Where Spain delivers great value high quality wines....

24 July 2011: Last night I went with a girl friend to the recently opened Betty's Kitchen  in Hong Kong.  Just the perfect place for 2 girl friends to enjoy a bottle of wine, over some delicious and unpretentious food!  I would describe the food at Betty's Kitchen as hearty bistro-style food, drawn from different national cuisines, French, Italian, Spanish and of course English!  Could the chef be persuaded to add a couple of Asian classics (with a bit of tweaking) into the menu??  (That would be really nice!) Anyway, what really impressed me about this restaurant were the very professional service, the well-priced and thoughtfully designed wine list, and the low-key but chic decor (the lighting just bright enough to avoid an overly serious atmosphere and the well-managed noise level giving the restaurant a lively modern buzz).   

I chose a bottle of 2008 Camins del Priorat by Alvaro Palacios.  I was so happy to see this wine on the wine list as I recently tried it in Barcelona and thought it was a tasty approachable wine, by Alvaro Palacios, whose wine (L'Ermita being the top wine) would normally be rather expensive and need a long cellaring period to be drinking well. 

2008 Camins del Priorat (young vines of 60% Carinena, 30% Grenache, 10% Cab Sauvignon/Syrah)

Blackberries, black cherry, liquorice, chocolate, a hint of eucalyptus and tobacco and layered with vanilla. Palate packed with sweet ripe fruit and nicely structured with ripe tannin and fresh acidity. Velvet texture and a nice rounded finish. Well-made in an elegant but easily approachable style. (And I adore the rather sweet-looking label) Drink now - 2016.  15/20

I thought it was a great choice to have on the list, as it had charming character, without being intimidating, easy to understand and appreciate, and would easily go with any of the dishes on the menu, with the rather velvety texture and soft tannin/acidity.  (I love finding great value and off-the-beaten track wines from restaurant wine lists!  Of course, this pursuit is not always rewarded with nice surprises....and it has brought me some less than pleasant ones over the years!)

Another wine I noticed on the wine list at Betty's was a 2008 Tres Picos, Bodegas Borsao, Campo de Borja.  Campo de Borja DO is in the region of Aragon, southeast of Navarra.  Although Campo de Borja does not enjoy the fame of Priorat, nor boast the famous llicorella soil, its vineyards are found at high altitudes of limestone-based slopes, as high as 700 metres, allowing the indigenous grapes (including some very old vines) to slowly retain fresh acidity and attain a high degree of concentration of flavours and ripeness (expressed in both sugar and phenolic ripenesses). This DO has been producing high quality wines speaking of power, concentration and elegance, at reasonable prices.  Same characteristics are found in the DO of Calatayud, which is right next door to Carinena DO, where the grape of the same wine originated.  These 3 DO's are all in the province of Zaragoza, the capital city of the same name is on the river Ebro.   The 2008 Tres Picos is 100% Garnacha (low-yielding 35 - 40 year old vines grown at 600 - 700 metres high) and definitely worth trying. 

Another wine from this region that I recently tried was the 2008 Las Rocas Vinas Viejas, San Alejandro from DO Calatayud (but not on Betty's wine list).  The vines are low-yielding 60 - 80 years old grown at 800 - 1,100 metres high.  21 days of post-fermentation maceration, complemented by micro-oxygenation before malolactic fermentation. This is a wine with plenty of concentration and finesse, with a rich and mouthfilling palate made of layers of spices, berries and floral, and a nice long finish.  A big wine, not for the faint hearted, but an extremely well-made effort! 

All these wines from Spain are very reasonably priced and definitely worth seeking out if you are interested in characterful wines that speak of their origin!  Happy tasting!

P.S. Just for the record, we shared a duck confit which was perfectly cooked and the spicy Carinena in our wine went rather well with the duck, and the wine had just enough acidity to cut through the fat!  Yummy!

Glorious 1959 Latour

9 July 2011: A quiet evening at home. Perfect occasion to enjoy a bottle of 1959 Latour (VTS).  The wine needed 2+ hours of decanting time to display its finest.  Richard first poured the wine into a small red wine glass for me to guess the wine.  Well, I got as far as 1959 Bordeaux....but failed on the commune.  What was very interesting was that the fruit and much of its character failed to show up on the nose nor the palate when in the small glass and it was very hard to appreciate the wine.  Once in the much bigger Bordeaux glass, the wine went through the most dramatic transformation! 

