Gabriel Glass from Austria

The Rene Gabriel wine glass A good wine glass will certainly improve your wine experience, whether from Spiegelau, Schott Zwiesel, Riedel or the ultimate Zalto (also from Austria). I have always preferred to drink sparkling wine, especially grower Champagne from a large glass, where the intense aromas have space to develop. However, since we cameContinue reading “Gabriel Glass from Austria”

Stickies & Cheese

Who said good cheese must come from old Europe? There are some great cheese makers in the Yarra Valley, Australia, some nice ones in California, US and now…Thailand? Reinhard Matheis left the commercial food industry to set up this artisan operation near Nakhorn Sawan, about 3 hours north of Bangkok. The milk he buys fromContinue reading “Stickies & Cheese”

Bubbles & Bivalves

  Bill Marinelli talked about sustainable seafood and explained how memoirs (similar to terroirs for wine) makes oysters taste different from one another. It is in fact quite simple, and ultimately the water quality surrounding the oyster bed decides the outcome. Blair of Quince Eatery and Bar added some variety to the Barron Point oysterContinue reading “Bubbles & Bivalves”

Camille Saves Millesime 2004

The Saves are one of the few top growers in the famed Grand Cru village of Bouzy. All their cuvees are made from grapes grown in the Montagne de Reims and are worth searching out, as they represent a relative value. Always a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the 2004 vintage was at 9Continue reading “Camille Saves Millesime 2004”

Booza Wooza Bangkok

Booza Wooza was created to bring the enjoyment of wine to a fun level. Gather passionate wine importers and restaurateurs together in a nice location such as Quince Eatery & Bar, and you have a good crowd relaxing to live music. Repeat again soon!  

Hotel Jules & Jim, Paris

Full disclosure! This is a hotel in Marais which is run by my brother-in-law. After leaving the business and a lovely Chateau hotel behind in Normandy, he now emerged with a stylish enclave in the outskirts of the Marais. Friendly staff, nicely designed, with an amazing courtyard and bar. Just right for a short stopContinue reading “Hotel Jules & Jim, Paris”

Nyetimber Sparkling Classic Cuvee, England

A welcome to a British home, aka hotel, is perfected by a bottle of English Sparkling wine…I wished the same for Thailand one day. Nytimber must be the most famous name around, even though there must be more than 20 good sparklers now from Sussex. Tastes like a Champagne, well made, just lacking a bitContinue reading “Nyetimber Sparkling Classic Cuvee, England”

Trimbach Riesling Clos St Hune 1990, Alscace

One should always appreciate generous hosts who dig out old bottles of a very fine wine. The Clos St Hune is regarded as a top dry Riesling which can age and age and age, but this 23-year old must have been stagnant for some time. While not yet oxidizing, it just did not deliver theContinue reading “Trimbach Riesling Clos St Hune 1990, Alscace”