WTN: Vinexpo Hong Kong Assorted notes from the floor

Vinexpo is back in Hong Kong this year and since this is just two hours from Manila, how could I let the opportunity for three days of Bacchanalian excess pass? I attended a few of the seminars, which will be covered by other posts, but for now here are assorted notes on some of the more interesting things I tried from the trade show floor. The notes are necessarily short as there was a lot of activity going on and it would have been rude to take up too much of the exhibitors' time.

Notes from day 1:

Meyer-Nakel Pinot Noir Blue Slate 2006 - From Ahr, Germany. Better than most German red wines I've tried. Good fruit and body provided by the 13.5% alcohol. Not bad.

Fritz Allendorf Pinot Noir Rose Eiswein 2006 - Perhaps one of the strangest wines I've had. As an eiswein, it's pretty good. Rich and very sweet. The acidity is a bit less than one would expect from say a Riesling eiswein but still, I thought it had good balance. Doesn't look like a Rose at all, just a darker shade for a white wine.

Jadot Corton Pougets Grand Cru 2002 - Very dry, tight and tannic. Needs plenty of time.

Jadot Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru 2004 - Very complex. Butter. Good fruit. Young but drinkable already. Very good.

Pieropan Soave Classico 2007 - Slightly cheesy nose at first, followed by lots of flowers. Easy. Very nice.

Pieropan Pulerpan 2003 - An IGT but actually a Valpolicella. Very good.

D'Alessandro Il Bosco Cortona Syrah 2004 - Very concentrated. Excellent.

Querciabella Chianti Classico 2006 - Lots of dried fruit. Sweet. Tannic. Very good.

Querciabella Camartina 2005 - Very tannic. Very good.

Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Kabinett 2007 - Sweet, peachy, spritzy. Very good.

Markus Molitor Riesling Feinherb 2006 - Very good.

Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese 2005 - Sweet. Dryish finish. Good body.

Taylor's 10 Year Tawny Port - Lots of fruit. Plum and Fig.

Taylor's 20 Year Tawny Port - Not much different from the 10 year old.

Taylor's 40 Year Tawny Port - Very pale. Brandy-like. The fruit has faded a lot. I prefer the 10 or 20 year Old. Unfortunately there wasn't any 30 year Old to try although I remember it was my favorite 2 years ago as it achieved a good balance between the nutiness of an older wine and the fruit of a younger wine.

Croft Pink Port - A new product. Rose port. Sweet, simple. Deceptively easy to drink but still contains 18.5% alcohol.

[Jenise]

Pink port! Did you learn how this is made?

I went two years ago and it was massive! (plus all the normal and private parties that happened everywhere in and around the event). Got to meet some incredible people and spend time with them both inside and outside the event.

The only thing was that the Australians boycotted the event that year. Are they there this year?

Michael,

Like 2 years ago, no Oz presence to speak of.

Pink port! Did you learn how this is made?

If I remember right, like regular port except they remove the skins early.

Michael,

Like 2 years ago, no Oz presence to speak of.

Thanks Jay. I wonder if that is going to be a permanent situation......

[Jenise]

Michael,

Like 2 years ago, no Oz presence to speak of.

Thanks Jay. I wonder if that is going to be a permanent situation......

What was the purpose of the boycott?

Jenise,

I seem to remember reading somewhere about how the Australians weren't happy about how they were treated at Vinexpo France. Something about the airconditioning conking out.

I would also imagine maybe they don't really need to make such a big push in China or Asia in general as they are the natural suppliers for this market: they are close by and at the low end they make cheap, decent wine that's a bit sweet and oaky therefore easy to appreciate.