A deep ruby core, slightly garnet at the rim.  Through the sumptuously rich layers of sweet blackberry compote, caramel, leather, autumn leaves, mineral/wet stones, cigar box and violet, there was a slight hint of volatile acidity, which was barely offensive at this moment of evolution. On the palate, there was no question of the power and concentration of this wine, the richly layered mouthfeel revealed its majestic and well-matured charm, and an unmistakably classic Pauillac character.  The years have mitigated little of its austerity - the wine still needed time in the glass to open up. It still showed much vigour and a firm structure that would suggest still quite a few more years of perfect enjoyment.  The tannin has still not completey resolved, still quite astringent - appealing to those who prefer a lingering dry finish (the classic or old-fashioned palate?).  Simply stunning, a wine to be admired and remembered for a long while!  Drink now and for the next 4 - 5 years for peak enjoyment (or much longer for the larger formats)!  19.5/20

Dinner at the Capital Hotel, London - 1979 Margaux in Magnum

1 July 2011: Dinner at the Capital Hotel in London. A very good opportunity to catch up with a few friends. Despite the slightly cramped dining area, the food is always good and honest, if lacking a little excitement. 4 of us had the grilled turbot as main course, which Richard had highly recommended. David and Nick shared the black-feet chicken. I thought the duck foie gras ravioli that almost everyone had looked rather good, as did David’s hand-dived scallops with black pudding. As for wines, we had prepared a 1979 Margaux magnum for the occasion, and Nick very kindly supplied the rest!
2002 Corton Charlemagne, Patrick Javillier: Lemony, guava, spicy (ginger and cinnamon), underlined with plenty of minerality. Firm structure, beautifully integrated acidity, if a little austere in the beginning, but opened up slowly in the glass. Persistent finish. 17.5/20
1996 Meursault Charmes, Leroy: A fully mature wine, displaying a tertiary nose of hazelnuts, digestive biscuits, figs and liquorice. Medium body, still perked up by good level of acidity. Drinking at peak now. Went rather well with the duck foie gras ravioli, I would have thought? 17/20
1979 Margaux (in magnum): Very distinctive nose of tobacco, violet, cedar and leather. A little astringent on the palate, but still showing firm acidity. Balanced and harmonious. A smooth and sweet finish. A well-made wine, and drinking beautifully now, if lacking a little excitement. 17.5/20
1970 Doisy-Vedrines: bright golden in colour, with some copper highlights. Apricot, marmalade, honey, smokey and spicy. Very well-balanced and well-matured. Still very lively acidity. Very more-ish. Finishes long. 17.5/20
1986 Doisy-Vedrines: much less exciting than the 1970…well-balanced, but quite simple and uninteresting. 15.5/20
What a delightful evening – I think we sort of planned our next gathering at La Réserve in Beaulieu! Can’t wait!

A Tour in the English Country: Day 7 - The Waterside Inn

30 June 2011: Final stop before heading back to London – The Waterside Inn, Bray. Over the years, we’ve had a few memorable meals at the Waterside Inn - the location and the restaurant are so unique that we always try to come back to visit. We got here in good time for a stroll around the cricket grounds and the village, stopping to check out the menu at the Fat Duck, before heading back to the Waterside Inn, for a glass of bubbly before dinner. Sitting within centimetres’ reach of the Thames, a glass of champagne in the hand, watching the traffic of ducks and rowers up and down the river, we blended into the idyllic landscape of serenity and bliss. It was a moment to remember and cherish. By the time, we returned to the dining room after changing into more respectable attire, we were shown to our table, first time ever for us that we were offered a table with a view – what a treat!



