Chilean Topwinemakers Dinner Pairing

When I first got the invitation to the Top Winemakers Chile wine pairing dinner, my first thought was, wow, that's a daring name, I mean, to name yourself as TOP WINEMAKERS CHILE...but of course, I did not know the story behind this, which I was to find out later.

The Wine Pairing Dinner was held in the cosy Chef Diary, which has always had consistent food when they were in Plaza Damansara but I have not visited since they moved to Sri Hartamas.  But of course, this isn't about the food per se, but mainly about the wines.

Pictured above, is Rafael Pietro, Top Winemakers President and Founder.  Here is a guy whose charisma and vision has united 100 top winemakers of Chile, to create an unprecendented collection of fine wines, unique in the world, integrating different styles and approaches of the various wine makers.  A unique gift set that was even presented to President Obama during his visit to Chile.

During the introduction, we were told that Pietro achieved almost an impossible task, of uniting the best Chilean enologists who got together for the first time in the wine industry (of Chile) in the production of a Box of Premium Wine.

For the dinner, two brands of wine were showcased,  The Multi and Top Winemaker.  The first course, Hickory Smoked Duck Breast with Cherry Tomato Jam, paired with the Multi Chile Wines Best Zone 2015 Cab Sauv...A perfect starter wine, medium bodied, with notes of berries and spice, which went very well with the duck which I have to say was very good.  Best Zone because the grapes are from the four best zones, which are Maipo Valley, Cochapoal Valley, Colchagua Valley and Maule Valley.

This Bottle will be retailing at RM289 when available, should be anytime soon.

The next dish, Grilled Padron Peppers With Chicken Liver Mousse and Manchego, paired with Multi Chile Wines Best Selection 2015 Blend.  Best selection takes the very best harvest of different varietes for the particular year, from different valleys.

This particular bottle, retailing at RM339, comprises 85% Cab Sauv, 7% Merlot, 6% Syrah and 2% Carignan.  It is a dark rich ruby colour, with stronger notes of dark fruits and a longer lingering finish.

Next, paired with Vodka Beetroot & Juniper Berries Cured Tuna With Pink Peppercorn and Wasabi, is teh Multi Chile Wines Best Vintage 2015 Blend, retailing at RM519.  It definitely feels like a celebration wine, comprising a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec 10% , Syrah 5% , Carmenere 5%.  Obviously by now we could see the trend, of taking the best of each category, so in this case, it was grapes from the best vintage years.

A very full bodied wine, that I felt should have paired with a meat more than the Cured Tuna.

I was saying that Mr Pietro sounds like he can be the future President of Chile, if he managed to unite Winemakers, which apparently is almost impossible, it would be like uniting 10 or 20 artists...

The Red Wine Semi Confit of Duck paired beautifully with the next premium wine, the Top Winemakers 50 Barricas de Chile Carmenere 2015. The Carmenere is mainly planted in Chile, although it originated in Bordeaux, it is hardly found in France.

In fact, the whole idea behind this bottle was as a tribute to the Carmenere, which supposedly had become "extinct" and rediscovered in Chile on 24 November (my birthday) 1994.

An amalgamation of the 50 best wineries of Chile, imagine that.  A wine of intense expression, fresh fruit and spice, and the epitome of historical Chilean Carmenere.  Barricas is barrels, in case you were wondering.

This fine bottle will be retailing at RM719.

And finally, the piece de resistance, the Top Winemakers 100 Barricas de Chile Cabernet Sauvignon, 2011, paired with a strange "dessert" of Iberian Lamb Cutlets with Almond Mint Pesto.

To summarise, this bottle of 100 Barrels Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 is putting Chile in a bottle... It represents 1% from each of the top 100 wineries. What an amazing feat, and what an amazing idea.

Booze House Enterprise
1-11, Kompleks 101 Prima
Jalan Kenari 2, Bandar Puchong Jaya
47100 Puchong, Selangor
Tel: 03-8070 6787

D Wine Shop
45-1, Jalan PJU 5/9
Dataran Sunway,
47810 Kota Damansara
Selangor
Tel: 03-6143 3855
Mobile : 011-2716 5687

The wines will only be available in Malaysia in 3 to 4 months time.