Oct 13: Mumbai-based Wine Park has already established itself as an importer of select brands from generally family owned wineries from 13 countries across the world, has not touched Bordeaux wines much but after a study of the market a couple of years, has imported seven labels that he feels represent Bordeaux quality wines that are affordable in hotels restaurants, writes Subhash Arora at a private tasting organised at the Pali Village Cafe a few days ago where we tasted seven of the labels imported in recent times
Wine Park has been importing about 12,000 cases of wines from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Italy, France (including Burgundy and Champagne), Spain, Germany, USA, Argentina, Portugal, Chile and even Austria (besides the Indian Daily Dose red and white) has found a niche market, keeping a nice balance between hotels/restaurants and retail. His wines are priced slightly on the higher side but very competitive considering the better quality and corresponding prices. The only exception to Bordeaux was the Bad Boy from St. Emilion- Ch Valandraud by Jean Luc Thunevin.
The seven wines added to his French portfolio are:
Ch. Sociando-Mallet Haut Medoc
Ch. Phelan Segur St. Estephe
Ch Lagrange (3rd Growth) Saint Julien
Ch. Poujeaux Moulis
Ch Rauzan-Segla (2nd Growth) Margaux
Ch. Kirwan (2nd Growth) Margaux
Ch. Brane –Cantenac (2nd Growth) Baron de Brane (2nd wine) Margaux
Priced between Rs. 4000 from Poujeaux to Rs. 12,000 for Rauzan- Ségla with Phelan Segur and Kirwan being the best value-for-money wine, these wines ought to be available between, Rs. 11,000 to Rs. 20,000 in the restaurants, making the Bordeaux lovers have decent options to drink these wines, feels Vishal Kadakia.
Wines for Tasting
Belstar Prosecco DOC: What impresses you the most as you look at the bottle, is the beautiful shape. Bisol is one of the oldest and top docg producers in Valdobbiadene, now owned by Ferrari Trentodoc. So the Prosecco can’t be bad even though a doc and not docg. Very slightly sweet, pleasant for Indian palate, the Extra Dry version is refreshing with vibrant acidity and fruity flavours, full and persistent on the mouth with medium length.
Colterenzio Lumo Pinot Giorgio 2016 Bottled in screw-cap and transparent bottle, the first impression is that it is a cheap version so ubiquitous but the Alto Adige version of the Italian varietal is fresh and fruity with tropical flavours and notches ahead of the variant from North-eastern Italy. More concentrated and light-to medium bodied wine is citrus and zesty in flavour with a juicy end.
Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc Dog Point is the name of an area in Marlborough, famous for excellent Sauvignon Blanc because of the mountains that block the winds, it’s also owned by the past winemakers of the iconic Cloudy Bay and the impact shows in the well-balanced, dry, yet fruity wine which has finesse and power on the back palate with long end. It’s a positive that the perfumed wine is an organising wine and not surprising it is under allocation. I drank this one the most of the time.
Stark Conde Pinot Noir The Elgin based South African winery makes an elegant, feminine and fruity Pinot that is elegant and balanced and not oaky, bold and powerful, with silky tannins completing the structure nicely. Yet it is fruit forward with black cherries and strawberries on the nose that carry through to the flavour full on the mouth.
La Bandina Valpolicella Superiore DOC from Tenuta Sant ‘Antonio did not impress as much after the Pinot Noir but fine and full Valpolicella with the warmth on the palate and plenty of fruits, that went very well with my pepperoni-styled snack served by Pali Village. Alcohol level is higher at 14% as expected in a Superiore. Slightly warm but long end.
Apaltagua Carmenere Colchagua Valley Reserva 2017 Chilean Reservas are a couple of notches higher than the basic wines and though there is no legal standard for Reservas in Chile, they are usually the best vfm bets and this wine is no different. The good thing was that unless many Carmenere at this level, the wine is not green and very fresh and of decent structure and good combo with red meat dishes.
Unfortunately, like most other smaller producers, the Wine Park might slow down in its Delhi offerings this year, thanks to a ridiculous jump of 600% on label registration and license fees, these wines are a normal fixture in the kaleidoscope of wines in Mumbai and Bangalore and one may enjoy these wines without burning a hole in the pocket, just a singe!
Enjoy!! Jai Ho!!
Subhash Arora
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