Wild salmon with wild rice

 I started with a chilled gazpacho, with crayfish and peach, followed by a wild salmon on a bed of wild rice. The salmon was absolutely gorgeous, fresh and perfectly undercooked. Richard had a delicious lobster salad, a la façon Caesar, followed by côte de boeuf. We both thought the salmon was the best dish amongst the four dishes. The beef was tasty, but perhaps lacked the “wow” factor. Reflecting on our experience at the Whatley Manor, which was a 2-star restaurant, we felt that on this occasion, the cooking at the Waterside Inn wasn’t exactly a star above, and certainly compared less well with the Whatley Manor, in terms of creativity and innovation. The Waterside Inn for us would best be described as a restaurant steeped in tradition, with the very slightest touching up. Where the Waterside Inn excelled was the provision of seamlessly professional service, the ambiance of the dining room, the superb location and its long and respected tradition. In fact, I spotted a lipstick mark on my white wine glass after they poured the white wine into the glass…it was a little offputting, the type of mishap I would not expect at a 3-Michelin star institution.  When my salmon arrived, the filet was somewhat broken (i.e. not presented as an intact piece)....not exactly the presentation I would expect at a 3-Michelin star restaurant.  I thought Richard summarised it rather well: “3 star experience, 2.5 star food”!
For our wine selection, we had a half bottle of 2008 Meursault Navaux, Vincent Girardin. Lemony, with hints of pineapple and passion fruit, slowly building up some smokey and toasty complexity, as the wine took on a bit of weight in the glass. Perhaps better with food, than as an aperitif. A respectable effort. 15.5/20


The 2002 Volnay Les Mitans, Hubert de Montille was absolutely perfect for drinking now. Lots of subtle elegance and well-developed tertiary character. Leather and sous-bois, livened with the freshness of red cherry and slightly spicy. The tannins have largely mellowed while the acidity is still rather vivid, making this a very more-ish drink and perfect with food. At peak now, and will drink well for another 4 – 5 years for optimum enjoyment. 17/20
Richard had a glass of 2005 Suduiraut to go with his raspberry soufflé. The 2005 Suduiraut had some richness and a delicate balance. Perfectly fine, but not too exciting though.
Breakfast is always a delightful experience at the Waterside Inn. The tray was brought at exactly the specified time. The kougloff was my absolute favourite, with a bit of homemade rhubarb preserve! Yummy! The pain au chocolat was also divine!

A Tour in the English Country: Day 6 - The Whatley Manor

Mushroom panna cotta



Textures of Onion

29 June 2011: Dinner at the Whatley Manor (http://www.whatleymanor.com/), set in 12 acres of enchanting English gardens, in the Cotswolds. A 2-Michelin star restaurant. Modern design and charming dining room, not too cramped, and tastefully decorated. Excellent service. I went for the vegetarian options for both starter and main course. Full marks for presentation – both plates looked like a garden come alive. While the individual items for each dish were skilfully prepared and full of good flavours, I found the creation a little far-fetched and the ingredients not necessarily complementing each other, at least for me. So the parmesan ice cream was tasty on its own, but not really a great partner for the mushroom panna cotta, which was rather rich in flavour and light in texture. The dish named Textures of Onion was even more far-fetched as I had expected a lot more onion…..what ended up was a small parcel of fried onion delicately balanced inside a parmesan ring, with some onion panna cotta, and accompanied by a lot of asparagus, mushrooms, bread-crumbed quail eggs and foam.......all the ingredients very tasty on their own but the combination lacked harmony…….so again the chef’s interpretation lost me a bit. Richard had better luck with his langoustine starter, which seemed like a classic dish beautifully executed and his poussin breast was very moist and tasty. We finished off with a platter of cheese to share – great trolley – we tried an English cheese called Win Green and the best way to describe it was an English brie, well-matured and tasted slightly more mineral than a French camembert……We also had a cheese called “buffon” – must look it up….a bit like Ossau Iraty……plus one called “Lough Ewe??” – from the same farm that makes Stinking Bishop!

As for wines, we started with a 2007 Ramonet Puligny Montrachet – racy acidity, mineral, a good sample of village Puligny, with some complexity of lemon, exotic fruit, floral and some spice. Good finish. 15.5/20

For the red, we had brought with us a bottle of 1989 Vosne Romanée Cros Parantous, Henri Jayer. A beautiful ruby colour, with hardly any garnet at the rim. Behind the glorious nose of sous-bois, hoi-sin sauce, cherry clafoutis, vanilla spice and some toasty oak, I detected a slight whiff of corkedness, which Richard referred to as over-oakedness (and put it down to my over-enthusiastic imagination). I had thought the corkedness was even more apparent on the palate, which seemed much less interesting compared to the nose and offered very little of the fruit character that was still detectable on the nose. With a little bit more swirling and the overpowering Stinking Bishop and “Lovewe”, it was not too difficult for me to dismiss the corkedness (and to end our disagreement on this particular subject) and to continue enjoying the wine. I decided not to score this wine because of the circumstances. Richard would have scored it 18.5/20.


