Grape Wall of China

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”Love it’ or ‘hate it’: More results from Grape Wall Challenge 2010 in China

Posted on | June 30, 2010 | No Comments

Some info about the 2010 Grape Wall Challenge held at Maison Boulud in Beijing last Thursday…

The challenge included 40 wines, with 22 reds and 18 whites. Distributors could submit a maximum of two reds and two whites, with a maximum of two wines from one country. In the end, the challenge included wines from seven nations, with those from Chile representing nearly one-third of the total (the numbers in brackets are the red wine / wine white split).

  • Chile: 13 (8/5)
  • Australia: 7 (4/3)
  • France: 7 (4/3)
  • Argentina: 6 (3/3)
  • Italy: 3 (1/2)d
  • South Africa: 3 (1/2)
  • Spain: 1 (1/0)

The Grape Wall Challenge involved 13 distributors, ranging from the biggest to niche operators. In alphabetical order: ASC, Aussino, CMP Wines, DT-Asia, East Meets West, Enoteca, French Wine Paradox, Globus, Links, Sea & Sun, Summergate, Top Cellar, and Torres.

We asked consumer judges to tick one of the following for each wine: “I love it“, “I like it“, “I don’t like it“, or “I hate it.” Overall, red wines faired better than white wines. For red wines, consumers ticked “I like it” and “I love it” 56 times, just edging out the 53 ticks for “I dislike” and “I hate it”. For white wines, they ticked “I like it” and “I love it” 40 times, falling short of the 49 ticks for “I dislike it” and “I hate it”.

The only wine to receive three “I love it” ticks in the challenge was Black Wing Shiraz from Australia (Sea & Sun, RMB87). Wines getting two “I love it” ticks included:

  • Obikwa Sauvignon Blanc 2009 from South Africa (French Wine Paradox, RMB75)
  • Callia Alta Chardonnay-Torrontes 2009 from Argentina (Torres, RMB83)
  • Santa Rita 120 Sauvignon Blanc 2009 from Chile (ASC, RMB87)
  • Finca el Origen Malbec 2008 from Argentina (Aussino, RMB90)
  • Double Bay Semillon-Chardonnay 2007 from Australia (Links, RMB95)
  • Henri Ehrhart Pinot Blanc 2008 from France (CMP Wines, RMB99)

Only two wines of the 40 received “I like it” and “I love it” ticks from all consumer judges (every other wine had at least one “I dislike it” or “I hate it” tick). Those two whites: Obikwa Sauvignon Blanc and Henri Ehrhart Pinot Blanc.

We also asked the judges to rank their three favorite wines—gold, silver, and bronze—although not all chose to do so. Of the three consumers on the red wine panel who did, all picked the Black Wing Shiraz, with one gold and two bronze. No other red received more than one nod. As for the whites, four judges picked favorites. Double Bay Semillon-Chardonnay and Callia Alta Chardonnay-Torrontes dominated, each getting two golds.

That wraps it up for now. Look for a few more posts with information on the judges, the expert picks, event photos, and so on. For the results of the challenge or places where the wines are available, click here.

Category: Grape Wall Challenge 2010

Grape Wall Challenge II: Consumer picks for red, white wines under RMB100

Posted on | June 29, 2010 | 7 Comments

The second annual Grape Wall Challenge, held on June 24 at Maison Boulud, saw the judges blind taste 18 white wines in the morning and 22 red wines in the afternoon. Each judge circled one of the following choices for each wine: “I love it“, “I like it“, “I don’t like it“, and “I hate it.”

Below are the wines that ranked “I liked it” or higher overall by the consumers. Below that is a list of venues or websites where the wines are available. The venues tend to be more specific to Beijing, as this is where the contest was held, though most major distributors’ wines are available in dozens of cities throughout China.

More details on the judges as well as the expert picks, event photos, and analysis of the results will be posted this week. The event sponsors were Maison Boulud, which provided the venue, staff support, and lunch, and Winpact, which provided gifts for the consumer judges.

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WHITE WINES

Of the 18 wines in the white wine portion, nine wines received an “I liked it” ranking or higher from the consumer judges.

