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Posted:
Monday, May 19 2008. 14:34 |
D'Ori Tops at BT More Challenge |
Dindori
based Chateau d'Ori, has walked away with 3 awards out of the 11 declared
by the Business Today BTMore publication in their latest June 1 issue.
Nine Hills, Reveilo and Sula follow with 2 each in the first attempt
by the leading national bi-monthly business magazine to rate Indian
wines, reports Subhash Arora |
A
total of 38 labels had participated in the maiden effort of Business
Today to judge Indian wines produced in the 40 plus wineries across India.
In addition to the leaders-Indage, Sula and Grover, many others including
ND, Indus, Reveilo, Diageo and Pernod Ricard had participated. The wines
were procured directly by the magazine staff.
Here are all the results,
based on the blind tasting by the 8-judge panel and ratings on a modified
20- point system devised by UC Davis. Appearance, Aromas, Flavour and
Overall Impression were the criteria for marking.
The blind tastings were
meticulously planned and efficiently executed by the Shangri-la staff.
BEST WHITE WINES
1. Chenin Blanc
Nine Hills Chenin Blanc 2007
Rating - 12.8/20
Price – Rs. 500 ex-Delhi
Reveilo Chenin Blanc 2006
Rating : 12.8/20
Price: Rs. 505 ex-Mumbai
Runner – Up
Indus Chenin Blanc 2006
Rating : 12.1/20
Price : Rs. 420 ex – Mumbai
2, Sauvignon Blanc
Chateau d'Ori Sauvignon Blanc
Rating : 12.8/20
Price : Rs 460 ex-Mumbai
Honourable Mention
Grover Viognier Clairette
Rating : 13/20
Price : Rs. 420 ex-Delhi
BEST RED WINES
1. Cabernet Sauvignon
Nine Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Rating : 11.75/20
Price : Rs. 500 ex-Delhi
2. Cabernet Blend
Chateau d'Ori Cabernet Merlot 2007
Rating : 12.8/20
Price : Rs. 550 ex-Mumbai
3. Syrah/Shiraz
Reveilo Syrah Reserve 2005
Rating : 13.3/20
Price : Rs. 545 ex-Delhi
Runner-up
Sula Dindori Reserve Shiraz 2007
Rating : 12/20
Price : Rs. 700 ex-Delhi
4. Merlot
Chateau d'Ori Merlot 2007
Rating : 11.5/20
Price : Rs. 460 ex-Mumbai
5. Honourable Mention
Sula Red Zinfandel
Rating : 12.1/20
Price : Rs. 480 ex-Delhi
The Panel of Experts
- Subhash Arora, President, Indian Wine Academy, and
founder of the Delhi Wine Club, he is also editor of delWine. He
has judged top wine competitions in Italy, UK, Germany and India.
He was the Chairman of the panel.
- Andrew Steele, a well-travelled wine connoisseur,
who has completed four of the exhausting five steps to becoming a Master
of wine (about 260 people in the world hold this title).
- Rocky Mohan, Executive Director, Mohan Meakin, presides
over Old Monk rum, and is the author of three books on Indian cuisine.
He divides his loyalty between single malts and good wine.
- Bill Marchetti, Corporate Chef, Spaghetti Kitchen
chain of restaurants and a wine connoisseur.
- Mohit Balachandran, Deputy General Manager, Olive
Bar & Kitchen, is a regular at wine events from Singapore to Bordeaux.
- David Anstead,The Executive chef at Shangri-la, New
Delhi, has traveled around the world. The American is known for planning
wine dinners. where he lends an Indian twist to international dishes.
- Rochie Rana, A talk show host at Radio Meow, she is
a wine lover and has authored a book on colour therapy
- Sourish Bhattacharyya, Executive Editor, Mail
Today, he is also BT More's wine columnist
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| Comments: |
|
| Posted By : Abhay Kewadkar |
May 31, 2008 14:13 |
While I compliment the publication for this
initiative and the importance given to wines as a product, I have
the following points to bring to your kind attention, more on a personal
note:
1 . On Page No 8, it is mentioned “In the first-ever rating
of Indian wines, BT More got eight experts from around the country”.
