hectic here and there the whole afternoon and night.

Series of show: ballet, quartet, lazer show, wine school...all the elegant elements that brings you to seamless and relaxed environment where you swirl the wine and immerge yourself in the soothing music & show.

Apart from Cellar store, Wine merchants, it is not surprise that other catering industry will also look for opportunities such as hotels, snacks store which hope to impress you with exquisite snacks that company well with wine:

This includes Whirl, the new lounge of Mira Hotel; Our respectable chef: Chez Patrick's Mr. Patrick who demo French cuisine right at the spot...lemon peel puree with duck breast.

You will also find chinese style abalone, port sauce with babylonia all in Spanish Tapas size, amazing~

With $150 of 12 tasting tickets, we could only be very selective in order to make these tickets worthwhile. (We ended up didn't use them all !)

Thus our strategy is heading for minorities, only those we found difficult to find in ordinary occasions. Therefore we look for countries like Macedonia, organic wine, South African wine, Canada non-ice wine. Some are quite harmonious.

You may disagree, undoubtedly true for my friend and I to find the Cheese Platter and Angus Beef cubes are the highlight of the night. We would sacrifice for low quality Bordeaux Wine to contrast with the major dish of the day.

At the end, I bought two bottles which I worth giving another blog entry next time opening it. They are from Spain and Italy. ~ Cheers ~

Chateau Canon la Gaffeliere 2002

Another shot treated by Mr. Hennesy. Excellent recommendation from his colleague, Ms. Marina from Chateau La Lagune. She pointed out the reason why I have strong feeling of tannin to Montrose is because I am fond of tender wine, e.g. Merlot instead of Cabernet Sauvignon.

That is so true. Comparatively speaking I prefer right bank than left bank of Bordeaux. Canon, whihc is from St. Emillion sounds more attractive to me as a drinker.

Elegant palate. Peppery tannin with hint of plum and raspberry (?!) Firm oak and well structured. I would see both Montrose and Canon to have similar potential, with Canon to mature earlier than Montrose.

Canon is called canon, now I guess it's probably about the strong backbone power n post attack length that's left in mouth.

I become one of the "victim" from it's powerful shot, "suffering" from it's aftertaste

Chateau Montrose 1996

The last wine tasted in Watson's Cellar. $60 for 25cc. Thanks Mr. Hennensy for his treat.

Recommended by another visitor on spot. He was the winery owner from Bordeaux coming all the way to explore further opportunity of deals with the east.

Learn a few tips from this authentic owner. He could tell right directly the approximate age even the wine itself looks young n needs maturation. His tip is to tell the length n brightness of the rim. The longer n brighter of the rim, the older the wine is. Undoubted true that with 13yrs vintage, it is difficult to justify from it's ruby red body.

Long tears. From it's smell of unopenness, vaccum flavor would allow you imagination of it's potential behind. Dominated by licorice n leather flavour.

I personally am not a big fan of leather, around 90% of these wine are long-lasting tagged with astronomy price.

Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatieres 2006

Couldn't wait until international wine fair, I paid a visit again to the 'vin'ing machine in Watson cellar right after gym.

The first tasting is a white chardonnay. Pale greenish-yellow. Long legs. Nose with citric n acidic. Fresh in palete. Medium finish.

With $13 per 25cc, fair sip

Chateau Ricardelle Vingelacroix La Clape 2007 (Blanc)

It's the reserved wine from my friend which I bought her originally as gifts for her relatives.
Instead of the preference of the majority, since I am not familiar with the taste of the relatives and obviously they are not the superfan, choice would have to be very light and careful.

Surprisingly and feeling so honoured that I am invited to share one of them :)

La Clape turns out to be very impressive. It is a typical example of easy drinking wine. Focus not on the acidity, but on the balancing body. Little floral, slightly mineral.

Expecting the light body to be like those flat Chardonnay, we are then all amazed by long after taste from the wine. The swirl from throat to the nose is so powerful with petrol and peach and honey finish.