1

Obikwa Sauvignon Blanc 2009, South Africa, from French Wine Paradox, RMB75

Henri Ehrhart Pinot Blanc 2008, France, from CMP, RMB99

3

Double Bay Semillon-Chardonnay 2007, Australia, from Links, RMB95

4

Santa Rita 120 Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Chile, from ASC, RMB87

5

Black Wing Chardonnay 2008, Australia, from Sea & Sun, RMB75

Callia Alta Chardonnay-Torrontes 2009, Argentina, from Torres, RMB83

Ampakama Viognier 2008, Argentina, from Enoteca, RMB98

8

Martins Andino White 2009, Argentina, from French Wine Paradox, RMB65

Las Condes Chardonnay 2009, Chile, from East Meets West, RMB86

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RED

Of the 22 wines in the contest, the following received an “I liked it” ranking or higher from the consumer judges.

1

Black Wing Shiraz 2006, Australia, from Sea & Sun, RMB87

2

Finca el Origen Malbec 2008, Argentina, from Aussino, RMB90

3

Las Condes Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Chile, from East Meets West, RMB86

Two Oceans Shiraz 2009, South Africa, from ASC, RMB84

Sacred Hill Shiraz 2008, Australia, from Torres, RMB87

Sacred Hill Cabernet-Merlot 2008, Australia, from Torres, RMB87

Mont Besson Syrah-Grenache 2008, France, from Globus, RMB88

Paso del Sol Merlot 2008, Chile, from DT Asia, RMB90

Monastier Shiraz 2009, France, from DT Asia, RMB98

Fortant Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, France, from ASC, RMB92

Santa Carolina Carmenere 2008, Chile, from Aussino, RMB98

12

Retamo Bonarda-Malbec 2009, Argentina, from Summergate, RMB89

Ramirana Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Chile, from Top Cellar, RMB94

El Vuelo Merlot 2009, Chile, from Links, RMB98

Manon Tempranillo 2008, Spain, from Globus, RMB99

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Where to buy

Venues or websites where the above wines can be purchased, with more to come. (Note: I found about half of the above wines during a visit to Jenny Lou’s in Lido in Beijing, many of them at prices lower, and in some cases on special at up to RMB20 off, than on the distributors’ Web sites. – JB)

ASC: Available at Carrefour, Auchon, and Jenny Lou’s in Beijing.

Aussino: Finca el Origen is available here; both it and Santa Carolina available at the Aussino shop at 1F, Regent Land apartments, 66 Workers Stadium North Road, across from the east entrance of Swissotel.

CMP: Available at Boucherie Michel shops in Beijing.

DT-Asia: Available at Carrefour and Auchon

East Meets West: Available via the Web site, though it is currently under renovation.

Enoteca: Available at the company’s three wine bars in Shanghai and Beijing or this online store.

French Wine Paradox: Available at Carrefour.

Links: Available at Jenny Lou’s in Beijing.

Globus: Available in Shanghai on Ferguson Lane, 376 Wukang Road, near Hunan Road (021 6466 8969) and at Highstreet Loft 283, Jianguo Xi Road, Building 5, near Xiangyang Road (021 5466 1575). In Beijing, contact 5206-3020 or infobj@globus-wine.com.

Sea & Sun: Available at Jenny Lou’s in Beijing.

Summergate: Available via the company Web site.

Top Cellar: Available at the company’s shops in Beijing and Shanghai.

Torres: Available via the company Web site.

