An exclusive glimpse into the guided degustation of the collection.
By Aiden Jewelle Gonzales and Ashima Sethi
On the 30th of September, media and wine aficionados from across the country were invited to Anantara Siam‘s famed Parichart Courtyard to sample an exciting collaboration between the Anantara brand and one of Thailand’s most renowned winemakers, GranMonte.
After guests were seated, the emcee welcomed everyone on behalf of the entire Anantara team and the GranMonte family before handing the floor over to Nikki Lohitnavy, the winemaker behind the collection. Nikki introduced the five vintages that guests would be sampling over the course of the evening as well as the dishes, expertly by the kitchen brigade at Spice Market, which were carefully selected to pair with each of the wines.
Next, renowned artist Visarute Angkatavanich introduced his The Fighting Fish Edition photographs that were adapted into elegant labels for each bottle of wine. According to the photographer, the vision behind the design was to capture each fish’s unique personality and energy, which was then matched with each of the five vintages.
The first wine guests sampled was the Private Label Sakuna Rosé, a blend of Syrah and Grenache with a bouquet of berries that was paired with a dish of Crispy mackerel with simmered coconut milk and yellow bean (Lhon pla in see fu). A strong start, the complex flavours of the dish really brought out the fruity notes of the wine.
Second was the Private Label Spring Chenin Blanc that had refreshing aromas of tropical fruits like guava as well as hints of freshly cut grass. One of our favourites of the evening, it was paired with the classic Thai dish of Steamed seabass with chilli and lime (Pla kapong neung manao). Its acidity and sweet flavour complemented the sour elements of the fish.
Next we sampled the Private Label Spring Syrah Cabernet, an amalgamation of classic Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon flavour profiles encompassing capsicum and some spices. Not overly oaked, the wine was easy to drink, and elevated the flavours of the Deep fried roasted duck with chilli jam (Ped thod nam prik prao).
The second red of the evening was the Private Label Asoke Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah. Recognised as GranMonte’s icon wine from the year 2013, it can no longer be found anywhere on the market except for at Anantara properties. One of the most sought after wines in Thailand, the full bodied red has strong Syrah characteristics, making it a great choice to pair with the ultra tender Braised beef massaman curry (Gaeng massaman nuea) thanks to its spicy and earthy tones.
The final wine of the night was the unique GranMonte Bussaba Natural Sweet Wine made using four different grape varieties. Left on the vine for longer than usual, the wine was then aged in French oak barrels for eight months, resulting in a sweet wine with tropical fruit characters such as mango and pineapple and a touch of oak. Paired with Mango and sticky rice (Khao neaw mamuang), the dessert contributed to a very smooth mouth-feel. A fitting end to an enjoyable evening.
Masala would like to thank the Anantara team and GranMonte winemakers for their warm hospitality.
For more information about the collection visit anantara.com or granmonte.com
Or on Instagram @anantarasiambangkok and @granmontewines
