Beijing Kempinski Hotel
At a recent stop-over in Beijing, the Kempisnki Hotel at the Lufthansa Center surprised me with a beautiful bottle of wine, a 2009 Dragon Seal Cabernet Sauvignon. Thanks folks, that was a wonderful gesture,
Some treat me nicely
October 11, 2010
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Posted by themanfrommoselriver
A day in the country – Italy at its best
October 8, 2010There is nothing more beautiful than a leisurely day in the Italian countryside. These beautiful long summer evenings with olives, figs and prosciutto, and , of course, an insalata caprese with mozzarella di buffalo.
What should the wine be? Well, there are many choices. If it is still hot and warm, I would have an Italian white, an aromatic wine from Alto Adige, or a Frascati or a Pinot Grigio.
But that particular evening, we had a red wine, a bottle of Cannonau di Sardegna by Sella and Mosca. It is claimed that the grape variety came from Spain to Italy in the 14th century. This is very likely because Cannonau is the local term for Grenache. And Grenache is of Spanish origin. It is one of the most widely planted grape varieties and makes delicious wines.
The modern style of this variety is lower in alcohol than the traditional one. It is a very enjoyable wine, full of forest fruit with fine tannins and a good balance. You should try a Riserva, though. We had only the simple “country wine” version. Anyway, it was just ‘a day in the country’
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Posted by themanfrommoselriver
Rinaldi 2008 Barbera d’Alba – the real stuff
October 5, 2010
2008 Barbera d’Asti by Rinaldi
To have an experienced wine-maker staying over at ones home is a blessing. I always learn so much about different wine styles and different wines. When Timo Mayer, owner and wine maker of The Mayer Vineyard in the Yarra Valley, visited us in Bangkok recently, we had the chance to catch up with the world of wine-making.
He brought a bottle of ‘2008 Barbera d’Asti’ of Giuseppe Rinaldi from Piemont, Italy. He had visited the winery on a study tour to Italy and wanted to share this treasure with us. Rinaldi makes his wines “the good old way”, using no barriques, no destemming, no filtration etc. He is one of only about a handful of wine-makers left who are not producing heavy (oaked) wines for the American market.
One bottle is just the beginning
The results of this traditional style wine-making are wonderful. The wine is fruity with a good structure, the acids are remarkable, the tannins are fine and delicate. You taste the earth the grapes were grown on and not the oak they were exposed to. This is Barbera d’Asti of the best. If you have a chance to indulge in it, my suggestions: do it.
Address:
Rinaldi Giuseppe Az. Agr.
Via Monforte, 3
12060 Barolo (Cn)
Tel.: +39-173-56156
Fax: +39-173-56156
Year founded: 1890
Owner: Rinaldi Giuseppe
1 Comment | vineyards, wine, wine regions, wineries | Tagged: Australian wine, Barbera, Giuseppe Rinaldi, Italian wine, Piemont, Rinaldi, The Mayer Vineyard, Timo Mayer, Yarra Valley | Permalink
Posted by themanfrommoselriver
Restaurant review: Quán Ăn Ngon, Hanoi, Vietnam
October 4, 2010
Quán Ăn Ngon and the tents in the garden
My favourite restaurant in Hanoi is Quán Ăn Ngon. When I went there recently I indulged in delicious Vietnamese food. The pity is if you are just one person it is difficult to just grasp the full potential of a Vietnamese meal. Who can eat five-six dishes all by himself?
The place was packed with people when I got there, but the friendly waiters found a table just for myself. I started with a Hanoi beer, then ordered some Chinese rolls, some soup, some salads and had a jolly good time watching the buzzing place and the happy people around me.
Hanoi Beer
My meal
The picture one of the very friendly waiters took of me
Postscript: This is the place to go to when in Hanoi. A people’s place. I just love the food. They have also a branch in Ho-Chi-Min City but I find the Hanoi one much more appealing.
My verdict: five out of five.
Caution: Not much for wine drinkers. Hanoi Beer is the go.
Address:
Quán Ăn Ngon
18 Phan Boi Chau,
Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel.: +84-4-3942-8162
Fax: +84-4-3942-8164
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The Man from Mosel River 