2007 Oreno and 2005 L'Ormarins Optima

13 Dec 2010:  Our "not so regular anymore" wine tasting group finally got together again for dinner before the year end.  We went to Gong Guan, a modern Shanghainese private kitchen. The restaurant has 3 private rooms (cleverly partitioned by satin curtains) and minimum booking for each room is 8 people (we just about made this minimum number after a few last minute dropping out!).  The restaurant offers consistent quality food at very reasonable prices, albeit based on a fixed menu.  The only disadvantage is the lack of wine-serving ware - decanters are actually water jugs and glasses are a little limited.   So best to come as couples, so you can optimise the use of available glasses to try a few wines at the same time!  On this evening, the spare ribs and the chicken were the best dishes....and we even sent Pui Hong and Anita to go and get ice cream as the Chinese dessert soup was a little too herbal and medicinal to go with the Tokaji Aszu 6 Puttonyos!  (Next time I know better to check with the restaurant what desset they're serving so we can be better prepared!)

I was a little disappointed by some of the wines of the evening but the two wines that I found interesting and delicious were: 2007 Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno and 2005 L'Ormarins Optima. 

The 2007 Oreno, Toscana IGT (50% Sangiovese, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot) took a bit of time to open up in the glass.  The nose was a gorgeous bouquet layered with blackcurrant, black cherry, plum, liquorice, chocolate and eucalyptus lifted by floral notes of violet.   A harmonious, balanced wine, with lovely smooth texture and a long finish.  This wine is drinking well now and for the next 6 - 8 years.  (would recommend double decanting plus an hour of aeration for drinking now).  16/20

We were perhaps a little unfair to the 2005 L'Ormarins Optima (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) that Joseph brought.  A Bordeaux-blend wine from Franschhoek, South Africa, aged up to 24 months in new French oak prior to release.  It seemed more of an afterthought to open the wine so that we could finish on a high note!  What we tasted though was richness and concentration, characterised by a full body with firm structure and intense flavours of red fruit, blackcurrant, chocolate and warm spice, and plenty of cool climate characteristics.  A great effort. 16/20