Appellation: Toscana IGT
Blend: 90% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot
Vintage: 2016
Tasting note: The 2016 Santa Cristina Rosso shows a ruby red color with purple highlights. On the nose, delicate notes of cherries and ripe red fruit, typical of Sangiovese and Syrah, mingle with the characteristic balsamic sensations of Merlot. The palate is ample and supple and the finish and aftertaste are fruity.
There is something special about Hong Kong: a city that offers a slick mix of top-end Western lifestyle, vivacious energy of the East and friendly people from all around the world. The city’s food and drink culture is amongst the finest in the world with quality as high as those towering structures all around. You have to be really unlucky to walk into a place that didn’t do a super job. No matter how often I visit this city, I am always surprised by just how many bars there are and how busy they all get on most nights. Here are a few of my favourites:
Sevva: Modern equivalent of traditional diyas wow guests as they
enter this rather fashionable destination situated in the penthouse
of the iconic Princes Building in Central. The bar is swish and the
outside deck offers brilliant views of the city. sevva.hk
8½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA: Head to the three Michelin-starred
Italian restaurant for great food, tasty cocktails and its fantastic
wine offerings. The bar is headed by one of India’s top mixologist,
Devender Kumar whose popular drink—Optimist is a must-have.
It is an exhilarating mix of Bacardi Carta Blanca, ginger and honey
syrup, lime juice and basil, which goes well with the authentic Italian
flavours served here. ottoemezzobombana.com
Stockton: Thanks to its extensive whisky collection, this space is
ideal for whisky aficionados, but its menu also features great cocktails that are named after some of the greatest writers of our time. The Persian rugs and deep sofas add to its classic charm. stockton.com.hk
Quinary: Helmed by ‘Diageo World Class Hong Kong’ and ‘Macau
Champion,’ Antonio Lai, this bar has made it to ‘Asia’s top 50’ and
the ‘World’s 50 best bars’ list multiple times. It showcases a rotary
evaporator and other equipment used for redistilling and slow cooking their own flavoured spirits. quinary.hk
J.Boroski: Give your adventurous side a treat at this invitation-only
bar hidden away off Hollywood Road. A brainchild of New York
mixsultant Joseph Boroski, the bar does not have a cocktail menu.
Here the bartender asks for your preferences and creates a cocktail in front of you. Ezra’s Ln, Central, Hong Kong
Iron Fairies: Designer extraordinaire Ashley Sutton’s highly
anticipated bar is also perhaps the most whimsical place I have
ever been too. It is inspired by Sutton’s experiences in iron
ore mines in Western Australia. The décor transports you to the
set of Mad Max Fury Road with countless iron butterflies floating
over your head. I go there for a couple of drinks before
wandering down the rabbit hole. LG, 1 Hollywood Road, Central,
Hong Kong
Lily & Bloom: The two-storey restaurant and bar has consistently
been awarded dining and cocktail accolades. This is the city’s hottest
modern American restaurant that turns into an intimate lounge on
the weekends. The cocktails are fantastic and the bartenders are at
the top of their game. lily-bloom.com
La Cabanne: I chanced upon this cosy wine cellar & bistro when our
group of sommeliers decided to go in after a long day of tasting. The
bar focuses on wines from all over the world. While the spotlight is on French wines, drops from small artisan growers throughout Georgia, Australia, Chile, Spain and Italy are also scattered throughout the list. lacabane.hk
Appellation: Vin de Pays Côtes de Gascogne
Blend: 100 % Sauvignon Blanc
Tasting note: French Roots Sauvignon is a fresh and explosive wine. The nose offers beautiful citrus aromas. The mouth is well-balanced, giving length and freshness. Enjoy this Sauvignon simply as a pre-dinner drink or with fish, creamy pasta and seafood.
Appellation: Vin de Pays d’Oc
Blend: 100% Merlot
Tasting note: With its deep and intense colour, French Roots Merlot gives a nose of ripe soft fruits. It is round and well-balanced with silky tannins and is finished with a pleasant note of freshness. This unctuous Merlot is the ideal accompaniment to pastas and a wide variety of cheeses.
Appellation: Saint-Emilion AOC
Blend: 100% Merlot
Tasting note: Château Tonneret has a fine nose, immensely appealing wine with an intense purple colour. The powerful bouquet is quite fruity (red fruit and candied fruit) with added hints of animal and menthol. Hearty and well structured, Château Tonneret is especially attractive due to its long, fruity aftertaste development on the palate.
Appellation: VDP Côtes de Gascogne
Blend: 50 % Chardonnay
50 % Colombard
Tasting note: Chardonnay has a rich bouquet, with hints of very ripe fruit (apple, banana and pear) and lime-blossom, typical of this grape variety. A suggestion of honey shows that this wine comes from a warm region. This rich, full-bodied, wine has a beautiful honeyed aftertaste. This Chardonnay is smooth, elegant and powerful. It reflects the fine winegrowing soil and warm sunshine. The grapes are harvested before they become over-ripe to ensure that the wine has finesse and a fine bouquet
Appellation: Vin de pays d’Oc
Blend: 100% Merlot
Tasting note: Merlot from the Languedoc has a somewhat simpler bouquet than the Syrah. It is quite full with lots of rich, ripe, red fruit and is very similar to other grape varieties grown in the region. The climate obviously has a strong effect on Merlot grapes. There is an indescribable aroma of herbs typical of the garrigue, of local scrubland, as well as a hint of oriental spices.
This extremely vinous wine is well-balanced, intense and fruity on the palate, with hints of prunes. It is well-balanced and round. The tannins are soft and finely-textured and there is a delicious spicy aftertaste.
Appellation: St. Emilion, Bordeaux, France
Blend: Merlot 70%
Cabernet Sauvignon 25%
Cabernet Franc 5%
Vintage: aaaa
Tasting note: A very classy Claret nose leads on to a ripe, flavoursome Merlot palate, smooth with a surprisingly long finish for a wine at this level. Fantastic with a classic Sunday roast and also good with lamb dishes.
Appellation: Bordeaux Supérieur
Blend: 50% Merlot
50% Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasting note: The Cuvée Raphaël is always a very dense, very concentrated wine with elegant tannins that stand out, but are mellow and smooth. They are elegantly woody, but not excessively to leave plenty of room for the fruit.
Appellation: Bordeaux Blanc AOC
Blend: 70% Sauvignon
20% Semillon
10% Muscadelle
Tasting note: The Sauvignon produces aromatic strength and freshness, while the Semillon complements this with a certain degree of roundness on the palate. The Muscadelle adds intense white flower notes to the aromatic range of the finished wine.
All in all, a white wine with intense white and citrus fruit aromas, which is both fresh and round on the palate.