Wines Of The Season

Taking a break from the sun and the heat of the political atmosphere, I accepted an invite from the M. Lhuillier Trading Corp (Maria  Luisa St., Banilad, Cebu City, phones  3446095, 3445132, email [email protected]) and the Marco Polo Plaza (www.marcopoloplazacebu.com phone 253-1111) for an evening of fine wines, good food and good company.

The sun is definitely hotter compared to the seventies when you can drive a car without the benefit of air conditioning! All that hype about global warming must indeed be true. Add pa gyud the emotions of the political followers, the rapidly evaporating finances of the candidates and the lengthy campaign period, you have indeed a very warm summer.

The following wines were featured that night: Châteauneuf-du-Pape2007, Champagne luc Darot, Sylvain Fessy Chardonnay and the Sylvain Fessy Gigondas. Sales & Marketing Manager (VisMin) Merlito Anasco (phone 09274642071) was very alert in a tour of the wines on display while pouring my first drink, Chateauneuf du Pape, 2007, a red wine produced in the village of Chateauneuf du Pape in the Rhône wine region.

 The wine is called “The Pope’s new castle” because the wine is related to the Papal history. It was in 1308, that Pope Clement V moved the papacy to the town of Avignon and he was a great lover of wines. During the 70 years of the Avignon Papacy, viticulture and wine production greatly improved. And the wine itself can be so easily be appreciated even by new students in oenology.

I paired this wine with the Prosciutto wrapped Mango with Cream Cheese & Spiced Walnut while carrying a conversation about multi media with Art Director Simon Laan (http://tarsiermm.com). He specializes in the field of 3D animation, Virtual Reality, Web-design, Multimedia and other topics which sounds like Greek to your favourite food columnist. So back to Dutch cuisine na lang like Stamppot (Dutch mashed potato mix), Hutspot (potatoes, carrots and onions) and Dutch cheeses (Edam, Gouda and Leyden).

Onwards to my second drink, a glass of Champagne luc Darot and the sequence of the wine service create a small problem. Red wine has tannins and this can coat your taste receptors and it needs to be cleared for a better appreciation of the next drink. Assorted Cheese with Flat Bread and a glass of water was necessary before a glass of the champagne. But a good drink deserves another, so I had two more glasses!

The third wine was the Sylvain Fessy Chardonnay and this was paired with the Seafood Ravioli with Calamansi Ginger Emulsion. Wine number four was a red wine, the Sylvain Fessy Gigondas and I had a bite of the Fried Stuffed Olives and the Encrusted Lapu-lapu Satay with Sun-dried Tomato Dip. The latter red wine was good but the Chateauneuf du Pape was better; so transfer the whole bottle to our corner. Or was it two bottles?

Our table was last to be emptied, thanks to a lively discussion with Simon & Jenny Laan and Chant Gaudiano. Fine wines always go together with good food and good company. And after the elections on May 10, some of these fine wines will hopefully be on display in my wine rack, compliments, excuse me, from the management of M. Lhuillier Trading Corp. ?