Eat Drink KL: Wine Talk Malaysia: Great Wines Made Easy

Friday, June 26, 2015

Wine Talk Malaysia: Great Wines Made Easy


At Eat Drink KL, we love wine - a meal becomes more memorable through the adventure of choosing the right bottle & the satisfaction of enjoying a beautiful pairing of food & wine.

For people who feel the same way, Wine Talk, Malaysia's premier wine delivery service, can make the experience fun, convenient & affordable. With more than 400 labels available to order, personally hand-picked by sommelier David Stephan & delivered to customers' doorsteps (free delivery with a minimum order of RM120), there's a red, white or sparkling from Wine Talk that's ideal for every occasion.

We put Wine Talk to the test this month, calling on them to select a specific wine from their range to pair with five diverse dishes from restaurants in KL & Selangor. The outcome: No problem - whether you're into fish or meat, having brunch or dinner or just dessert, going Japanese or Italian, Wine Talk has you covered.

P.S. For Eat Drink KL readers, here's another reason to order from Wine Talk at www.winetalk.com.my: Get RM60 off on any purchase of RM180 & above by using this code: ED60

1. Grilled mackerel at Robata Monkey, Jaya One


Wine Talk's recommendation:
Best paired with: Viu Manent 'Secreto' Viognier
Price: RM83.74 (incl GST). Type: White wine. Country: Chile


Viu Manent is a Chilean winery owned by the Viu Family. It was founded in 1935 when the Catalonian immigrant Miguel Viu-García and his two sons Agustín and Miguel Viu-Manent founded Bodegas Viu in Santiago de Chile. They bottled and sold wine on the local market under the “Vinos Viu” brand.  In 1966 Miguel Viu Manent fulfilled his long-time dream of making his own wines when he acquired the Hacienda San Carlos de Cunaco in Colchagua. This traditional estate included 150 hectares of vineyards planted to noble, pre-phylloxera vines, as well as a winery and manor house.
The estate is certified sustainable, so all works in the vineyards and the winery are done with an environmentally friendly and socially equitable approach.  All wines are made from their own vineyards within the heart of the Colchagua Valley; one of the countries’ most acclaimed wine regions, famous for its robust, full-body reds.
The ‘Secreto’ range has a closely guarded secret related to land, proportions, and balance. The result is a line of blended wines made with a primary varietal component that is recognized and complemented by a closely guarded ‘secret blend’ of up to 15% in each of these factors.
Viognier is a great aromatic white varietal and this is a perfect example of its kind. The fresh nose recalls exotic fruits such as guava as well as apricots and ripe pears with subtle notes of citrus fruits and flowers. The palate is viscous yet fresh, with tremendous volume. It is very fruity and balanced with a long and persistent finish.

2. Eggs Atlantic at The Bee, Publika


Wine Talk's recommendation:
Best paired with: BodegaMuga 'Conde de Haro' Cava
Price: RM137.80 (incl GST). Type: Sparkling Wine. Country: Spain


A great Cava from a great Rioja producer; The foam is dense and persistent, providing an inkling of its structure in the mouth. The nose is dominated by tangy fruit and floral aromas. In the background we find fermentative notes from the wine´s transformation in the bottle (honey, vanilla, liqueur). The combination of fruit, acidity and fine lees results in a surprising sensation of fullness that invites one to continue tasting it. The fruity notes return in the aftertaste, with predominant spices that, for several seconds, leave a very pleasant memory.

3. Oven-roasted duck with cocoa duck jus at Porcupine Place, Setiawalk Puchong


Wine Talk's recommendation:
Best paired with: Domaine Antugnac Pinot Noir
Price: RM86.92 (incl GST). Type: Red. Country: France


This Pinot Noir comes from parcels situated on the highest level of over 500m that has the cooler climate that develops the delicate armors. This cuvee is half is aged in old barrels and has an expressive nose of black cherry and spices with a beautiful attack; this is ample and fruity with a fresh finish of delicate oak hints.
Conclusion: Beautiful wine; serve it slightly chilled with some roast duck, or grilled lamb chops