Other features of the Whatley Manor: very nicely situated bedrooms, contemporary design (I’m very much in favour of contemporary design as the mustiness and damp from the upholstery and curtains of some charmingly old-style bedrooms tend to set off my allergies), uninterrupted wifi in every room, powerful shower and luxurious Asprey bathroom products, well-equipped gym – the aerobic equipment could do with a bit of upgrade…..pool and spa. Beautifully manicured grounds. Plenty of indoor and outdoor areas to take your breakfast, tea or coffee or a pre-prandial cocktail. Breakfast was not a particular highlight here but everything else very well organised and thoughtfully designed. All the staff seemed very friendly and helpful. We will definitely like to come back to this place!

A Tour in the English Country: Day 5 - The Wheatsheaf, Combe Hay

28 June 2011: We left Derbyshire in the morning and drove down to Gloucestershire. We took a detour to visit Vinothèque at Burton-on-Trent, out of curiosity about the storage conditions. It was an old grain barn, with walls made of 4 layers. Although it was relatively cool inside, there was no obvious temperature control, which begged my question of what would happen on really hot days, as England has not been spared of global warming havoc. I think the response we got was that they’re looking into it. There’s also the question of humidity control, as the building is above ground……
We checked into Whatley Manor and very quickly we set off for dinner with our friends in a pub with rooms called The Wheatsheaf, in a little village called Combe Hay. It was a very charming spot and we were very pleased to be greeted with a glass of Selosse 1997. Lemon-golden hue, very fine and gentle bubbles. Lemon confit, floral, grilled hazelnuts, honey and a yeasty toasty nose. Intricate, complex and flamboyant. A sumptuous wine and perhaps better with food, than as an aperitif. Well-filled out mid-palate and a lengthy finish. 18.5/20
Then we had a 1993 Le Montrachet, Jadot. Golden colour. Very smoky, honey, creamy, brioche, layered with fruit character of fig and guava, as well as some candied ginger. Medium-full bodied. Slightly spicy finish. A very fine effort and beautifully aged. 17.5/20
Next up were two Gevrey Chambertin Clos Saint Jacques by Roussseau – 1989 and 1990. I thought the 1990 started off being more rounded and then the 1989 slowly caught up in the glass and turned out to be the better wine. 1989: a little bit more austere at the beginning, more delineated and structured, with a very persistent finish. Very classy nose of farmyard, earthy, cherry and spicy. Drinking well now with some aeration, and should continue to drink well for another 8 - 10 years. 18/20 1990: A very attractive nose of plum, cherry and floral, with just hints of mushroom. Pure and elegant. Finish rather shorter than the 1989. Drinking perfectly now, and for next 3 - 4 years for optimum enjoyment. 17/20
Then we had two Romanée Saint Vivant, DRC. The 64 bottle had the Marey-Monge label and the 1978 had the DRC domaine label. I rather prefer the 1964 for the firmer structure and opulence – smoky, cherry clafoutis and warm spices. A very filled-out and integrated palate. Very lengthy finish. It took an hour to open up in the glass. 18.5/20 The 1978 for me was sweet caramel, cinnamon, with a hint of coffee and sweet leather. Very charming nose, almost autumnal. Elegant, if a little lean. The acidity was sticking out a bit, with just a hint of volatility. This bottle could be better 5 – 6 years ago and should have been drunk. 17.5/20
David then arranged a bottle of 1995 L’Evangile to accompany our cheese platter……I took a sip and it was really delicious now! I rather stuck to what burgundy wine remained in my glass!
Thank you David, for a delicious meal! Great country food, in totally unpretentious surroundings!

