The St. Regis will be the venue for the top billed event, ‘Domaine de la Romanée-Conti vs. the World Blind Pinot Noir Tasting’ on the opening day at 5 pm. Sitting at tables of nine people, three flights of five world-benchmark pinot noirs will be served blind, with professionals scoring the wines on a 100 point scale; the consumer will rate them by personal preference. This is a unique opportunity for burghounds (avid Burgundy lovers) to benefit from the experience of the professionals since they would discuss all the wines tasted.
The professional judging panel will include experts on Burgundy wines Allen Meadows, Andrew Jefford- wine writer for Decanter and author, James Halliday –the Australian wine writer and critic, Lisa Perrotti Brown MW.
There will be a series of master classes and grand tasting sessions for all wine enthusiasts, including wine pairings and an exclusive autograph session with renowned wine author, Allen Meadows. A former financial expert and an acclaimed burghound, he retired a decade ago to author a book on Burgundy “The Pearl of the Cote” and became a wine critic with specialization in Burgundy region where he travels for 3-4 months a year, visiting 300 Domaines during this period.
Allen, who is also the founder of the online magazine burghound.com, will present the book. Released in July 2010, his first published book is a 350-page expedition through Vosne-Romanee. He will guide the visitor through each of the grands crus and premier crus, with a rich and fascinating historical coverage and detail. The book includes original and detailed maps of the vineyards as well as vividly artistic photographs make one feel as if walking through the vineyards with the author.
He will also present the wines from two outstanding burgundy producers - Domaine Leflaive (white) and Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair (red) paired to Asian cuisine at a luncheon Master Class.
With the rising interest in Chateau Lafite and the escalating prices of Bordeaux Growths with the increasing number of wine drinkers and collectors in Asia, there are strong indications that fine Burgundy will be next on the wine stage. Asia’s fine-wine trade has boomed vibrantly in the last few years. Noted by prolific wine critics globally, increasing number of wine lovers in Asia realise that tough and tannic red Bordeaux may not be the ideal wine for its sultry climate. Red burgundies and Pinot Noir in general, is increasingly being appreciated.
There are other reasons for the forecast of Burgundy’s growing popularity too. The upcoming Wine Spectator issue of May 30 billed the front cover, “Heaven on Earth: The World’s Benchmark for Pinot Noir, Domaine de la Romanee Conti” is one such instance.
Trends of wine lovers in Asia and globally while discussing the shift in greater attention paid to red burgundies and Pinot Noir with some predictions for wine market in the near future will also be the subjects of interest at the Burghound Asia.
The ‘Burghound in Asia’ is being organised by Hermitage Wines and The Wandering Palate and is essentially a celebration of chardonnay and pinot noir from all over the globe and an opportunity to showcase wines in the most exciting and fast-developing wine market in the world. |