Taste buds cheer Montecillo's arrival
Spanish wines imported by Siam Winery are vivid, aromatic and full of gusto
Siam Winery hosted a lavish dinner at the Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok restaurant Niche last week to welcome the arrival of Montecillo, Spain’s premium wines.
Collaborating with the Osborne Group, the Thai importer added another sensational choice to its extensive World of Wines Portfolio. For starters, we get to try three styles of true Rioja wines at affordable prices.
The fantastic three – Montecillo Crianza, Montecillo Reserva and Montecillo Gran Reserva – were at Niche paired with a sumptuous four-course tapas dinner. Chef Giancarlo Caffaro handled the Spanish snacks while Billy Yeong of the Osborne Group flew into Bangkok specially to provide the tasting notes.
“Montecillo is the great pride of Osborne Group as one of the biggest wine-producers in Spain,” Yeong declared. “Montecillo reflects our extraordinary commitment to deliver true Rioja wine to consumers by using our traditional winemaking process combined with new innovations. The unique characteristics of Montecillo come from the Tempranillo grape, presenting a special aroma and flavour from the first sip. We believe Montecillo will be loved by Thai consumers and that the wines can be well paired with various kinds of food.”
An official Denominacion de Origen Calificada DOCa certifies the origin and guarantees the grape’s authentic, high quality. Using skills passed down from generation to generation, the wines undergo fermentation in underground tanks equipped with new innovations and yield palate-pleasing wines praised by connoisseurs around the world.
Chef Caffaro’s tomato garlic bread with Serrano ham and gazpacho was paired with Crianza Vintage 2009. The deep, cherry-red wine fills the mouth with ripe cherry and liquorice, which went delightfully well with the salty, fatty ham as well as the slightly spicy cold soup. The wine is cask-aged for 12 months, with further ageing in the bottle, making it fresh and vibrant to the palate and pleasantly light for a red.
The second course was a platter of tortilla with chorizo, tiger prawn in garlic sauce and chicken skewered with leek. Such an explosion of flavours needed something no less intense than Montecillo Reserva Vintage 2007, which ages in barrels for 18 months. This classy red sported spicy notes, vanilla and black fruit with mint nuances. The elegant tannins and long finish makes it ideal to pair with marinated meat and spicy dish.
The third course was even more flavourful: a lamb chop with cumin and paprika crust, grilled vegetables and squid and seafood paella. The platter was paired with Montecillo Gran Reserva Vintage 2005, which is very perfumed with a complex and elegant aroma of mature fruit. Such sleek and refined wine is a product of 24 months of ageing in barrels and another three years in the bottle.
The dessert was rich, sweet Catalan cream served with bittersweet chocolate mousse. The guests were treated to Osborne Porto Tawny, a Portuguese port made from five grapes – Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela and Tinta Barroca. The golden-brown elixir exudes subtle aromas of fine ageing, with well-rounded sweetness and gentle tannins.
Sip and study
_ Learn all about Montecillo at www.SiamWinery.com.
