Off track France at Aldo’s Bistro

If you want the taste of fine classic French cuisine in Bangkok, you will need to seek out Chef Herve Frerard. Now settled in at Aldo’s Bistro (Ascott Sathorn) – we hear there are also several new projects in the pipeline – his aim is to offer quality food and wine at decent prices.

Please join us for a tasting of his premium canapes paired with some very interesting grapes from highly regarded producers in far off locales of France. Seats are thb 1,650 net and limited to 16 persons.

The 5 wines served include

Aldo Off Track wine routes of France

The Naturalists from Antipodes

The last 10 years have seen many independent growers and winemakers emerge in many of today’s “cool” wine regions including Yarra, Adelaide Hills (Australia) or Canterbury (New Zealand). Most likely, these individuals traveled extensively, worked and tasted with the best winemakers, and scraped their pennies together to either buy or rent vineyards to grow healthy grapes and make soulful wines they believe in. Be it certified organic, biodynamic, or not, these scented wines and balanced wines, often with crunchy fruit from whole cluster fermentation, are delicious to taste today.

Please join us at About Eatery on Saturday April 1st and taste the magnificent wines from James Erskine (Jauma), Gary Mills (Jamsheed), Patrick Sullivan, William Downie, Taras and Amber (Ochota Barrels) and Claudia and Mike Weersing (Pyramid Valley). They are a style one their own, and a world apart from what you find on the shelves.

Limited to 12 seats, each at thb 700. Starts 0530pm. To book email marketing@winegarage.asia

Wine & Tapas at Toro, Bangkok

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Toro is the brainchild of James Beard Award-winner Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette, whose Boston outlet opened in 2005. As the queues got longer and longer, they soon ventured to New York City and since last year also opened in Bangkok. The Barcelona-inspired tapas bar is housed in Courtyard 72, a burgeoning open-plan mall, smack in the middle of bustling Thonglor.

On Wednesday, March 22, Chef Zach Watkins has selected 10 tapas dishes to pair with our wines from Penedes, Rueda, Basque Country, Jumilla, Toro and also Andalusia. The menu including wines is priced at thb 1,500++ per person and can be booked by calling

081 929 6562 or 02 392 7790

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Come taste a fresher and more delicate Spain, and discover the changes that happened the past 15 years.

 

Weingut Rabl, Kamptal

New drinkers of Austrian wines will first come to idolize the likes of Knoll, Tement, Brundlmayer, Pichler, Hirtzberger and few more. Then they might realize that so many more can also create amazing wines, but aren’t as often seen on wine lists in export markets.

Working in his own term and pace, is perhaps Rudi Rabl’s greatest asset. His wines are rarely rated by international critics, and one does not place his wines in the “bucket list of bottles to buy before we die”. But instead, his are well cemented in the category “wines to enjoy everyday”.

 

Rudi farms over 80 hectares, among the varietals planted is a focus  of Riesling, Gruner Veltliner plus Muskateller and few others. He makes classically dry wines and some sweet Auslese, BA and Eiswein, that stun the palate with freshness; a style far more pleasant to drink than the unctuous from further southern Austria regions. His cellar is located in a quite town with no tourists, and his underground cellar is eerie and vast as the Parisian subway during a strike – giving his wines the time and peace to slowly mature.

We love his wines for their impeccable balance – delicate fruit is wrapped up in a fine acid spine. Each vineyard shows a signature of the underlying soil. We urge you to taste the light and crisp, as well as the structured or sweet, and end up with a mature wine from 2008, which isn’t unlike a well-made White Burgundy.

Domaine Charvin, Southern Rhone

Laurent Charvin could not differ more than his peers, who often vinify separate parcels into barrel and create multiple cuvees; which are then priced based on rarity.

The staunch traditionalist keeps his range simple. One red, one white, one rose for the Cotes du Rhone, and only one Chateauneuf du Pape.

But there is more to why he is ranked one of the top 5 in the region. 150 years ago, the family sold much of their production to negociants such as Marcel Guigal. The new era began in 1990 when then young, energetic Laurent Charvin took over the estate. His wines are aromatic with good ageability and a Burgundian stylistic, somewhat contrary to the many soft, sweet and fat renditions, made for the American and Asian markets.

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His winemaking practice includes hand harvesting, whole-bunch pressed, use of indigenous yeast, tank fermentation and ageing, and bottling unfined and unfiltered.

Each year, reviewers praise the value this Cotes du Rhone, labelling it often as best buy.

Josh Raynolds for Vinous

Brilliant ruby-red. A complex bouquet evokes fresh red berries, potpourri and smoky minerals, and an intriguing suggestion of blood orange emerges as the wine opens up. Juicy and precise, offering sweet raspberry and lavender pastille flavors underscored by a suggestion of peppery spices. The mineral quality comes back strong on the finish, which features silky tannins and impressive persistence. This bottling always outperforms its humble origins and that’s especially the case in this vintage. 91 points

Jeb Dunnuck for Robert Parker

The 2014 Côtes du Rhône (80% Grenache and the balance Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan) is a peppery, pretty, rose petal and black cherry scented effort that has medium-bodied depth and richness, lots of tannin and a clean finish. Aged 18 months in concrete tanks, it should be very good and evolve nicely for a 7-8 years. 89 points

Wine Enthusiast’s Winemaker of the Year 2016

The lucky couple met in the Rhone Valley, and took their impressions back to Chris’ home in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Working sustainable, or naturally as one can say, they intend to make old guard Cape wines, mainly from blends of Rhone or Mediterranean varietals. Their wines get a balanced feel from the 3 soil types spread across the plots, namely decomposed granite (freshness), schist/shale (richness) and red clay (mid-palate depth).