Imagine looking for oasis in dessert, in a mirage, so thirsty and you almost give up. Turn around in a glimpse you discover the oasis is just behind you. This wine is just like this picture


Find this wine at: Maxi Wine

Grape: 65%Bourbouienc 35%Grenache Blanc

Teeth without wisdom

Why wisdom teeth is called wisdom teeth?

Got my 2nd wisdom tooth removed this week. Unfortunately I couldn't prepare myself earlier as I could not recall any experience with the removal of my 1st wisdom tooth. Before I even lied on that "hell-like" chair, there is a breath-taking poster sticked on the wall on my right:

Stunning...NAILS drilled into the gum to fix the fake crown. It's even worse than glueing the wig on your bald head...

Imagining how I have related it to the whole removal process... All I heard is "ding ding dong dong" -- MINING!!! So nervous that I kept shivering, start feeling dizzy that the nurse asked me to CALM my TONGUE down.

The tooth was finally removed, with dentist claiming that she didn't not use her forceful way to pull it, just that it slides out (then where is the mining sound from???)

Looking back to the poster, I hv a strong wish that I won't ending up with this implant when I grow old.

Here comes the typical question: "Dentist, how can I avoid tooth decay?" Surprisingly the answer is not typically "well, eat less snacks, brush your teeth thoroughly", what she said is "Have 5 meals at most for the day: breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner, supper; no snacks, only water in between and you won't get tooth decay."

That's practical, and very modern way of accomodating stupid slave of the snack corner like me, great~

Without the wisdom tooth, my remaining teeth without wisdom still enable me to ask the right questions for wisdom answers.

Cheesecake Baking (old post)

Cyan came over to my home begging to bake the cheesecake for her potential boyfriend (well, eventually he is her boyfriend now, congratulations~)

Rushing home at 10pm (sourcing the raw materials at around 9), we start patting and stirring the mixture here and there in the first 30 mins. Imagine two little office gals, with all the office wear, all the mix were stick on the shirt, on face, stuck in the tiny narrow kitchen.

One thing that I was still being teased about is that we have this laptop open on stove to refer to the recipe.

We even forgot to pre-heat the oven~~~

Finally as you can see, this is the nicely done blueberry cheesecake.

Next step: It's for Cyan to do the finale -- the presentation of the cake~

Mid Autumn Festival @ Shek O

Spending my wonderful mid-autumn festival with my colleague at Shek O for barbeque.

Since I haven't been to the beach for celebration, I am amazed by the crowd on the beach, even denser than Mongkok, it's like 1 person every 2 square feet!

Back to back having barbeque, you can feel the proximity with the "neighbors" that you propably gonna think how to prevent yourself from falling into the barbeque pit ^^:

What a fine night with slight breeze occasionally blowing across, with the wave of measurable heights. That triggers me the thought about the other countries where their people should also be celebrating mid-autumn festival.

Phillipine & Indonesia & Taiwan. One affected by typhoon, the other 2 affected by earthquake. While appreciating the times with the colleagues, we have to pay attention and mourn for the unpredictable crisis occuring in other countries.

Let's pray and wish them be with their family for the post celebration of mid-autumn festival soon. Both men and moon shall come to an union.

The SIMs 3

Recently addicted to the game.

Trying to balance the maslow's hiercharcy's basic satisfaction of the character while fulfill all their short term goals: getting raise in career, throw a great party, chat with family, make friends, learn a new skill.

While playing along hard to fulfill all these, you'll find yourself sacrificing the sleep, no clean up of the house, no good food, no time bathing. If you have time do all the energy , bathing and other housework, you won't even have time chatting with anyone.

Then I suddenly realize, the SIMs is just so real in life. You have a choice to choose your path, your career, your success, your partner and you can get lost in the game on how you are trying to end it and what would you achieve.

Up to this point. I decide to stop playing this game, and think about myself instead of keep thinking about the choice of life for the characters in the game. Sarcastic, huh?

Same clueless...

Nose of Wine (1)

Despite working till 12 - 1am lately, I really wanna motivate myself by writing at least 2 posts a week... here comes, the nose buds:

The beginners (like me) normally would ask questions like:
" The label says it has apricot, lemon and hint of vanilla...I smell nothing! or I could only say, I smell WINE!"