A Tour in the English Country: Days 3/4 - Cavendish Hotel/Baslow Hall

26/27 June 2011:  We finished a rather hectic day of visiting Chatsworth (home of the Duke of Devonshire) and Haddon Hall (home of Lord Edward Manners), which couldn’t be in contrasting styles.  For me, Chatsworth oozes opulence and power and Haddon Hall has retained a rather romantic and nostalgic charm about it.  I was a little disconcerted by the lack of mobile reception inside the main house of Chatsworth and had to speedily walk through the rooms so that I could get back on the blackberry, to deal with the flurry of emails about 2010 Bordeaux!  The gardens at Chatsworth were equally as impressive as the house and well worth spending the time. If you have the inclination to organise it, I highly recommend a scrummy picnic in the idyllic settings of the gardens, and with a good book, it would be an ideal way to spend a leisurely few hours.  We had dinner at Baslow Hall, a 1-Michelin star restaurant.  Highly recommended.  Richard had a delicious piece of turbot with lobster (with sweet corn velouté and quinoa) as starter, followed by belly pork, with crackling.  I just had a pan seared scallops with bacon, which was just what I needed! 

We actually stayed at the Cavendish Hotel during our 2-day visit (wifi did not work very well - so I had a lot of problem trying to key in orders for 2010 Bordeaux en primeur - as a result, rather stressed out!).  Our room looked out onto the Derbyshire dales and the magnificent lawn of the hotel, with the most splendid sunset on our first evening! The room had a rather sombre feel to it, perhaps it was the rather imposing four-poster bed and the dark-toned curtains.....but it was a rather nice touch to lighten up the atmosphere with the presence of the Cavendish Bear, which sadly did not get adopted by us as our luggage was already bursting with bottles of English wine and jars of relish and chutney! 

Reception staff was very friendly and helpful.  Restaurant service was much less efficient and informative.  The dining room felt rather cramped (and too warm) as well.  The warmth caused Richard to doze off on a few occasions (although it was me who drove the whole distance from Oxfordshire/Buckinghamshire to Derbyshire with one stop on the motorway)!  The wine list seemed very young and not particularly extensive - a lot of wines from vintages of 2008 and 2009!  When I spotted Quinta do Crasto 2009 on the wine by the glass menu, I thought I would give it a whirl (given our delightful experience of the 2003 Xisto earlier in the month, and taking a break from burgundy J).  It took me a while to get the vintage information from the sommelier, so I did not proceed to ask which wine it was from the range.  Perhaps it was the Crasto? When the wine arrived in the glass (no, it was not poured in front of me), it was too warm, so I very carefully lowered the entire glass into the ice bucket to chill for about 10 minutes, precariously leaning against the half bottle of Pouilly-Fume that Richard had ordered.  The nose reminded me of bubblegum, hoi sin sauce, black tea, bergamot, lavender, blackberries and cardamon.  The palate was less interesting, somehow lacked intensity, concentration and complexity. Only mildly tannic, with some acidity.  Balanced and decently made, but a little simple and did not evolve with time in the glass.  14.5/20

A Tour in the English Country: Day 2 - An English Wedding

26 June 2011: We’re in England this week, trying to squeeze in a bit of holiday after attending the wedding of a dear friend’s daughter in Oxfordshire. It was a wedding, perfect in every sense, taking place in the most glorious picture-perfect setting, against the backdrop of Home County valleys, a sun-stroked patchwork of fields and meadows. The English summer did not disappoint - after a rather gloomy start to the day, it returned to full glory and delighted the wedding guests with glowing warmth and bright sunlight. The bride organised the whole thing herself, with the occasional help from mother! It was so thoughtfully and tastefully organised……there was an ice-cream van “selling” ice-cream to the children, an oyster shucker hard at work at the Irish rocks, real wood fires inside the tipees, a tree of really yummy cup cakes, instead of the traditional wedding cake, and a crêperie (and coffee) van to keep us going till the small hours when the couple would retire to their honeymoon! Nick very kindly organised for us to stay with his neighbours, Andrew and Fiona, who live down the road from his house. Apart from a little difficulty in finding the car, we got back in little time to a nice warm bed at their lovely home and woke up to a very hot English summer morning!

We took advantage of the time between breakfast and hog roast back at Nick’s to visit a local winery - The Chiltern Valley Winery. It was fascinating to try these grape varieties that I had only read about….Schönburger, Huxelrebe, Müller-Thurgau and Bacchus….and they weren’t too bad at all! I was quite impressed by a dessert wine made with Huxelrebe, made sweet by stopping the fermentation by chilling – good complexity, not too cloying and nice finish – would go well with a mature cheddar or blue cheese. All the wines, ranging from dry to sweet, were only 10.5%, which was rather refreshing, compared with today’s norm of 14%! As the grapes are locally sourced, each year the winery would use a different grape variety or blend for different wines. We also tried a Mead – made famous by Harry Potter! I have yet to acquire the taste for Mead – better stick to the dessert wine for now. (I managed to pack a few bottles of English wine into my suitcase - just about the only shopping I did the whole week!)