Category: Uncategorized

2010 Grape Wall Challenge: Results out Monday…

Posted on | June 25, 2010 | No Comments

Update: We have the unofficial winners but the organizers need to meet to finalize / double-check the scores and because of work obligations were unable to do so today (Monday). Apologies all around. Results ASAP…

The second annual Grape Wall Challenge, held yesterday at Maison Boulud in Beijing, saw Chinese wine consumers and a handful of experts and journalists sniff, sip, savor, and score more than 40 wines, submitted by 13 distributors, that retail for less than RMB100 in China. The results will be out Monday…

Category: Grape Wall Challenge 2010

Thirteen distributors, 39 wines in Grape Wall Challenge II

Posted on | June 24, 2010 | 1 Comment

Thirteen distributors have submitted wines for the second annual Grape Wall Challenge, to be held today, June 24, at Maison Boulud in Beijing. They range from the biggest importers to the smaller players, from those bringing in wines from multiple countries to those focusing on a single nation. They distributors are:

The challenge includes 39 wines, with 21 red wines and 18 white wines. The wines submitted retail for less than RMB100 and hail from seven nations: Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, Italy, South Africa, and Spain. See here for more info on this year’s Grape Wall Challenge and here for info on last year’s event.

Category: Grape Wall Challenge 2010

Grape Wall Challenge 2010: Call for wine

Posted on | June 7, 2010 | No Comments

The Grape Wall Challenge 2009

Call for Wine

The Grape Wall Challenge 2010

June 24, Maison Boulud, Beijing

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The second Grape Wall Challenge will be held at Maison Boulud in Beijing on June 24. As with the first GWC challenge, the aim is to find wines that offer reasonable quality at modest prices as determined by a panel of Chinese wine consumers and a panel of Chinese wine professionals. As with last year’s event, the organizers are Nicolas Carre, Frankie Zhao, and Jim Boyce. The challenge chair is Ma Huiqin.

The challenge is designed for approximately 60 imported bottled wines. (A separate challenge is being organized for wines produced in China.) There is no entry fee but distributors are required to provide two bottles of each wine entered. They are also encouraged to provide a list of retail outlets where the wines can be bought by consumers.

Distributors are invited to submit a maximum of four wines:

  • A maximum of two dry still red wines and two dry still white wines.
  • Each wine must have a regular retail price of less than RMB100 in China and be accessible via retail outlets and/or online sales.
  • Each wine must be made from a different grape or blend of grapes. For example, a distributor may only submit one Cabernet Sauvignon.
  • A distributor may submit a maximum of two wines from a single nation. If a distributor submits two wines, these may originate from either one or two nations. If three wines,  they must originate from a minimum of two nations. If four wines, they must originate from a minimum of three nations.

This system encourages a wider range of grape varieties and nations of origin in the challenge. It also recognizes that China has distributors that import from a single nation and those that do so from multiple nations. This chart (hopefully) helps explain the requirements:

Wines to be

submitted

 Maximum # of

red wines

 Maximum # of

White wines

 Number of

nation(s) of origin
1 0 or 1 0 or 1 1
2 1 1 1 or 2
3 1 or 2 1 or 2 2 or 3
4 2 2 3 or 4

Interested distributors should submit queries and/or confirm participation by sending an email to Nicolas Carre at frenchsommelier@gmail.com. (The deadline for delivering wines for the GWC Challenge is Monday, June 21, 5 PM.) Media inquiries should be directed to Jim Boyce at beijingboyce@yahoo.com.

Category: Grape Wall Challenge 2010

The Grape Wall Challenge 2010: June 24 at Maison Boulud

Posted on | June 3, 2010 | No Comments

The Grape Wall Challenge 2009

The Grape Wall Challenge 2010

June 24, Maison Boulud, Beijing

Last year, over a dozen Chinese wine consumers and experts participated in the Grape Wall Challenge by blind tasting more than 40 red and white wines that retail for less than RMB100 (see here for the top reds and here for the top whites). This year, the challenge is on again, will include more judges, new vintages, and the same price point, and will be held on June 24 at Maison Boulud. Full details, including how distributors can get involved,  will be posted on Monday.

For posts about last year’s event, see here .

Category: Grape Wall Challenge 2010

A sparkler is haunting China: Karl Marx wine in Beijing

Posted on | March 12, 2010 | 2 Comments

A sparkler is haunting China

You’d think a wine named “Karl Marx” would be a red, but not so with this one I found haunting the shelves of Jinkelong supermarket in downtown Beijing during the Chinese New Year. The label says it is a semi-dry sparkling, though I have yet to confirm it with a taste test. It might be time to create a page for, uh, atypical labels found in China. See also:

By the way, I realize it has been quite a while since my last post, but some stuff is in the queue, including notes from a recent lunch with Jancis Robinson, an interview with one of the top Champagne distributors in China, quite a few tastings, and more.