In fact, there are tools to help you understand the description of wine, help you express your feeling and share your joy with others.

Tool 1: Aroma Kit (Le Nez Du Vin -- Wine Nose)
This is so far the most direct way of introducing the taste to newcomers of wine world.
In each of the little bottle, they are generally presented in the form of wax so that the smell can be captured and long lasting.
They are the extract of the materials ranging from fruit to spice to wood to gas to provide us with a wide range of vials of aromas in wine.
Sometimes you may identify commonality in wine which consists of same grape varietal and this would be exceptionally helpful to those learners which memorize things based on smell.
A typical aroma kit has 36-54 essence, and the kit costs HKD$3000up.

Anyone can buy me one of these as birthday present??? I am happy to blow him / her a kiss, with a warm hug :)

Small talk on Terrior

People always draw conclusions that the quality of wine is determined by -- Terroir.
True, majority I agree is from Terrior. When I learn that from a book, the critical point is that uncertainty is quite complex; multi Terrior related factors in guaranteeing a good wine.

Rainfall, soil, sunshine...they are all determined by God. For example, grapes gained most of the sunlight when they are planted on 45 degree slope, good irrigation, retainability of water in soil is crucial in affecting the vines growth etc. No wonder Wine is called "Dew of God".

Amongst all factors, the one which is so "inborn" and "destiny" one is the altitude of the vineyard. Even it is within the same village, or even the same chateau, the Terroir may not be the same, which gives the variety and the uncertainty to wine, even in Chateauneuf - du - Pape, you might bought the wine next to the cuvee one and got disappointed. (hope it doesn't offend anyone :P)

Those in temperate zone like France will benefit from its geographical advantages. Thus Australia and Chile earn the same benefit. From the atlas, you can tell, the upcoming one is...China.

The one with most branding now is "The Great Wall". I am looking forward to how much people would invest in China to supply more funds in the investigation of the potential in wine development in there. Should be something interesting ^^

My first wine cellar

12 x Vintec Wine Cellar finally arrives~~~with 4 Hugel & Fils white wine :)

After unwrapping it, I try to put it in my window pane...oh yea, it's real.

It's stuffy, it's hot, but that's the only perfect place to make my room a bit...customized, a bit...myself.

The first thing I do is...open my dad's cellar, retrieve all my wines and store that into my new cellar. Here it comes! shxx! The size only accomodates red wine, the v.v. traditional red wine bottle size, they don't fit the white wine bottles at all @.@

So I ended up stored all my red wine and petit red & white into the cellar~ And place my Stitch puzzle above the cellar.

My first wine cellar.

Alsace Wine Fair

Alsace Wine Fair

29 Aug 12:30 - 5:00 pm

Star Room 42/F, Langham Place Hotel Mongkok

With more than 23 fine wine stores displaying their Alsace exclusive wine for wine tastings, I myself is only one of the small drunkard wandering around for great wines.

Age range from 21 to 60, French, portugese, hongkongese...all are attracted by gorgeous riesling, gewurztraminer, pinot gris, pinot blanc, muscat...wowwww~~

Thanks for my fds recommending me to such a nice tasting event~

White wine used to be female's favourite, no wonder most guys are companying their girlfriends. Foccasia, brie cheese, celery, carrots and cucumber which fills the guests' lunch even though drunkard like me challenge the wine with empty tummy can still stay "sober" for a while.

I used to love Riesling's pear and green apple flavour. In this wine event, most riesling are covered with plastic cock smell (though France normally adopts oak cock, that's weird),

Gewurztraminer's peach flavour is surprisingly giving me a wide exposure of how grapes can be that revoluntionary. Tried at least 16 shops' gewurztraminer, some are crystalized like dessert wine because of late harvesting, some are aromatic in smell yet light and crispy in body, some are typical peach with mineral hint of palate. You can't imagine they are from the same origin with same characteristics.