4. Seared beef tenderloin with carrot puree & Belgian endives at Palazzo Viva, Bangsar


Wine Talk's recommendation:
Best paired with: Chateau De Terrefort-Quancard, Bordeaux Superieur
Price: RM86.92 (incl GST). Type: Red. Country: France


The origins of Château de Terrefort-Quancard go back in the mists of time, with part of the building dating back to before the 16th century. It has been owned by the Quancard family since 1891. The estate, situated on the highest point of the hillside of the commune of Cubzac-les-Ponts, looks out over the Dordogne, between the Côtes de Bourg and the Côtes de Fronsac. The chateau’s vines benefit from a microclimate that is ideal for winegrowing: moderately warm, humid, masses of sunshine and mild winters.
The Bordeaux Superieur appellation represents wines produced in high-quality sub-regions, outside of the villages-appellation, with better potential than a classic Bordeaux appellation. Very often they offer wines with great value, like this yummy cuvée! After harvest, the fermentation is done in concrete tanks, and part of the production is aged in oak barrels. It showcases an appealing garnet red colour, and displays a delicate bouquet with fragrances of candied fruit and spices. Medium-bodied and ripe on the palate with mellowed tannins, this is a generous red with a delightful fruity finish.
5. French toast with poached pear at Wanderlust, Solaris Mont Kiara

Wine Talk's recommendation:
Best paired with: Chateau Les Arroucats, St Croix Du Mont
Price: RM93.28 (incl GST). Type: Sweet wine. Country: France


Wines chosen by: David Stephan

Wine Talk’s sommelier, David Stephan, grew up in a fishing village in the Bretagne region of Western France. He studied hospitality and sommelerie in professional school for four years, with stints in hotels & renowned restaurants of his region and in Paris. 
 In 1999, he moved to the Caribbean, on the small, exclusive island of St Barthelemy, working in five-star resorts. He spent two seasons in L’Esprit Salines, one of the island's top restaurants, where he managed a splendid premium wine list.  He spent summers in France working in a catering company but also visited diverse wine regions across countries for personal development. 
 In late 2003, he took up a position in China, managing one of the city’s first French Brasseries, and participated to open two new outlets.  In 2006, he joined a local wine importer & distributor, selling and supplying fine wines to hotels, restaurants and private clients across the country. 
 In 2011, David and his wife relocated from China to Kuala Lumpur, which they now call home.

About Wine Talk Malaysia
Wine Talk is an online wine delivery service where customers can easily order wines via www.winetalk.com.my or via call to 1300 88 9788. Customers can choose from over 400 labels of red wine, white wine, sparkling wine, champagne, rosé wine, even non-alcoholic wine, and have them delivered to their home, office, wedding venue or any location within Peninsular Malaysia.

Wine Talk is known for successfully launching the Wine Club in 2012. “This is a club, and its members will get to be a part of its development to enjoy a wine journey that is meaningful and rewarding.  We offer members an exclusively access to wine that are imported exclusively for Wine Talk while also enjoying privileges such as exclusive member prices, surprises, access to events and more.” said David Stephan, Wine Talk’s sommelier.

Wine Talk’s Wine Club is the first of its kind in Malaysia. The Wine Club is an exclusive service with no membership fee wherein members will receive wine cases on a monthly or bi-monthly basis, delivered straight to their home. Members will receive great value wines with a different selection every time, handpicked by David. The selection will feature popular labels and also fun discoveries, which a lot of people may not have thought to try. It comes with a personalized booklet that details the history of the winery, grape varietals, tasting notes, food pairing and more. At only RM454 for 6 bottles and RM835 for 12 bottles with FREE delivery included, personalised selections from David Stephan, Wine Club members will enjoy a wonderful wine experience. And due to insistent demand, Wine Talk recently launched the Premium Wine Club selection for those who want a different level of wines to be handpicked by David. 

Anyone who is interested in discovering more about the Wine Club even has the option to arrange for personal wine tasting where a Wine Club ambassador explains more about it while serving wine and canapés to a customer.

Aside from the Wine Club, Wine Talk customers also enjoy wine advice for weddings, events, gifts and other requirements. David and his sommelier team take pleasure in serving the needs of customers via online, calls and personal appointments.

This is a sponsored post by Wine Talk Malaysia