A basketball player scored in Wine

Retired Chinese basketball superstar Yao Ming is venturing into a new world, launching a wine collection in his own name in Shanghai on Sunday, 27 November, at a charity auction oragnised by the Special Olympics. The inaugural bottle of the Yao Ming 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, made by his newly established wine company, Yao Family Wines, was shown off to the public auction.

The new bottle of 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon will soon be launched in the market under his name, and he did his best in trying to sell his Californian wine to a crowd of potential bidders at the auction.

The final bid for his auction that included the combined items of the inaugural bottle of "Yao Ming" wine and a Salvatore Ferragamo shoe last made to be for his feet size, was 200,000 yuan ($ 31,000).

Yao Ming said about his wine " First, this is a 2009 wine and we can feel everything inside this wine is in the past, like being in a time capsule.Also, a lot of times, when we enjoy wine, it is not the simple act of drinking the wine, but it also contains the feeling of the wonderful time that you spend with your friends enjoying wine"

Wine is not a "drink", it is a moment.

Focus on Alain Delon: wine auction sale

Yesterday, the wine collection of Alain Delon sold at Fouquet’s ( Paris hotel and restaurant ) reported the sum of 250,412 euro, well above estimates.

The Cornette de Saint Cyr house estimated the wine collection value around 100, 000 euro before the auction sale, but some bottles were sold above market value. Indeed, the set of 6 bottles of Cheval blanc 1947 estimated between 9,000 and 10,800 euros have been sold 20,000 euro! And in the same way, a bottle of Cognac Martell estimated around 400 euro has been sold 2,500 euro… this auction sale was just amazing, and a big part of its success is coming from the seller: we are calling that “the Impact Alain Delon”.

10 better Wines 2011 By The Wine Spectator

The list of 100 better wines of the year 2011 will publish the 6th December in the Wine Spectator Magazine in the USA.

Wine Spectator selection its 10 better wines 2011:

1. Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2009


2. Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Kathryn Hall 2008


3. Domaine Huët Vouvray Moelleux Clos du Bourg Première Trie 2009


4. Campogiovanni Brunello di Montalcino 2006


5. Dehlinger Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2008


6. Baer Ursa Columbia Valley 2008


7. Quinta do Vallado Touriga Nacional Douro 2008


8. Domenico Clerico Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra 2006


9. Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage La Guiraude 2009


10. Château de St.-Cosme Gigondas Valbelle 2009

Wine Spectator notes 2011 News!

A Californian Pinot Noir named wine of the Year

A Californian pinot noir stemming from a small producer of Sonoma who does not possess the slightest vineyard was elected Wine of the year by the influential American magazine Wine Spectator.

Between 16.000 wines, the Kosta Brown 2009 (Pinot Noir) was able to attract attention during a blind tasting. Wines was considered according to the quality, the value for money, the availability and the factor X (pleasure) .

The story of Kosta Browne producer is surprising: the founders, Dan Kosta and Michael Browne, used to work as waiters and saved all their tips to realize their dream. After 8 months, they bought one half-ton of pinot noir grapes. They produced 66 high quality of wine for the next 10 years.

Tasting:

Grape variety: Pinot Noir from south and north-west of Sonoma

Aromas: cherry, ripe cranberry, with an evolution to black plum, sage, and Provencal herbs.

Price : 52$

Score : 95/100

HONG KONG NEWS

Focus on Hong Kong

Last week, have been sold the Don Stott collection (rare Burgundy wines) in Hong Kong,  Acker  Merrall ( wine auctioneer) announced 10,5 Millions euros sold this day. The collection was composed of Romanee Conti, Georges Roumier, Henri Jayer, Louis Jadot, Leroy, Dujac… Cases of 12 bottles were sailing at 4000, 6000, 10 000, 25 000 euros!

This kind of sales is current in Hong Kong: 1 or 2 times per month. But why it’s happening in Hong Kong?!

Hong Kong opened their doors 3 years ago: authorities wanted to give a new identity to the megalopolis, the island must be the new platform of the Fine Wines trading. In 2008, Hong Kong did away with importation taxes: the beginning of “The Wine Hub”.  In fact, their first strategy is to take the place of London, which has the most important wine stocks. This last one can be afraid because in 3 years, the importations value of Fine Wine via Hong Kong increased by three (900 millions in 2011)!!

Hong Kong starts to take a big place in the Fine Wine trading, and does not stop there…

reporting Sauternes open day