I ended up bought Hugel & Fils VT Gewurztraminer 2002 & Albert Mann Gewurztraminer 2007, with free Vintec 12 bottle wine cabinet yey~~~

Upcoming wine gatherings - Wine tasting buddy wanted!!!~

Wine tasting can be of many forms, here are the menu of my proposed upcoming wine gatherings:

@ Horizontal Tasting: Tasting a series of wine on the same grape combination, can sole grape tasting or blended grape tasting.
@Vertical Tasting: Tasting same wine by of different vintages.
@Area / Terrior Tasting: Tasting of the similar wine region or wine environment of similar geographic condition
@Flavour Tasting: Tasting wine of similar flavour e.g. vanilla, butter, peach, oak...
@Vintage Tasting: Tasting various wine of same vintage
@Sole drinking vs food matching: self-explanatory
@Sole tasting vs blend tasting: find the best match grape combo
@Palate tasting vs Nose tasting: How different between your first smell and your first taste of the same glass.

Wine Tasting Buddy needed. Please sign-up and I'll get the venue and wine list ready. That would be one of my mission in 2009~~~

時光機 time machine

想起叮噹...必定想起時光機...

如果你可以坐上時光機，在人生之中可以選擇在某一個點上重新來過，你會選擇在哪一點?

這幾天我都在問身邊的朋友這個random 問題，他們卻反應非常凝重，可想而知我真的很無聊...但他們卻不是...

有些朋友答中學六年級，有些答小學五年級，大部份答大學，而原因都圍繞著兩個: 玩得太少或讀得不夠。

這反映著甚麼? 反映著他們所選擇的點必是人生的轉捩點，又或是一些後悔的決定。

這一點亦決定了他們的priority of life, 事業，家庭，愛情，生活?

你的選擇是...?

Old photos

In love with Gaspard & Lisa series, recently bought new photo albums in the shop nearby and it's time to rearrange the photos I have had since 10 years old, when my dad gave me a camera as birthday present.

Flipping through photos, across different time horizon...remarkable memories that I have had with friends. Some that I still chat with, some I don't, some in Hong Kong, some in US/ UK...

I miss them all, I would like to reconnect with them, so I decided...to send them each a facebook message tonight, to recollect our linkage...our memories, our relationships that I cherish...

My Dream Photographer

I finally find my destination~~~

A local photography magazine recently captures an article on 10 influencial professional photographers, who were all brought up from different occupations rather than photographer assistant.

The turning point for each of them to become professional photographer are all happens to be some once-in-a-lifetime inspirations. The one I admired most is Kennymax, who used to be (I think currently still is) a webmaster. He masters natural light so well that he seldom uses flash light or even postwork polishing via photoshop. Photos illustrate the tranquility of nature while contrasting the energetic model. Kenny has made them perfect match in the picture~

http://www.wretch.cc/blog/kennymax

WSET

D'issan Wine Tasting - Vertical tasting

Got ditched by Dad, woo woo...

Originally intended to join D'issan wine dinner, indeed a bit unaffordable on that, wine tasting would be a humble and preferable choice.

The list tonight is:

1. Blason D'issan 2004
2. Blason D'issan 2001
3. Chateau D'issan 2004
4. Chateau D'issan 2001
5. Chateau D'issan 1999

The wine grower, who is also the managing director of Chateau D'issan flying one-third of his year from Finland to other countries, promoting on behalf of D'issan. He gave us a description of how he defines the wine when drinking, I believe his precise description should be from countless times of vertical drink

These 5 drinks do share the same characteristics of spice and oak, smooth tannin and black current flavour. However in terms of finish, fruit flavour, other smell, alcoholic content, potential drinking time, we can distinguish between years and identify differences naturally, they vary and quite distinct in their own style and quality.

1. Blason D'issan 2004
- Black Current, strong spice on palate
- Long finish and aftertaste
- Powerful game and oak aroma

As a 2nd wine, this is really impressive as a start.

2. Blason D'issan 2001
- Same level of spice as year 2004
- Strong punch of fruit, balance, mild wine
- Short finish, not much aftertaste

3. Chateau D'issan 2004
- Strong tannin
- Even spicer than Blason
- Watery, blackcurrant
- disappointed, not as full body as RP's comments.

4. Chateau D'issan 2001
- See a potential after decantage, but it is presented direct from bottle
- Smoother than 2004, and more balanced.
- Stronger fruit and spice
- Still short finish.