In my understanding, and also looking at the profile of the people,
it seems that they have been chosen on the basis that they are
based in Delhi.
In this aspect, it is definitely not true representation of experts
from all over the country.
2. The UC Davis 20-point rating scale is not as precise as compared
to other 20-point ratings like Jancis Robinson & Decanter,
it is rather vague.
The scale shows that wines between points 9-13 are “standard
wines with neither outstanding character or defect”. Same comment
is repeated for wines with points between 13-17. In effect, all the
wines between points 9 – 17 are standard wines with neither
outstanding character or defect. This does not allow precise
judging.
This is my opinion and maybe the judges had their reason to follow
this system. In that case, in the blind tasting, some international
wines should also have been kept to understand where Indian wines
stand. I repeat, it is easier to understand with Jancis Robinson
and Decanter rating system.
3. For the benefit of all, I am giving herewith the comparison among
the three rating systems:
Decanter |
|
Jancis
Robinson |
|
UC
Davis |
Points |
Rating |
|
Points |
Rating |
|
Points |
Rating |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wines below commrcial |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
acceptability |
9 |
|
|
9 |
|
|
9 |
|
10 |
Bad |
|
10 |
|
|
10 |
Standard
wnes with |
11 |
Poor |
|
11 |
|
|
11 |
neither
outstanding |
12 |
Mediocre |
|
12 |
Unbalanced
or faulty
|
|
12 |
character
nor |
13 |
Acceptable |
|
13 |
|
|
13 |
defect |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14 |
Fair |
|
14 |
Deadly
dull or |
|
14 |
Standard
wnes with |
|
|
|
|
borderline
unbalanced |
|
|
neither
outstanding |
15 |
Good |
|
15 |
|
|
15 |
character
nor |
|
|
|
|
Average
but distinguished |
|
|
defect |
16 |
Good+ |
|
16 |
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
superior |
|
|
|
17 |
Very
good |
|
17 |
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
|
|
A
cut above superior |
|
|
wines
of outstanding |
18 |
Very
good+ |
|
18 |
|
|
18 |
characteristics,
no |
|
|
|
|
A
Humdinger |
|
|
defects |
19 |
Excellent |
|
19 |
Truly
exceptional |
|
19 |
|
20 |
Superb |
|
20 |
l |
|
20 |
|
I wish you all the best in all your future initiatives on wines
and I am certain you will also look forward to some fine tuning.
Regards,
Abhay Kewadkar
Business Head (Wines)
United Spirits Limited
‘Canberra’, UB City, 24, Vittal Mallya Road
BANGALORE: 560 001
Ph: +91 80 3985 6881 / E-Mail ID: abhay@ubmail.com |
| |
|
Posted By : Sourish Battacharyya |
May 28, 2008 15:13 |
Subhashji, I was wondering if you could add these
links to your story on the BT More Indian Wine Ratings story.
|
| |
|
Posted By : Sourish Battacharyya |
May 26, 2008 13:00 |
Dear Subhashji,
We had judged Indage wines. They
were included in the 38 wines on the list.
To be fair to the industry,
we purchased wines from the portfolios of the major wineries in the
country, especially those that didn't respond to our message requesting
the wineries to select the wines that they had wanted to be in the
competition.
Have a great stay at Jerez.
Warm regards.
Sourish Battacharyya
For Business Today, BT More
|
| |
|
Posted By : Subhash Arora |
May 25, 2008 11:11 |
Hi Mahua,
Information I had was that Indage wines were there. We were not
provided with the list of the judges. I am marking a copy to teh
organisers and shall correct accordingly on Wednesday when I am back
from Spain.
Subhash
Jerez, Spain |
| |
|
Posted By : Mahua Roy |
May 24, 2008 12:11 |
Dear Subhash,
This is just to bring to your notice that Indage was not a part
of the BTMore Wine Challenge. Would request you to kindly make the
necessary amendment in the following story.
Best regards,
Mahua Roy
Manager – Corporate Communications & PR
Champagne Indage Ltd.
Indage House
82, Dr. Annie Besant Road,
Worli, Mumbai – 400 018
Tel: 91-22-6654 7933
Fax: 91-22-2491 3435
Mobile: +91 99308 55772
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