Dinner with friends including three interesting Chinese wines
Eddie McDougall was in town so a gathering of the new Canary Wharf Wine Club was convened to welcome him and share some wines. These were mostly served blind for discussion and then drunk after the reveal. Three quite cool Chinese wines held their own against stiff competition.
Puchang Rkatsiteli 2017 Turpan Valley, Xinjang, China
This is grown at an altitude of 154 metres below sea level. Rich and textural like a Rhône white with bold peach and pear fruit as well as some fine spices. Nice texture with rich fruit and a slightly salty finish. This is very nice. 93/100
T-Oinos Stegasta Assyrtiko 2021 Cyclades, Greece
Rich in style with bold pear fruit and some grapey richness, as well as some saltiness. Pure, ripe and nicely intense, this is a bold, stylish expression of Assyrtiko. 92/100
Château Cheval Blanc 1995 Saint-Émilion, France
Half each of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Mature, but showing appealing blackcurrant and blackberry fruit with notes of spice and earth. Still has good structure. This is in a beautiful place right now with some rich fruit still showing and fine spices, too. 96/100
Château Ausone 1995 Saint-Émilion, France
Dense and unfurled with a slight burnt/baked character to the berry and cherry fruit, with some grippy tannins. Firm, savoury and spicy, and showing some age. 92/100
Jiabeilan Reserve 2016 Helan Mountain, Ningxia
15.4% alcohol. This is from the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains, near the Gobi desert. Lovely aromatics of blackcurrant and blackberry. Floral with a hint of olive and spice. This is rich and alcoholic but it also has freshness to the dense black fruits, finishing with savoury olive and salt notes. 93/100
Gailonglin Ice Wine Gold Label 2013 China
Lovely aromatics of apricot and apple with some marmalade and spice as well as honey. It’s rich with a hint of raisin under the marmalade and lime fruit notes. Really nicely balanced, this is quite beautiful. 94/100
