MANILA, Philippines - This rainy season, whether you are entertaining at home or relaxing with family, take the time to uncork and sip premium wine. Here are some of the recommended options from Wine Story, a retailer of fine and rare wines from major wine-producing countries.
The wines from Rhone Valley, the oldest established wine-making region in France, come with good extract of fruit and tannins, promising pleasure for many years. Rhone is divided into the northern and southern parts, based on climate and grape varieties. Southern Rhone Valley produces 95 percent of the total wine.
Among the wines from Rhone Valley is the Saint Joseph Les Grants Rouge Bio 2007. The full-bodied wine exhibits sweet black currant fruit, camphor, rock, and exotic Asian spice characteristics. It can be consumed nicely for 10 to 15 years.
Another must-try wine is Crozes-Hermitage Les Varonniers 2003 from Northern Rhone, which has a dense ruby/purple color in addition to a big, smoky perfume of road tar, scorched earth, blackberries, grilled meats, herbs, and spice box. The dense, opulent wine can evolve for 15 years or more. The wine, nonetheless, is drinkable given its low acidity and upfront style.
Other good choices from Southern Rhone are the CDP Barbe Rac Rouge 2003 which has a deep ruby/plum/purple color and a big, sweet nose of kirsch liqueur, pepper, garrigue, and spice box; and the Lirac Reine De Bois 2007, a dense purple wine with a sumptuous perfume of black fruits, licorice, earth, and pepper, which can drink well for seven to eight years.
Wine Story is at the ground level, Shangri-La Plaza Mall in EDSA, Shaw, 633-3556; ground level, Serendra, Taguig City, 846-6310; and at the newly-opened branch in One Rockwell West Tower, Makati City, 869-0932.
For information, visit www.winestory.com.ph.