Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 2008

Date of Tasting: 24 August 2013

Wine Type: Red

Grape Varieties: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot

Alcohol: 13.5%

Origin: California, USA

Appellation: Santa Cruz Mountains

Expect to Pay: ~ THB1,800 - 2,500 (retail price in Thailand)

Web: http://www.ridgewine.com/
Chubby Score: 90/100
Value for money: 5/10
Professional Rating: WA - 94/100, WS - 89/100, JS - 92/100, WE - 90/100, ST - 90/100, DC - 17/20, CT - 91/100

Appearance: ruby

Aroma: aroma of dark fruites with cedar and graphite

Palate: medium body of Caberbet Sauvignon base with dry and fine tannins, blueberries and currants with overhanging mineral and earth, herbal, tobacco boxes, express with medium length

This Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, which was call Santa Cruz, is elegant rather than big and bold. It is accessible at it s early life and is expected to perform excellently at least until the end of this decade. Not really the style that I would crape for as it lacks of sweet charm. Well, it is, nonetheless, a good bottle to enjoy. Cheers!!!!!

The China House @ Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

Cuisine: Chinese

Map: The China House @ Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

Price: THB900 per person without alcohol (what we paid for)

Visited: 21 September 2013

Food: 7/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Value for money: 7/10

Services: 7/10

Mentioning the prestigious Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, the very first things we always think of are quality and service. Indeed, The China House is one fine Chinese food destination for Bangkokian. The restaurant itself does not locate in the main building like Le Normandie or Ciao but it is located at the same wing as shopping plaza and parking tower: a two storey colonial building with dark and low light atmosphere representing lavishing feel. The dark wooden furnitures are elegant. The place is rather spacious and there are private rooms which are available upon request. As for service wise, it was good but we feel that some other restaurants of Mandarin Oriental Bangkok offer better and more friendly services.

China House @ Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

China House from outside

relax and contemporary interior

During lunch time, The China House serves dim sum everyday and it does also come in buffet choice which costs around THB900 per head. Again, it was dim sum and dim sum dishes are sort of similar everywhere. Please allow us not to go into detail of each one of them. Below is the list of what we had tasted.

Szechwan hot and sour shredded chicken soup - ซุปเสฉวนไก่ (6/10)
sweet corn crab meat and asparagus soup with shredded fish maw - ซุปข้าวโพดเนื้อปู (4/10)
deep-fried shrimps and mango waffle fritters - มะม่วงทอดไส้กุ้ง (5/10)
steamed scallop dumplings with green pea shoots - ฮะเก๋าหอยเชลล์ (6/10)
steamed salmon dumpling with red tobiko fish roe - ขนมจีบปลาแซลมอน (6/10)
spiced lotus root, water chestnut and kale crystal dumplings - ฮะเก๋ารากบัว (6/10)
shrimp and pork "Siew Mai" dumplings flavoured with X.O. sauce - ขนมจีบเอ็กซ์โอซอส (8/10)
"Shanghai" style juicy pork dumpling served with red vinegar - ซาลาเปาเซียงไฮ้ (9/10)
freshly made "Cha Siew" rice rolls with coriander - ก๋วยเตี๋ยวหลอดหมูแดง (6/10)

steamed buns filled with fragant coconut and egg cream custard - ซาลาเปาไส้ครีมมะพร้าว (6/10)
"Yang Zhou" style fried rice with barbeque pork and shrimps - ข้าวผัดหมูแดงและกุ้ง (9/10)
stir-fried egg noodles with seafood and soy sauce - บะหมี่ผัดซีฟู้ด (6/10)
mango and dragon fruit pudding - พุดดิ้งมะม่วง (8/10)

Out of these dishes, ones that really impressed us were "Shanghai" Style Dumpling and "Yang Zhou" Style Fried Rice. The dumpling was filled with delicious pork and juicy: typical dish that can be found in many places but well made here. As for fried rice, the good ones come in whole grain rice, not soaky, and delicious just on its own. This fried rice has it all. It was really enjoyable. I did not expect much with fried rice but it turned to be the one I really like. Else, Siew Mai was the most delightful among steamed choices here and mango pudding was pleasant. I am not normally a big fan of mango pudding but they made it savoury here that I could not resist.

Well, at the price around THB900 - 1,000 for buffet dim sum which is similar to other Chinese restaurants in fine hotels in Bangkok, The China House is sure one of the good choice for our return trip.

Szechwan hot and sour shredded chicken soup

sweet corn crab meat and asparagus soup with shredded fish maw

close up on sweet corn soup

deep-fried shrimps and mango waffle fritters (THB160)

steamed scallop dumplings with green pea shoots (THB150)

steamed salmon dumpling with red tobiko fish roe (THB220)

spiced lotus root, water chestnut and kale crystal dumplings (THB150)

shrimp and pork "Siew Mai" dumplings flavoured with X.O. sauce (THB180)

dipping Siew Mai into soy sauce

"Shanghai" style juicy pork dumpling served with red vinegar (THB100)

vinegared Shanghai Xiao Long Bao

freshly made "Cha Siew" rice rolls with coriander (THB200)

steamed buns filled with fragant coconut and egg cream custard (THB220)

fully filled bun with custard

"Yang Zhou" style fried rice with barbeque pork and shrimps

stir-fried egg noodles with seafood and soy sauce

mango and dragon fruit pudding

petit fours

The China House @ Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

48 Oriental Avenue
Bang Rak
Bangkok 10500
Thailand

Open Hours: Tue - Sun 11:30am - 02:30pm for lunch and 06:00pm - 10:30pm for dinner

Tel: +66 (0) 2659 9000 ext 7650
Web: http://www.mandarinoriental.com/bangkok/fine-dining/the-china-house/

Allegrini La Poja 2004

Date of Tasting: 6 September 2013

Wine Type: Red

Grape Varieties: 100% Corvina

Alcohol: 14.5%

Origin: Veneto, Italy

Appellation: IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica)

Expect to Pay: ~ THB2,500 - 4,000 (retail price in Thailand)

Web: http://website.allegrini.it/
Chubby Score: 90/100
Value for money: 4/10
Professional Rating: WA - 92/100, WS - 88/100, WE - 93/100, FS - 94/100, CT - 91/100

Appearance: dark and dense red

Aroma: herbal and fruity nose

Palate: thick layers coated with sweet and dark red fruits and plum, big body but refined tannins, somewhat oaky, expansive acidity, sexy but need time for this sleeper to wake up, mild sweetness only

During the week before, I had had the first bottle of La Poja and was not impressed at all. It was kind of acidity dominant. The week following I decided to try the second bottle and this time it was better. Seriously, corvina is definitely not my style of red wine. If you like fruit dominant old world style red wine with thick layers, here is an interesting bottle to try and it would last for another decade easily. I still keep one last bottle to see how this local Veronese red wine evolves. Perhaps I would see you again in the next few years.