5. Chateau D'issan 1999
- The best our of the 3 1st wine.
- More robust in terms of wine structure
- strong tannin and well body balance
- Ready to drink
- Spicer than the other two.
- finish is long, yet shorter compared to Blason '04

Overall I found Blason 2004 in fact is the most impressive among all, unfortunately bearing the brand I am reluctant to spend much as these features could be found elsewhere in cheaper wine. The price offered is quite cheap though compare to those I saw in other cellars yet still marked up.
The wine tasting is really good occassion for you to understand more about how the wine grower thinks and what message they try to conceive through, and it's safer for you to test before buying, rather than blindly chasing for brand names.

Wine tasting @ JW Marriott by ASC wine

6:30 - 10:00pm in JW Marriott

Gorgeous ballroom in Marriott, professional serving of wine.

Bisecting the Wine Fair into 16 sessions, by wine region so that we can have a distinct exposure of the characteristics of the wine with various origins.

The entrance laid with very informative reception, once we open the door, it was superb crowded, i almost got bounced back!!!~ The age range and the nationality is so wide that I had a feeling of how wide the coverage of wine world can be, taking even a further step of mind to explore in this wine world.

Looking into every eyes of the sales of each counter, you'll be able to tell who are the enthrusiastic wine sellers. They would be proactively telling you how the winemaker is making the effort in producing the wine. You will be able to tell who is really taking wine into their heart, who is only making money for family.

Surprisingly that night, we could only find 2 tables that has glamourous wine, after trying 40 wines.
One of them we've found a treasure cabernet sauvignon, which I always find it difficult to find an extremely nice bottle without having its price marked up, to be only $78!!!
And the dessert wine is very crispy and transparent as well, nice celery taste, pretty unique dessert wine from california.

You can't imagine. The entry ticket is only $20!!! Unbelieveable~ I would prefer the ballroom to extend the area of wine fair, as they are only making use of 1/3 of the area in which it's totally empty for the rest of the part. If it is more spacious, the waiters would feel a little bit more convenient in changing the wine glasses for us.

Cytise - wine tasting event @ DAP

Invited by my sec skoolmate for a wine tasting event on Thursday, without taking a good look at whether it's a wine lecture, wine tasting dinner or whatsoever...and even bring a colleague along...

DAP is located in Wan Chai, in a brand new shopping chic building opposite to hopewell centre, a 2-lv bar. Any of you who've been to Embargo in Diamond plaza, or Shelter in Henry House, it's what its environment is like. Quite hippy and classy bar.

The wine tasting is a fusion of mingling, canapes party, wine lecture , all you can name it...organized by Cytise

They have 6 wines offered: 2 white, 2 rose & 2 red.

5 are AOC and 1 is VDT. Surprisingly it's the VDT which stands out~ I bought one home, though both my dad and me doubt why VDT worths more than $100.

The canapes are delicious, you have...duck breast x2, mandarin on slice of french bread; parma ham with brie cheese on biscuit; last but not least... SCALLOP SUSHI!!!!

Nobody told us what to match it with, I suppose it should.

Since all guests came in different pace, the organizer tries to entertain everyone of us, so she repeats the same explanation again and again, stop in the middle if interrupted by another table and so on...neverending of explanation really mixed up people's taste buds and connections with the wine's origin + history. It'd be better if guests are set on proper chairs, than mingling on the floor, and some on sofas...

I can tell the organizer, who are french couples are very enthrusiastic and passionate towards the wine business, it shd be the venue layout and the format which makes the event looks a bit awkward. If it's a normal wine tasting event / wine dinner, things would turn out to be much better.

Finally, this gathering ends with another dinner at a vietnamese restaurant, where we are more satisfied with beef pho, prawn toast and bun hoi and ending up $50 each...kekeke

Cool night though, inspire me a lot on how a wine gathering should be held~

DAP would be a nice place to CHILL OUT~~~

Decanter - Bohemia Decanter

Bohemia Decanter , my First Decanter.

Randomly wandering around wine cellars in Olympics, Central, TST, Wanchai, looking for decanters for beginners, i.e. cheap, reasonable price, won't cry even if i break it etc...

