Room to Read, Hong Kong, 25 Feb 2010

A very successful FT-sponsored fund-raising evening in Hong Kong by Room to Read (www.roomtoread.org). US$ 3 million raised, in the Conrad Hotel ballroom, full of enthusiastic and philanthropic people from Hong Kong....much encouraged by the energetic and skilful John Wood, Room to Read's founder, and delighted by the presence of Jancis Robinson introducing us to some interesting new wines and talking about other more familiar ones featuring in the evening menu. I was most impressed by the 2006 Oremus, Mandolas Dry Furmint from Tokaji, Hungary a place we normally associate with nectar-like sweet wines. The dry version showed aromas of lanolin, exotic fruit (passion fruit, pineapple, etc), honey, macadamia nuts. The richness was evident but subtle enough to reveal its mineral character and the fresh acidity helped give the wine a lovely balance. Went very well with the spicy salmon tartare......can imagine it going well with some Asian dishes.....a very interesting discovery!