After thanking our hosts for a most hospitable weekend, we left Buckinghamshire and drove onto Derbyshire, where we would spend the following day visiting Chatsworth and Haddon Hall.

A Tour in the English Country - Day 1: Danesfield House

24 June 2011: Picked up hired car at Heathrow Airport and we drove to Marlow to check into Danesfield House (http://www.danesfieldhouse.co.uk/).  Set amongst 65 acres of grounds, in the Chiltern Hills, and overlooking the River Thames, Danesfield House is a grand mansion with a very popular spa and fitness centre.  We were given a rather spacious room, with a nicely sized bathroom, tea/coffee making facility and most importantly, 24-hour wifi!  The cardiovascular machines in the gym could do with some upgrading, but it was adequate and totally user friendly!

The Adam Simmonds Restaurant has 1 Michelin star and we all decided to take the tasting menu.  I would probably skip the bar and go straight to the dining room, which had a lovely serenity about it, with decor not too ornate but rather stylish.  Every dish for the tasting menu was perfectly proportioned that we didn't feel too full or underfed afterwards.  The slow-cooked lamb loin was a real highlight as was the crab salad at the beginning, but overall all the dishes were beatifully executed and flavoured.  We decided to take the cheese platter rather than the two desserts.  Well-informed staff and very professional service.  The only missing part was a sommelier - we were told that they didn't have one at the moment, nor was there any plan to hire one anytime soon.  I rather unwisely chose a bottle of Spanish red wine from Jumilla - 2002 Casa de la Ermita (Tempranillo, Monastrell, Cabernet Sauvignon).  I had been warned by the manager that their Spanish wine collection was collecting dust in the cellars!  It was a bit alarming when the bottle was presented to me, it felt rather warm!  Well, I went ahead with the selection because I was sufficiently curious about wines from Jumilla and I thought we might just be nicely surprised!  The grapes for this wine were grown on the slopes at 700 metres altitude.  12-day post-fermentation maceration, plus 20 month ageing in American and French oak barrels.  The result: Very spicy, stewed black and red berries, savoury and gamey.  Ripe tannin well-integrated, with well-balanced acidity. Balanced and well-made, but quite full-on, a little clumsy, trying a little too hard to please, slightly lacking in depth or character. Slight bitter aftertaste.  14.5/20

The 2007 Meursault Cros du Cromin, Genot-Boulanger was much more satisfactory.  Pale lemon.  Nose of lemon curd, melon, fig, toast, lime blossom, showing more spice and minerality on the palate. Spicy, linear and very precise. Finishes long, with racy acidity.  16/20

A charming spot, lovely restaurant, friendly staff, very comfortable rooms (if a little uninspiring in the decor).  We thought the restaurant might benefit from having a sommelier, though........
  

2001 Fourrier Clos St Jacques and 2006 Fontaine Gagnard Chassagne Maltroie

7 July 2011: Dinner at the China Club.  Thought we would have some youngish burgundies. 

2001 Fourrier Gevrey Chambertin Clos St Jacques

Ruby core. The wine opened up in the glass to a very attractive nose of ripe red cherries and red berries, sous-bois, minerality and just a hint of smokey five spice. Flattering on the palate, with well-judged concentration and weight, not to overpower the delicate pinot fruit. This wine is about silky elegance, finesse and lingering finish. Beautifully made and drinking absolutely perfectly now! 16/20

2006 Fontaine Gagnard Chassage Montrachet Maltroie
Lemon colour. Citrus, floral and exotic fruit, with interludes of minerality and toasty notes. Some richness on palate, balanced by firm acidity, giving the wine a lovely structure. A deliciously quaffable wine, refreshing, and well-balanced. Slightly lacking in intensity and length, but excellent drinking now and for another 2 – 3 years. 15.5/20

These wines are such delights to enjoy now.....I don't think I would keep them any longer!