Prepare for some glass struggle.

Category: Uncategorized

French Wine Paradox to handle Lanson Champagne in China

Posted on | January 28, 2010 | No Comments

By Jim Boyce

Importer and distributor French Wine Paradox reports that it has signed an agreement to be the exclusive distributor of Lanson Champagne in China. The origins of Lanson date to 1760, though in recent decades ownership has passed through a handful of large corporations, and the house is now headed by Champagne Boizel (see more of Lanson’s history here). French Wine Paradox reports that it will initially carry Lanson’s Black Label and later add the rose and vintages to its portfolio.

Category: Jim Boyce

Mouton Cadet wine bar to open in Guangzhou

Posted on | January 28, 2010 | 1 Comment

By Jim Boyce

Torres China has announced that Baron Philippe de Rothschild will launch the world’s first Mouton Cadet wine bar in restaurant No. 9 Garden in Guangzhou. Torres is the exclusive distributor of Baron Philippe de Rothschild in China and is partly owned by the company.

According to Torres China,  the Mouton Cadet wine bar will have a “similar theme to its wine museum and cellar door in Bordeaux” and that it will be “the first time that dedicated display materials will be showcased outside of its territory in France.”

The first thing I thought of upon hearing the news? This interview I did with Robert Joseph 18 months in which he said: “In 1997, when I was in China, I did comparative tasting of Mouton Cadet with Sprite and without Sprite, and I preferred it with Sprite.”

To each his or her own.

In any case, look for the Mouton Cadet wine bar to open in mid-March.

Category: Jim Boyce

Wine Australia Awards in China: James Halliday to present honors to St. Pierre, Sing, Ford, and Lin today

Posted on | January 26, 2010 | 11 Comments

Award winner Marcus Ford with Australian wine writer James Halliday

By Jim Boyce

Writer James Halliday will announce the winners of the Wine Australia Awards today in Beijing. The winner in each of the four categories — retail; restaurants, bars, and hotels; writing and education; and overall contribution to “the growth of wine and of Australian wine in China” — will receive a ten-day wine study tour in Australia. (Apparently, drinking loads of wine from Down Under doesn’t count as a qualification.) Geoff Raby, Australia’s ambassador to China, hosted an informal dinner last night for Halliday, who will lead a wine master class today, and several of the winners. The awards are being presented on Australia’s national day (for ideas on how to celebrate it in Beijing, see this post).

Overall trophy
Don St. Pierre, Jr, CEO of ASC Fine Wines. St. Pierre was cited for his leadership at ASC and the company’s role in terms of wine education, tastings, and events. For his part, St. Pierre cited the rapid growth of the China market. “If you look at where China was as a wine consumer five years ago, you’d never have believed it would now be Australia’s fourth biggest export market,” he said. To underscore the swift change in China, he cited his father, Don St. Pierre, Sr, who came here in 1986 to work at Beijing Jeep and found only one private car owner in the city. “Now China is the biggest car market in the world,” he said.

Restaurants, bars, and hotels
James Sing, owner and manager of Shanghai-based Kakadu, which focuses on Australian food and drink. Sing said that the rapidly blossoming restaurant scene in Shanghai in 2005 and 2006 meant he and his partners needed to find a niche: they decided on Australia and now provide customers with foods that range from lamb and beef to crocodile and emu as well as a drinks menu that aims to cover the country’s wine regions. “I’m from northern Queensland, so wine is what we do when we run out of beer,” he joked. Sing says Kakadu sources its wines from 18 distributors,  sees significant numbers of expatriate and Chinese customers, and holds tasting events, the most recent of which drew 15o attendees.

