Astrolabe Vino Dinner @ Senses, Kuala Lumpur Hilton
Senin, 15 November 2021
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Thus a brilliant Mon morn as well as I'm greeted alongside this laughable headline inward the Star's newly revamped paper..."Malaysia ranked world's tenth largest consumer of alcohol". Delving deeper into the story, it goes on to reason that the WHO (nope it's non the dreaded physician Who but the World Health Organisation) claims that "Malaysia has been named every bit the world's tenth largest consumer of alcohol despite its small-scale population as well as size". The article goes on to quote that Malaysians spent over USD500 1000000 on alcohol. Strangely plenty afterward combing through the WHO's website as well as the official written report for 2011, at that topographic point is no sign or indication of that item startling fact. Even every bit I looked through the world's alcohol consumption figures, there's no agency Malaysia could brand the top x since the European countries' figures were inward double digit. Incredibly foreign but since I'm no authorisation on this, I won't hold upwardly making whatever press statements on my discoveries! One does promise that a higher authorisation comes forth to laid the truth correct on the facts.
One fact does stay evident from looking at those statistics, Malaysians seem to receive got an hefty appetite for beer, followed past times spirits as well as only a small-scale per centum of wine. I guess I must hold upwardly 1 of the exceptions since I create prefer vino over beer. This beloved for vino saw me brand 1 of my rare exceptions to receive got upwardly Aly's Wonderland's invitation to enjoy New Zealand's Astrolabe wines. I acknowledge I envisioned images of Astroboy or some cosmic adventures. Turns out the possessor Simon Waghorn took upwardly the advert because astrolabe refers to a navigation tool as well as coincidentally it was also the advert of a send that travelled on the Marlborough coast where the vineyards of Astrolabe are located.
It was the Kiwi wine's debut inward Kuala Lumpur orchestrated past times its Asian distributor, Singapore based Rubicon Reserve Wines. They aptly chose Senses at Kuala Lumpur Hilton for their debutante dinner since the wines volition only hold upwardly available at that hotel. Good for us also since dinner was concocted past times the brilliant Michael Elfwing. I was looking forwards to tasting the wines, since they had already swept many awards for its Sauvignon Blanc.
Starting off the dinner was an informal cocktail threescore minutes to pause the ice, where nosotros (tried) to elegantly juggle champagne flutes spell nosotros slurped downward freshly shucked New Zealand Pacific oysters drizzled alongside a tangy passionfruit dressing. Joining the fun for that black were A Whiff of Lemongrass as well as Fatboybakes, familiar faces from the floggers' circuit. As Astrolabe does non brand whatever sparkling wines, Rubicon served 1 of their other labels they distribute, an Austrian Szigeti Gruner Veltliner. I liked the slightly floral notes as well as the tiny bubbles of the wine.
Subsequently, nosotros adjourned to the tabular array to starting fourth dimension the meal. Firstly, it was a dish named Terroir that saw shucked escargots (so nosotros didn't instruct to receive got whatever Pretty Woman moments), mingling alongside "soil", herbs, smoked duck thorax slices as well as fifty-fifty an edible clay baked potato. Lovely particularly when paired alongside the slightly sweetness Astrolabe Pinot Gris 2009. Jason Yank, Astrolabe's full general managing director explained that they wanted an Italian styled vino alongside a lot to a greater extent than fruit.
Next came a flying tasting of Astrolabe's diverse Sauvignon Blanc alongside unlike types of seafood. We started off alongside the Astrolabe Kekerengue Coast Sauvignon Blanc 2010 that was paired alongside lilliputian cervix clams cooked en papillote alongside garlic as well as parsley. Instead of paper, a high oestrus resistant cling celluloid was used to roll the clams. The vino is made from grapes from the Kekerengue Coast, where it grows on limestone soil. Jason explains to us that the clay inward the rocks pushes upwardly the pH of the wine. This creates a really dry out vino alongside salty hints. Most of the bloggers preferred the Kekerengue Coast Sauvignon Blanc but I preferred the core 1 of the Astrolabe Awatere Sauvignon Blanc 2010 every bit it was to a greater extent than aromatic alongside hints of capsicum. It paired beautifully alongside the snowfall crab. Quite similar inward nature as well as but a shade below the Awatere was the Astrolabe Voyage Sauvignon Blanc 2010. This was paired alongside a piece of gurnard fish alongside parsley puree as well as a shucked oyster.
We follow upwardly alongside a perfectly cooked New Zealand salmon quenelle alongside sorrel beurre blanc (butter sauce) that is paired alongside Astrolabe Chardonnay. I wasn't also enthusiastic most the fruity sense of savor of the Chardonnay but loved the soft texture of the salmon. Next was the quail as well as veal paired alongside the earthy summertime truffles as well as the only ruby vino for that night. The climate inward this surface area only permits them to brand Astrolabe Voyage Pinor Noir 2008, a pleasant ruby vino alongside loads of cherry flavours.
My favourite dish for the black was the brilliant dessert of pear & cheese alongside the Astrolabe Gewurztraminer 2009. The dish was a trio of items, a duo of 2 types of poached pears, a luscious brie H2O ice cream topping a brie pastry as well as a bluish cheese puff pastry. Simply gorgeous flavours that were mellowed out alongside the floral Gewurztraminer. Drank on its own, it would receive got been also sweetness but it paired beautifully alongside the salty pungent notes of the bluish cheese as well as brie.
After tasting the wines, I must acknowledge there's definitely a large marketplace position for their Sauvignon Blanc hither particularly alongside our Asian palate for fresh tasting wines. Currently, the wines are available entirely to Kuala Lumpur Hilton as well as American Express Platinum cardholders. You tin also gild them guide from Rubicon, which volition adapt for shipment to your doorstep. More pictures tin hold upwardly institute on my Flickr set.
* Camera note: We were playing approximately alongside the novel Macro Arm Light for the Olympus (RM225 advertisement price, common is RM250). It looks similar an alien alongside its movable antennas but nosotros all beloved it since it is a large conversation piece. Moreover unopen ups on our nutrient has striking some other dimension. Get it directly from Olympus shops since they're running a 10 calendar week advertisement till mid-July.
* Wine Tasting Notes:
Szigeti Gruner Veltliner - Austrian sparkling vino alongside good spaced bubbles. Contains floral as well as citrus notes.
Astrolabe Pinot Gris 2009 - Pale straw yellow, spiced pears nose. sweetness to the palate, spice as well as honied. Priced at RM105 per bottle.
Astrolabe Voyage Sauvignon Blanc 2010 - Medium bodied vino alongside lemongrass, lime rind as well as elderflower flavours. Priced at RM105 per bottle.
Astrolabe Awatere Sauvignon Blanc 2010 - Medium bodied vino alongside ruby capsicum, white currants, as well as gooseberry flavours. Priced at RM107 per bottle.
Astrolabe Kekerengue Coast Sauvignon Blanc 2010 - Medium bodied dry out vino alongside citrus rind as well as salty flavours. Priced at RM115 per bottle.
Astrolabe Chardonnay - Wine alongside ripe melon as well as dried stone fruit flavours.
Astrolabe Voyage Pinot Noir 2008 - Full to medium bodied vino alongside savoury, ripe plums as well as cherry flavours as well as a hint of smoky oak. Priced at RM127 per bottle.
Astrolabe Gewurztraminer 2009 - Medium to total bodied vino alongside turkish please as well as rose petal aromas. Priced at RM123 per bottle.