Fine wines for the season
MANILA, Philippines - Wine Story carries rare and fine wines from major wine-producing regions across the world, offers versatile, food-friendly wines that can please and satisfy palates.
Take your pick from wonderfully delicate white wines from Alsace, or robust reds from Bordeaux. These are not run-of-the-mill options. Rather, you will take pride in bringing these elegant wines to your festive holiday parties.
A prime Christmas bottle set that you can purchase ready-to-go from Wine Story includes the lush, full-bodied Montlandrie Le Castillon 2009 75CL; the richly fruity Teyssier 2008 75CL; and the elegant & velvety Fleur de Clinet 2008 75CL. The exquisite wine set of three is ideal for pairing with simple comfort food like pizza, or a festive dish like roast turkey. Bordeaux reds also go well with meat dishes like beef and lamb.
The Montlandrie Le Castillon 2009 is a purple-colored wine with dominant notes of ripe black cherry and black currant fruit. The Teyssier 2008 is a blend of 85 percent Merlot and 15 percent Cabernet Franc. The deeply-colored 2008 possesses supple tannins, evokes soft berry fruit with hints of cedar, vanilla and earthy notes. On the other hand, a good wine originating from Pomerol, Bordeaux is the Fleur de Clinet 2008 75CL, an elegant wine with notes of raspberry and cherry. Hints of spices, tobacco and herb glide in on a long finish with a touch of vanilla.
An equally interesting wine set which can go nicely with Chinese, Japanese, or other Asian dishes consists of the medium-bodied Chateau Mylord 2009; the Chateau Carignan 2010 75CL; and also the classically styled Bordeaux Chateau Sénéjac 2007. Chateau Mylord 2009 from Bordeaux has copious quantities of black cherry and black currant fruit and some floral notes. The Carignan 2010 likewise has plenty of black currant and black cherry fruit as well as underlying forest floor and floral notes. The Chateau Senejac 2007 is a forward, classy wine characterized by floral, elegant fruit.
If you are hankering for a white wine on Christmas and New Year, a superb choice is the Hugel wine set from Alsace, France. The Hugel Pinot Gris 2009 is a fabulous tasting vintage that offers a refreshing and alert first impression on the palate. It is an authentic wine with personality, ideal for pairing with white meat and fish in sauce. The Hugel Gewurztraminer 2011 75CL, on the other hand, is a suave wine with clean and fresh notes of fruit and spice, rose, mignonette, lily of the valley, mango, lychee, pineapple, passion fruit, cardamom, saffron and hop flower can be enjoyed on its own or as marvelous accompaniment to rich and spicy dishes and smoked fish. Meantime, the Hugel Riesling 2011 offers a fruity varietal character. On the palate, the wine is perfectly dry, straight, and has a gorgeous freshness. It is characterized by green apple, gooseberry, citrus, grapefruit, lime, floral spring flowers, fresh bouquet. The wine, which makes a nice aperitif wine, can perfectly complement seafood, shellfish, raw fish, sushi.
Wine Story is located at the ground floor, Shangri-La Plaza Mall along EDSA, Shaw, 633-3556; ground floor, Serendra, Bonifacio High Street, Taguig City, 846-6310; and at ground floor, One Rockwell West, Makati City, 869-0932.
For information, visit www.winestory.com.ph.