SO there it goes, I bought the Bohemia Decanter from Czech, just because it's $280 for 2 wine glasses & a decanter, given that the thickness of the glasses is reasonably thin (not those terrifically thin) and the decanter seems having a huge opening which looks similar to what I've seen in TV (oops/...yea, not professional, but pretends to be :P) , then few hrs later at home, I realize why the shop looks so familiar with the one I saw in Olympics and the price are similar.

INDEED!!! they are the SAME SHOP!!! stupid me~

In fact at home, my dad gave me s. african ($69) wine which was opened few days ago to practice, and it's amazing, even my mom who doesn't know that I was swirling round the wine still be able to sniff it from the kitchen.

And more alcohol and oxidized it is after swirling, the decanted wine has more alcohol content than before and the flavour stands out!~ Amazing~~~

I will practice more with water in bottle so that I can disguise as crappy waiter serving the wine next time, lol

A night with chiu chou cuisine

To put forth, food matching is quite a difficult task for chinese dining, owing to its cultural difference. 正宗潮洲菜 has loads of gorgeous cuisine: fresh fish, sweet sour pork, bayleaf chicken, lo shui goose platter, satay beef & gai laan... all displayed simultaneously on the table. Unlike western cuisine, which you can match 1 dish with 1 wine, in fact it's quite impossible for
us to enjoy 1 wine with all food...


Below are the wines provided by an uncle generously for the meal:


Mount Mary Yarra Valley Pinor Noir 2004
- pinky red colour
- kerosene, plum,blackberries
- quite lengthy, strong tannin but spreads quickly in mouth
- breathe for more than an hour and still feel that it needs further breathing
- looks young and can still age for quite a while



Chateau Beausejour St. Emillion 2000

- Typical St. Emillion merlot flavour
- easy drinking, balance palate, perfect drinking wine
- not french lengthy wine, but thick and dark
- blackberries flavour, plus hint of pencil lead
It's not those very outstanding kinda unique wine, yet from its structure and the complicity of wine, it would definitely be at the high rank, now wondering if it's the 'obvious' intention of the winemaker to achieve higher score in RP rating? (93 points)

Geyser Peak Winery - Sauvignon Blanc 2006

Look: pale yellow, many long tears

Smell: Honey Comb, Pear, Kerosene, Tomato, Crispy

Taste: Tomato, savory, sense of tannin,

2nd taste: steel

Length: medium

3rd taste: can't last long after oxidation, wine deteriorates, acidic and strong tannin, only for quick and chill drinking.

Price: Free - from Uncle...if it's cheap, worth buying for everyday drinking still.

Wine Gathering 1 - S. African Wines @ Lian

My First Wine Gathering ar~~~ So excited.

1. Nelson's Creek Chenin Blanc 2008

- Green, oily in mouth, not dry (dunno why it's in the description)
- Refreshing, crisppy,
- The green is kinda grassy flavour, perhaps I got bias from its green bottle, lol~

2. Groenland Sauvignon Blanc 2008

- Truly jolly green, strong green pepper & asparagus
- harmonious balance or tannin and fruit and easy drinking
- Best pick of the night

Food: Char-grilled Pork Neck
- This is recommended in the booklet, yet we don't seem to find the cohenerence between or where the matching links to...

3. Clos Malvene Devonet Chardonnay 2008

- Strong plastic hint, expecting the plastic cork has been immerged to the wine, affecting the smell.
- Waiter accidently pour the same wine again, while we are ordering another one, that reassure that the plastic taste of wine is not an accident.

Food: Vietnamese shrimp cake
- I'd better enjoy the shrimp cake itself

4. Waverly Hills Semillon - Sauvignon Blanc 2007

- 2nd best white wine
- smell and taste of pear, slight hint of lime
- well-balanced with short dry finish.

Food: Pad Thai

5. Cabiere Pierre Jourdan Brut NV

- rich sparkling wine. Rather complex.
- Surprisingly balance wine.

