 "<b>Alok Chandra:</b> Wines to make merry")
Tra la la la la — “tis the season to be jolly”, and all that. Okay, okay, so the West has Christmas to celebrate, and all the rest of us have the advent of CE 2017 (“Current Era” — it’s no longer considered right to call it AD or Anno Domini/After Christ) to consider, for better or worse.
Not sure what there is to celebrate this year-end, though, with demonitisation having taken a big chunk out of the cash in the system. Discretionary spending has naturally taken a hit, with one indication being an estimated 25 per cent dip in revenues of hotels, restaurants and sales of alcoholic beverages, as compared to November/ December 2015.
Still, life goes on, as does year-end gifting. Here is my list of some wines you may want to consider.
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Krsma K2 2013 (Rs 780 in Bengaluru): Krishna Prasad, owner of Krsma Estates Hampi (North Karnataka), sells his wines only in Bengaluru and New York. When the 2013 vintage of his flagship wine, Krsma Cabernet Sauvignon (Rs 1,500 in Bengaluru), did not come up to his expectations, this was set aside and later bottled as “K2”. Grab a bottle while you still can — there’s no saying when the wine will be repeated.
SDU Reserva Syrah 2013 (Rs 900 in Bengaluru): The SDU Winery near Bengaluru is owned by Shambhavi Hingorani, the younger daughter of Congress politician S M Krishna, and it arguably produces some of India’s best red wines. The Syrah is fruity and spicy, with a smooth and full-bodied taste. There’s also a Cab at Rs 1,000, but I think the Syrah has an edge in quality.
Chandon Brut Rosé (Rs 1,400): A beautiful rose-pink colour, this Syrah-Pinot Noir wine from Chandon India is the perfect gift for starting a party (and keeping it going) without having to spend big bucks for the privilege. Aromatic and creamy — a lovely wine.
The Wolftrap White/ Rosé / Red (Rs 1,675 in Bengaluru): Produced by the tongue-twister Boekenhoutskloof winery in Elgin, South Africa, these wines are well-made and very drinkable, with a stylised wolf logo on the label that makes the wines instantly recognisable. Great quality price ratio for imported wines. Big brother, “The Chocolate Block” (Rs 4,844), is a cult wine that’s best for special occasions.
Brancaia TRE Rosso Toscana 2013 (Rs 3,094 in Bengaluru): A “baby super-Tuscan” that is 80 per cent Sangiovese and the balance Merlot and Cab, with a label that is the byword in minimalist design and displayed at Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan. The 89 points from Wine Spectator are for the complex aromas and medium-bodied mouthfeel of a classic Sangiovese blend from Tuscany.
Of course there’s no end to how much you can spend as prices for imported wines can quickly reach Rs 10,000 or more for some labels.
Wishing all readers Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Alok Chandra is a Bengaluru-based wine consultant