What to look out for?

When we first develop a passion in wine, most of us in Hong Kong would have our attention directed to those produced in France, Italy, Australia and then later expanding into trying things from Spain, New Zealand, the US, perhaps Portugal, Germany, Argentina and Chile as well. We suggested South Africa in our previous newsletter but what else could be of interest?  

The U.K. – Reputation is growing. Most of the vineyards are in the south with significant investments from even the French more recently. The sparkling wines are now serious alternatives to Champagne. The whites are improving too.

Belgium – A country traditionally known for its beer is seeing a rise in viticulture too. Sparkling wines made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir have great potential thanks to the country’s cool climate, which mirrors Champagne in some respects, and still wines made from Chardonnay and Riesling are gaining attention.

Poland – Another country benefiting from climate change, the wine industry is developing positively there. White wines from varieties like Rieslings and Solaris are crisp and fresh. While remaining rather niche, Polish wines are gaining recognition and may well start to have a stronger presence in the European market.

Romania – With an extensive winemaking history going back thousands of years, Romania has its setbacks over recent centuries. The country is now the largest producer in Eastern Europe. Much of its wine is lower end though there are some interesting producers with potential. Indigenous varieties like Fetească Neagră and Fetească Albă are definitely worth trying, and there are lots of high-quality wines made from international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir.

Armenia – A country with a wine heritage dating back to 8,000 years, with their ancient native grape varietals often grown at 1,400M altitude near the famous Mount Ararat, the terroir characterised by warm days, cool nights and a long growing season, allowing the vines to yield distinctively balanced fruit highlighting the full potential of these grapes.

Canada – The country is pretty much only known for its ice wine, but regions such as British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley and Nova Scotia have great potential for creating red and white wines as well. Okanagan is particularly promising with its volcanic soil and the broad diurnal range of warm days and cool nights.

China – And of course China which has recently become a major wine producer with a focus on Bordeaux-style reds from Ningxia although Yunnan is also gaining prominence for their high-altitude winemaking, with quite exciting Pinot Noir and Chardonnay too. The wines are improving all the time. The challenge could be in its quality-price equation but there are definitely many wines more than worth trying.

We will endeavour to find wines from these countries for you to sample. You will see an Armenia white listed below. Others are some of our newly adds and we hope you will find them interesting too.

2022 Verget Pouilly-Fuisse Les Combes VV (WA94 at HK$380/bottle) – Ranked a top address at Maconnais, this Burgundy domaine has come up with a white a touch richer and broader than usual. Picked in three separate harvests (collecting only the ripest grapes on each passage), the Verget team pulled out all the stops to craft a medium to full-bodied, layered and satiny wine that's seamless and complete, evoking aromas of pear, honeycomb, white flowers and toasted nuts. Great value for a good Burgundy white…

2020 M. Chapoutier Hermitage Blanc Chante-Alouette (WS95 at HK$500/bottle) – This dry white by our favourite Rhone producer shows impressive concentration, with a layer of melon, quince and heather supported by a foundation of wet stone. Lightly honeyed and well-defined, the palate shows beautiful integration and drive, revealing notes of dried verbena, white tea tannins and salted, buttery brioche on the lingering finish.

2022 Zorah Voski (Unrated at HK$350/bottle) – No rating yet for the 2022 vintage and the 2021 at 17.5/20 by Jancis Robinson, this Armenia white is concentrated and expressive, with aroma of stone fruits inter-wining with bitter apple skin, floral notes and a certain waxiness. The palate offers plenty of orchard fruits mixed with citrus, ripe stone fruits, beeswax, hay, herbal notes, floral honey and not much oak. There is freshness and superb balance, ending with a long, elegant and refined finish.

2016 Pavie Macquin (WA96 at HK$600/bottle) – Deep garnet-purple in colour, this St-Emilion (Bordeaux) red charges out of the glass with gregarious black cherries, blackberries and blueberries scents followed up by loads of red roses, baking spices, cedar chest and unsmoked cigars sparks plus a waft of wild thyme. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is an exercise in poise, revealing layer upon layer of cherries and berries flavors and tons of savory nuances, framed by firm yet exquisitely ripe tannins, finishing very long. 

2015 Leoville Barton (WA95 at HK$700/bottle) – Once part of an estate that included the now Leoville Poferre and Leoville Las Cases, each has since developed their own style after spinning out independently, with Leoville Barton retaining the classic Bordeaux style with firmer tannins and also one probably offering the best value. That’s why we are re-stocking this very good medium bodied 2015 vintage which offers notions of warm red currants, black raspberries and dark chocolate with wafts of cigar box, violets and bay leaves, with a lingering mineral finish.

2012 Domaine Faiveley Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru (WA97 at HK$2,000/bottle) – One of the standouts of red Burgundies for the vintage, it has a beguiling nose with brambly red berry fruit, damp earth, cold flagstone and just a faint smear of marmalade. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, supple tannin matched with assiduous acidity that lends tension and poise. It is a bit backward, but there is the substance and the breeding towards a seriously long and pleasurable evolution.   

2005 Alfonso Del Yero Maria (WA96 at HK$380/bottle) – This Spanish red is 100% Tempranillo. It has a purple/black colour, densely packed and brooding aromatically with an array of licorice, tar, truffle, blackberry and blueberry, all combined to effortlessly give elegance and power.

2011 Quinto do Vallado Touringa Nacional (WS95 at HK$250/bottle) – A Portuguese red from Douro that is finely textured, with pure and powerful flavours of dark currant, black olive, red plum and wild cherry, accented by notes of molten licorice. Latent tannins and vibrant acidity give the wine a lively mouthfeel, offering a refined finish of chocolate mousse.  

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.