Food: Fried rice in coconut sauce
- Can't match as the coconut sauce dominates the nosery

6. Bernheim Pinotage Rose 2007

- Cherry and red berry flavour
- has its own unique taste of pinotage

7. Clos Malverne Devonet Merlot Pinotage 2007

- One word: plum plum (oh , that's 2...)
- Mineral stands out after oxidizing
- The best red wines in the night

8. Groenland Shiraz 2004

- Seriously not much impression to the wine, other than spicy...
Food: Chocolate Mousse wif chocolate ice-cream (double dark chocolate)

9.Waverly Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2006

- I would put this wine as... Masculine wine.
- Oaky, lead and spicy flavour, so dark and its like smoking...
- In fact I am curious how dark can pair up with charcoal, smoke vs smoke?

10. Meerendal Pinotage 2007

- super strong sense of dark chocolate, even darker than the dessert, ^^
- soft tannin and demonstrate black fruit flavours

11.Nelson's Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

- NO impression at all...I wonder have I tried this...

Nice night everyone~

Brown Brothers - 2006 Shiraz (Limited Reserve)

Shelter@ Henry House

Still survive after last round of South African wine tasting...

5 ppl sharing whole bottle of shiraz in 2 hours, still long length after airing of wine, quite nice.

Colour: Really can't tell whether it's purplish red or not, coz we are drinking under super dim light...

Tears: have legs, comparatively less and doesn't stay too long on the glass.

Smell: Spice note. Little hint of red berries / currant perhaps.

First taste: Steel / metal flavour. Strong spice, emphasis on the length of wine. Little fine tannin. Masculine character.

Second taste (after an hour): less steel flavour from the first, more harmonious. Still strong and lengthy, yet less red current taste than before.

Price: $468 +10% , reasonable. Gd wine for small chats ^^

Seafood Maniac

Everything begins with the huge crab shopping at mini boat wet market in Sai Kung.

The fainted crabs took a long route: across the harbour, into the underground... and ended their lives in Treasure Lake Seafood Restaurant in Sheung Wan.

Forgot to bring my camera along...could only have the photos with such a low resolution, well...

Hospitable uncle & aunt brought along 2 bottles: 1 champagne, 1 Riesling (oh...my favourite!!!)

Here comes the list...

Appetizer

Champagne: Moet & Channdon

Babylon Shell dipped with wasabi

Bubbles with Babylon Shell, a fresh matching. though the champagne doesn't seem to match with the babylon shell, the champagne ignite the freshness of the babylon shell, yum~

Little pig leg soaked in chinese wine

Little pig leg is finely made, with hint of chinese wine and the fat swirl in the mouth. I'd love to have this every day, given that I will be gaining 10lbs more...keke...

Main Dish

Steamed crab in egg-white with chinese home-town wine (shao xing jiu)

I love the companying sauce, which is red vinegar with sesame oil, springled with chopped onion, perfect match with the juicy crab meat, turning a sole dish to a rice matching dish~

By then, I already concentrating on defeating my favourite crab...ignoring all other dishes and wine...until...something even more tempting to come...

Steamed Rat Face Garoupa

Indescribable. Self-explainatory from the picture itself, right?

Soft fish meat, detached itself from the fish bone even without tearing it apart, it doesn't seem that I have chewed before it slided to my throat. It has its own sweetness. Until now I can tell the difference between Wedding steamed fish and Excellent steamed fish...

Fried chicken

We call a nice chicken to be a juicy, fat, white, smooth white meat, in fact all can be found in this dish tonight.

Together having a harmonious match with the Riesling.

This Riesling has a very green smell, like green pepper. Comparing to typical Riesling, it is rather light and less sweet.

It ends with a crispy taste, which would not dominate the strong-flavoured food like chinese dishes but delight the dish with a fresh ending note. Good buy from New Zealand, Otago.

Dessert is impressive:

Birthday Bun: Baking smell and chewy bun (I've brought 1 home as breakfast tomorrow)

Red bean soup: Biggest and softest red bean with terrific sweetness

Wonderful dinner~

Treasure Lake Seafood Restaurant
Address: 1-3/F, Mandarin Building, 35 Bonham Strand, Sheung Wan

Tel No: 2854 9388