Here, I share my news, opinions and musings as I journey with you through the world of wine. These articles are inspired by courses I teach, publications I read and write for, events I attend, and Masterclasses I deliver. I hope that you will find them insightful and thought-provoking! Do not hesitate to contact me with your comments at: contact@grandepassione.com.
A Wine in Honor of a Goddess…
At a vertical tasting going back to 1997 hosted by the Hong Kong Wine Society, participants discovered not only the tremendous quality potential of this legendary wine but also how beautifully the grapes of Sardinia can age. The 12 wines tasted impressed most by how consistent their quality was throughout, especially since each vintage showed apparent stylistic differences. This last discovery was another finding we did not expect and we removed from our minds the long-lasting belief that Italian vintages do not mark wines as much as they do in more northern wine regions of Europe. We learned this lesson with wines from a Mediterranean island even more surprising. Overall, the wines showed a delightful freshness of acidity with exquisite balance and proportion. Each vintage intriguingly expressed a different personality and was equally enjoyed by all.
Travelling Through Time with Madeira…
It was tasting a wine that is even older than yourself is a magical feeling. Madeira’s unparalleled ageing potential earns a special place in the arena of aged wines, and it is undoubtedly a sensational experience to enjoy this legendary wine.
The occasion for such a time-travelling experience was a unique tasting hosted by the Hong Kong Wine Society and organized by a long-standing member Edward Smith. As usual in these proceedings, we were presented with 12 wines to taste blind so that we could record our notes, give each wine a score, and reflect upon them without the influence of their label or their year of birth. The scores were then tabulated to establish a group ranking, followed by a thorough discussion of each wine among the members present.