Retail
Marcus Ford, national director for The Wine Way. Former restaurant manager at M on the Bund from 1999 to 2009, Ford said the scene has had a long struggle toward a focus on customers. “The culture in Shanghai for many years was that ‘we’ll try to sell you what we’re being paid to sell’.” He said that the success of M gave him leverage with wine distributors and that now, as a retailer, he enjoys giving customers the chance to try samples from the 16-unit machine at The Wine Way. While the operation is backed by Summergate, it includes wines from companies such as ASC and Torres, and brands such as De Bortoli, Grosset, and Henschke.

Writing and education
Dennis Lin: Known throughout the China wine scene, he was unable to attend the dinner last night but is slated to be at the official ceremony today.

I’ll have more on James Halliday’s comments on wine in future posts.

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See also:

Wine Australia will officially announce the four winners of its Wine Australia Awards today — one each will be given in the categories of wine retail; wine writing and education; restaurants, bars, and hotels; and overall contribution to “the growth of wine and of Australian wine in China.” Australian Ambassador Geoff Raby hosted an informal dinner last night for several of the winners as well as for writer James Halliday, who is in town to present the awards and lead a master wine class. The awards, each of which comes with a 10-day wine study trip, are being presented on Australia’s national day — for some ideas on how to celebrate it in Beijing, see this post.

Grand trophy winner: Don St. Pierre, Jr, CEO of ASC Fine Wines. Ally… said St. Pierre, as head of the biggest importer and distributor, had a taken a leadership stance in terms of education, events, and tastings. He cited the rapid growth of the market. “If you look at where China was as a wine consumer five years ago, you’d never have believed it would be Australia’s fourth biggest export market now,” he said. He cited the example of his father, Don St. Pierre, Sr, who came to China in 1986 to work Beijing Jeep and found only one private car owner. “Now it’s the biggest car market in the world.”

Restaurant award winner: James Sing, owner and manager of Kakadu: Australian Food and Drink, in Shanghai.

“I’m from north Queensland, so wine is what we do when we run out of beer,” he joked. He said he decided with several friends in 2004 to open a restaurant. By the time it came to fruition two years later, the restaurant scene was blossoming, and they decided on a need to branch into something unique,–something Australian–hence the focus on foods that range from lamb and beef to crocodile and emu alongside a menu which is more than 90 percent from home. Sing says Kakadu sources its wines from 18 distributors, aims to cover every region in Australia, sees an equal split between expatriates and Chinese in terms of its customers, and holds tasting events, the most recent of which drew 15o attendees.

Retail award winner: Marcus Ford, national director for The Wine Way.

Wine writing and education: Dennis Lin

Said the culture in the restaurant business “culture in Shanghai for many years was that we’ll try to sell you what’s they’re being paid to sell.” They’ll say a wine is not available in order to switch you to another wine… He said that during the decade he worked as restaurant manager at M on the Bund, from 1989 to 1999, the place was successful enough not to need to bow to pressure from distributors. All said that while The Wine Way was supported by Summergate, it also includes wines from companies such as ASC and Torres, and brands such as De Bortoil, Grosset, and Henscke. The wine machine… 16… chance to try something at RMB20 before plunking down RMB700 or more for a bottle.

http://www.grapewallofchina.com/2009/09/30/no-worries-australia-targeting-china-wine-market-at-every-level/

China contest: Wine Australia Awards to provide four trips Down Under

Category: Jim Boyce

Hong Kong sales ahead: First Sotheby’s wine auction of 2010 raises RMB46.5 million

Posted on | January 25, 2010 | No Comments

By Jim Boyce

Last year’s slate of high-profile auctions did a great deal to solidify Hong Kong as a fine wine hub but little to empty the pockets of bidders, it seems. On January 23, auction house Sotheby’s held its first sale of the year in Hong Kong and raked in RMB46.5 million (HKD52.9 million / USD6.78 million), which it reports is its highest total ever for a one-day wine sale. Sotheby’s reports that all lots sold and that online bidders participated in two-thirds of them.