Kloof Street is made to impress on freshness, balance and great drinkability. And Rouge is a Syrah-based blend with Cinsault, Carignan, and Mourvedre exuding leafy, herbal character supported by raspberry and cherry aromatics.

Make this your juicy starter into the new South Africa.

Rated Robert Parker 88 points, Wine Anorak 90 points

Hacienda Monasterio, Ribera del Duero

Year-in-year out Peter Sisseck and owner Carlos del Rio make one of the most impressive red wines of stature in region of Ribera del Duero. Low yields of 30HL, old vines planted on calcareous soils and elevation of 750 meters, the arid climate with cool nights, help achieve ripeness, intense aromatics, and of course full bodied wines that rank only behind Rioja among consumers’ recognition.

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The Crianza is a blend of 80% Tinta del Pais (aka Tempranillo),Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, that has spend 18 months in oak, of which 30% are new. Always, silky and polished, the 15% ABV is well hidden behind the fresh and mineral aromas with
licorice notes and currants. The signature notes of red wines from this region.

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This wine is often recognized among the finest values in the region, and accolades abound from the world’s leading palettes:

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Luis Gutierrez for Robert Parker “This could very well be the best crianza ever produced at Monasterio. This has to be one of the bargains of the vintage in Ribera, given the quality it delivers.” RP 94

Josh Raynolds for Vinous “Concentrated yet vibrant and precise, finishing with excellent clarity, velvety tannins and excellent tenacity.” Vinous 93

Jancis Robinson “Superbly charged with juicy black fruit. It combines richness and elegance on the back palate. Quite impressive.” 17/20

Domaine Claude Riffault, geological Sancerre

The estate covers 13.5-hectares of vineyard with 10.5 hectares planted with Sauvignon Blanc and the rest with Pinot Noir. Vines are awaiting organic certification and vineyards spread across 6 locations in the north of Sancerre, all with their unique geological feature.

 

The grapes are harvested and vinified, as well as aged separately in used barrels, with Boucards and Les Chasseignes undergoing 50% oak treatment.

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According to Stephane, Les Chasseignes are common-place in the Sancerre appellation. The local name designates Caillottes soil: shallow limestone soil and subsoil containing overlapping stones. The vines are south-east exposed and receive the sun and wind from morning to evening, therefore quite full bodied and powerful in 2015.

We urge you to try with a grilled fish, and savor the flinty pure character of Sauvignon Blanc from France’s iconic appellation.

Basket Case

Wine Garage and friends, or say neighbors in Sukhumvit  Soi 45, have prepared some interesting food and non-food items for gift giving season. Please browse through the 3 different sizes of hampers filled with home-made products from Quince Eatery & Bar, Casa Pagoda, Luka Cafe and Malou Tea.

SMALL – thb 3,300

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Petite Casa Pagoda metal wire basket designed by Japanese brand Puebco

Two Casa Pagoda Christmas ornaments for the tree

Small Casa Pagoda reindeer candle holder (10 cm) ancient gold color

Casa Pagoda aromatic candle Fig & Cypress

Artisanal Malou Tea: – can choose from 5 (Sri Lanka Breakfast, The Earl, Green Tea Spearmint, Roiboos Rose Lavender, White tea Silver Tips)

Luka handmade gingerbread man cookies

Half bottle red wine Niepoort Redoma Tinto 2011 from Duoro in Portugal

MEDIUM – thb 4,200

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Casa Pagoda market basket designed by Japanese brand Puebco

Two Casa Pagoda Christmas ornaments for the tree

Small Casa Pagoda reindeer candle holder (10 cm) ancient gold color

Casa Pagoda aromatic candle Fig & Cypress

Casa Pagoda Copper Cocktail Mug

Artisanal Malou Tea:  – can choose from 5 (Sri Lanka Breakfast, The Earl, Green Tea Spearmint, Roiboos Rose Lavender, White tea Silver Tips)

Quince Rosemary & Sesame crackers

Quince Greek olives

Luka handmade gingerbread man cookies

Red wine Chateau La Mothe du Barry Bordeaux Superieur 2014

LARGE – thb 6,500

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Handy Casa Pagoda market basket designed by Japanese brand Puebco

Two Casa Pagoda Christmas ornaments for the tree

Set of 2 Casa Pagoda reindeer candle holders (10 & 16 cm) ancient gold color

Casa Pagoda aromatic candle Fig & Cypress

Casa Pagoda Copper Cocktail Mug

Two artisanal Malou Teas: – can choose from 5 (Sri Lanka Breakfast, The Earl, Green Tea Spearmint, Roiboos Rose Lavender, White tea Silver Tips)

Quince Rosemary & Sesame crackers

Quince Greek olives

Luka handmade gingerbread man cookies

One bottle sparkling Drusian Prosecco Superiore & off dry white wine Pinon Vouvray Moelleux La Lune

For interest please email us: order@winegarage.asia

Alpamanta, not just another Malbec

Half Dane-Half Austrian Andrej Razumovsky and his partners planted a new vineyard in Mendoza’s prime area of Luyan de Cuyo around 2005. They selected a patch of land that never was worked on before, with the aim to establish the first biodynamic vineyard in Argentina.

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The reds from these high altitude vineyards – 1,000 meters and more – often get long and intense sun hours, giving rise to potent wines. So it was the more surprising to taste through Alpamanta’s lineup, only to find beautiful perfume, but more importantly texture and balance holding up the intense flavors.

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The adhered methods in the vineyard and cellar follow Rudolf Steiner’s biodynamic principles and define this style of wine. Try it and let us know if it’s to your liking. 36,000 bottles produced.