Robert De Niro, old Champagne, allergies and China 3x — sipped & spit
SIPPED: critiquing the critics
Robert De Niro honors Francis Ford Coppola’s cinematic achievements–by commenting on his wine (and their scores). Be sure to check out the video for the PinotShiraCab! [LA Weekly]
SIPPED: 19th century Champagne
Remember those old Champagne bottles found by divers in the Baltic? Well, they were popped open last week and one taster said that the Veuve Clicquot had “immense concentration.” Must not have been yellow label, then!
SPIT: glycoproteins?!
New research suggests that glycoproteins in wine may be the cause allergic reactions. Will we see a Surgeon General’s warning for glycoproteins on the label before we see any mention of possible health benefits of wine? [Science Daily; Journal of Proteome Research]
SIPPED: Burgundy woos China
A Chinese film star inaugurated was scheduled to inaugurate the annual Hospice de Beaune auction, where the catalogues also had Mandarin on the cover. Burgundy officials announced a €400,000 to “conquer the Chinese market.”
SIPPED: Lafitte
A Chinese businessman has purchased a dormant Bordeaux label–Chateau Chenu Lafitte–for his son. “Our objective is to sell the wine in China.” [Sud Ouest]
Sipped: Dining arbitrage
Thomas Keller dinner in Hong Kong, $835; Per Se, $275 (wine not included). [WSJ]
On November 22nd, 2010 at 4:29 pm ,Didier wrote:
Actually, regarding Beaune, the Chinese actor Liu Ye had to fly back just before the auction. Apparently, he will try to make it up by bringing in Chinese journalists to praise Burgundy wine in the near future.
400,000 seems to be a lucky number for Burgundy, since it was also the record-breaking winning bid for the cuvee du president.
On November 22nd, 2010 at 5:01 pm ,Dr. Vino wrote:
Didier – thanks for your intel from on the ground–I stand corrected and have adjusted the above!
Apparently, the number “4” is an unlucky number in China. So maybe both will be raised next year to 800,000 since “8” is a lucky number?