The 10-hour auction saw many new and existing buyers competing from throughout Asia. The auctioneers fielded bids from the room, the telephones, the online bidders and bidders from the secondary sale room that was set up due to the unprecedented demand from clients to attend the sale, while Louis Roederer Blanc de Blancs 2003, Haut Brion 1998, Léoville Lascases 1996, Lynch Bages 2000 were served – the Bordeaux were from the 6 litre Imperial format from The Classic Cellar. There was particularly strong participation from collectors and connoisseurs from Hong Kong, Mainland China and Taiwan, who were the most significant buyers of today’s sale.

Bids for Lafite, Latour, Petrus, and Romanee-Conti again led the way. An imperial of Lafite 1982 sold for RMB319,000 (HKD363,000), while 12 bottles of Petrus 2000 sold for RMB361,000 (HKD411,400). The auction was the fourth installment from an American collector. So far the take has totaled RMB158,548,095 (HKD158,548,095 / USD20,326,687). The next installment will be held in Hong Kong, April 3-4.

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Some related Grape Wall posts:

Category: Jim Boyce

Jancis Robinson to visit Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing in February

Posted on | January 8, 2010 | 1 Comment

By Jim Boyce

ASC and wine writer Jancis Robinson will team up for a series of events in China next month, according to a press release from the wine importer and distributor. The ASC press release states (my highlights):

For three nights only in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing, the first lady of wine will divulge the geographical diversity of wine ahead of the mid-year launch of the local edition of her best-selling World Atlas of Wine, co-authored by fellow wine doyen Hugh Johnson. The tome, published in 14 languages and having sold over 4 million copies since its 1971 inception, sees its first simplified Chinese version in 2010.

The breathless text notes that an ” ultra-premium” wine dinner will be held in each city and some of the proceeds will go to Room to Read.

My question: Who is the second lady of wine?

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See also:

Grape Wall Talk: Jancis Robinson on China

Category: Uncategorized

Torres now distributing Tyrrell’s, Francis Ford Coppola, Rubicon Estate wines in China

Posted on | January 8, 2010 | 2 Comments

By Jim Boyce

Torres China has announced that its portfolio now includes Tyrrell’s and Francis Ford Coppola Winery, including the later winery’s Rubicon Estate.  From the press release:

Established in 1858, [Tyrrell's was]… awarded Australian Winery of Year 2009 and Australian Red Winemaker of Year 2009 by Campbell Mattinson, the accolade by Australia’s pre-eminent wine writer and author James Halliday as Australian Winery of Year 2010 has placed Tyrrell’s at the pinnacle of the Australian wine industry.

Owned by Francis Ford Coppola, Francis Ford Coppola Winery is located in Geyserville of Sonoma County and Rubicon Estate is situated in the Rutherford AVA of Napa Valley…. The Rutherford Appellation is at the center of the Napa Valley both geographically and historically.

Torres China will be having launch parties for Francis Ford Coppola Winery and Rubicon Estate from January 29 to February 3 in four cities in China.

Category: Uncategorized

ASC now distributing Peter Lehmann, Hess wines in China

Posted on | January 8, 2010 | No Comments

ASC Fine Wines has added Peter Lehmann and Hess wines to its portfolio in the Chinese mainland as of January 1, according to the company. ASC also includes the wine its Hong Kong and Macau portfolios. According to the company:

Through a loyal partnership with over 160 local grape growers, Peter Lehmann Wines has access to some of the finest of the [Barossa] region’s vineyards to produce wines that have seen the winery twice awarded the title International Winemaker of the Year (2003 and 2006 IWSC London)….

The Hess Collection Winery was founded by Swiss entrepreneur and noted modern art collector Donald Hess. True to his Swiss roots, Hess first purchased vineyards on the volcanic slopes of Mount Veeder, the highest appellation in the Napa Valley, in 1978, and first made wine under The Hess Collection Winery label in 1983.

Peter Lehmann and Hess were previously distributed by Torres.

Category: Uncategorized

Too close for comfort? Great Wall maker COFCO takes over Chinese edition of Food & Wine

Posted on | December 17, 2009 | 1 Comment

COFCO – owner of top-four Chinese winery Great Wall and a major player in boutique operation Chateau Junding - will take over the Chinese edition of Food & Wine, starting with the January edition. According to sources inside and outside Food & Wine, COFCO owns the magazine license for Food & Wine and had been leasing it to the Trends Group. A source at the magazine said the entire management team will shift under COFCO.

