What is a car? – Part 2

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Those of you who have been receiving our periodic newsletters long enough might remember the one dated May 6, 2020 (https://www.vinopolis.com.hk/single-post/what-is-a-car). It is now another 6+ years and what’s new?

Yes…it was about the Porsche 964RS under my ownership since new. Back then 40 years ago, yours truly was quite a sports car enthusiast and at different stages owned the first generation Golf GTi, the Alfa Romeo GTV6, the Lancia Gamma, the Mercedes 280CE, the Ferrari 308 GTB QV4 and two 911s from the late 70’s and 80’s. All came and went and then the 964RS arrived in 1991 and has stayed since.

I like its shape. The silhouette is almost all curves and no matter from which angle, it just looks so elegant. The blue colour is eye-catching but not a “flash in the pan” type and indeed gives quite an enduring appeal. The car is extremely well made and durable. Even the original tubular rubber linings for the doors survive to this day. It is reliable and seldom breaks down (other than the odometer). Most important of all, it is the driving experience. The car is fast but not that fast by today’s standard when even a small sedan can generate more than 250 HP. Sitting inside the 911RS though is different. It is compact. Everything is no-frills and strictly functional. Above all it is the handling and that engagement when driving the car. There is that feeling of the car having a soul that wants to go forward on and on. You are often slightly sad when arriving destination because you actually want to keep driving.

Like many things, there seems to be the inevitability of time as one wonders how much longer to keep the car. It is a limited production model with unique features and that would ensure it maintaining its value. Still, younger generation in the family seems not interested to live with its manual gearbox, the very stiff suspension and the lack of an air-con unit. The car has always been serviced by the local Porsche Centre which is becoming a bit of a disappointment in recent years too. Spare parts are not always in stock. Diagnoses were wrong and mistakes were made as most of their younger mechanics do not seem to have sufficient experience to deal with old cars. Is it time to look for an independent workshop?  One begins to ponder…

Enough of my grumbling and let’s turn to wine now. You will see quite a few 2012 Bordeaux reds as we feel the vintage precisely striking that common denominator of great quality, value and drinking readiness now. In any event, we hope you will like some of our suggestions below:

2013 Hoffmann Rathbone Blanc de Blancs Brut (VN96 at HK$560/bottle) – Historically, the UK was too cold to support commercial viticulture. But global warming has changed that scenario. Geologically, Sussex is an extension of the northern France basin across the English Channel so there is the terroir too. With all the efforts in the last 20 years, English sparkling wine has transformed into one of the good success stories in the global beverage industry. This one we are stocking is out of purely Chardonnay. Swirling in the glass reveals a touch of crushed biscuits and lemon. The palate is pure, cool, smooth and soothing. Balance and freshness are foremost as you never guess that it is more than a decade old. This is a pure, luminous beauty with vivid, fine effervescence, self-assured serenity and supreme elegance.

2022 Quintodecimo Greco di Tufo Gialo d'Arles (WA95 at HK$500/bottle) – From the south of Italy out of the Greco grape varietal, this white speaks to those who gravitate towards more expressive wines. There are lifted aromas of tart citrus fruit, green papaya and crushed oyster shells as well as a little salty element and cinnamon creaminess in its voluminous texture.

2025 Clos Henri Otira Glacial Stones Sauvignon Blanc (JS96 at HK$260/bottle) – Mineral tension, poise and elongated shape are the hallmarks of this very good, fresh and juicy New Zealand dry white. There are harmonious notes of tangerine, ruby grapefruit and lemon sorbet, with details of peach, white tea, pineapple and candied ginger on the finish.

2008 Klein Constantia Vin de Constance (WA95 at HK$650/500 ml bottle) – So much being the talking point of what wines were drunk during the recent White House state banquet in honour of China’s President Xi, it reminds your truly the excellent sweet wine the late QEII served during the equivalent occasion at Buckingham Palace in 2015…the most well-known such cuvee from South Africa…the 2008 Vin de Constance which offers a very complex bouquet with fresh pineapple, quince, yuzu and mille fieulle. The palate is medium-bodied with a fine viscous entry that immediately comes across as very elegant and refined. It feels smooth and pure – gentle in the mouth, caressing the senses with its quince and marmalade tinged finish, and a suggestion of shaved ginger on the aftertaste.

2012 Larcis Ducasse (RP95 at HK$530/bottle) – This Bordeaux winery has great terroir and produce great wines for the vintage 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012 is right there in competition, with an inky, opaque, bluish/purple colour, gorgeously sweet, rich nose of black raspberries, black cherries currants and licorice. The wine hits the palate with a full-bodied, thunderous effect, truly one of the great stars of the vintage.

2012 Pape Clement (RP97 at HK$620/bottle) – A candidate for near-perfection as well as one of the wines of the vintage, this Bordeaux red is intense and yet very elegant, with rich cassis, subtle burning embers and spice followed by velvety, well-integrated tannins, it is lush, expansive, savoury and profound, a remarkable wine that is drinking very well now but should also cellar brilliantly for another 20 years.

2012 Haut Brion (RP98 at HK$3,000/bottle) – Another Bordeaux red that is certainly a candidate for the wine of the vintage, with the 65% Merlot (very high for Left Bank reds) giving it the dense purple colour and the elegance. The nose is a mixture of crushed rock, lead pencil shavings, black raspberry, blueberry and flowers, with subtle barbecue smoke notes in the background. The wine is full-bodied, stunningly concentrated and builds incrementally, yet finishes with luxurious, almost extravagant amounts of fruit and intensity.

2021 Domaine de L'Arlot Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Suchots (JS95 at HK$1,750/bottle) – The Burgundy domaine purchased this plot of Vosne premier cru in the 1990s and has since been making some superb reds under this cuvee, with the 2021 vintage opening in the glass with elegant scents of sweet berry fruit, plums, smoke and rose petals. It is medium to full-bodied, with an agile, rich and muscular palate, sporting a long and mineral finish.

2015 Tenuta Luce Della Vite (JS897 at HK$540/bottle) – This red from Toscana of Itay is a Merlot-Sangiovese blend, with the Merlot contributing a velvety texture, while the Sangiovese bringing lift and energy, and flavours of plum, blackberry and sweet spice in harmony. Long regarded as a benchmark Super Tuscan, Luce della Vite remains a polished and crowd-pleasing classic.

2021 Mikado Tree Reserve Pinot Noir (JS95 at HK$950/bottle) – From the Sonoma (US-California) winery we proudly represent for Hong Kong, the 2021 Mikado Tree is a medium-ruby coloured Pinot, with dried raspberry, cherry, slate and black licorice aromas. The palate has weight, with blackberry, cherry and a hint of tobacco. Long, round tannin yields a coffee-like texture to the finish, with lingering herbal and dried fruit flavours.

Thank you for reading. Please feel free to go to our website www.vinopolis.com.hk to browse the full wine list. Purchases can be made through the website or by sending us an e-mail or simply WhatsApp 9195-7383.