No doubt concerns will be raised in coming weeks and months as to what it means that one of the biggest wine-makers in China owns one of the most important sources of wine info. This extends to the blind tastings, an integral part of the monthly magazine, as COFCO is both a maker and importer of wine.

A final note: This seems part of a major shift in the wine marketing and distribution landscape in China. The players, and the stakes, are getting bigger as the local market grows, with COFCO competitors such as Changyu also importing wine and Suntory recently buying a majority share of prominent China-based wine distributor and importer ASC Fine Wines.

I will have more on this shortly…

Category: Uncategorized

Got any loose change? Sotheby’s Hong Kong wine auction in January

Posted on | December 15, 2009 | No Comments

grape wall of china wine auctions sotheby's photo

(Photo: Sotheby's)

By Jim Boyce

The Lafitte-Petrus gravy train looks like it will continue at full speed next year when Sotheby’s holds its first Hong Kong wine auction of 2010 on January 23 at the Mandarin Oriental. The auction, the fourth featuring “The Classic Cellar from A Great American Collector“, is, according to the auction house’s press release, “the most valuable wine collection ever offered at auction by Sotheby’s”. It will include 840 lots and the expected take is RMB25-36 million (HKD28.5-40.8 million / USD3.6-5.2 million). Last year, Sotheby’s held wine auctions in April and October 2009, with a total take of  RMB77.3 million (USD11.3 million).

The 2010 “auction highlights” listed are not surprisingly focused on Bordeaux and Burgundy, particularly the much-sought Lafite and Petrus. Among the lots:

  • Two cases of 1989 and three cases of 1990 Petrus Petrus estimated at RMB141-211000 (HKD160-240,000  / USD20-30,000) per case
  • One 1982 imperial of Lafite estimated at RMB123-176,000 (HKD140-200,000 (USD18-25,000)
  • Two cases of 1982 Latour estimated at RMB123-176,000 (HKD140-200,000 / USD18-25,000) per case
  • Six cases of 1982 Mouton Rothschild estimated at RMB71-106,000 (HKD80-120,000 / USD10-15,000) per case
  • Five cases of 1989 Margaux estimated at RMB75-123,000 (HKD85-140,000 / USD11-18,000) per case
  • Twenty-four half-bottles of 1986 Lafite estimated at RMB62-84,000 (HKD70-95,000 / USD9-12,000) (This auction too late for the winner to use these mini-bottles as stocking stuffers, so perhaps they could be used as gifts for lesser friends during Spring Festival. Then again, maybe not…)

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Some related Grape Wall posts:

Category: Uncategorized

Wining it up in Beijing: Italian wine dinner at Palette; Spanish wine and tapas party at Mosaic

Posted on | December 10, 2009 | No Comments

Just in case you were looking to drink some wine tonight…

Palette Vino, hutong edition, will hold an Italian wine dinner that pairs Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, a Sangiovese-Merlot blend and more with foods such as pan-seared scallops, osso buca, and beef tenderloin. The reception is at 7:15 PM, the dinner at 8 PM (RMB368). Call 6405-4855 to RSVP.

Meanwhile, MPC wines is teaming up with Mosaico for a wine, beer, and tapas party from 7 PM to 10 PM. For RMB60, you get one drink and five tapas, with additional beverages available at a discount. Three wines, including a Cava, and Mahou beer will be featured.

Category: Uncategorized
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  • Grape Wall Contributors


    In alphabetical order (see full list)


    Nicolas Carre
    Sommelier


    Chantal Chi
    Writer


    Yvonne Chiong
    Sommelier, consultant


    Judy Leissner
    Grace Vineyard CEO


    Alain Leroux
    Wine maker, consultant


    Li Demei
    Wine maker


    Huiqin Ma
    Professor


    Campbell Thompson
    The Wine Republic co-owner


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    Consumer


    Frankie Zhao
    Pro-Wine Training & Consultancy owner


    Jim Boyce
    Consumer, blog administrator