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We were thrilled to meet Pascal Jolivet, the owner of Domaine Pascal Jolivet, during his brief visit to Kuala Lumpur. We hosted Pascal at Nadodi, where we savored Sri Lankan cuisine alongside four of Pascal Jolivet's wines. We indulged in wines from the Signature range. These wines, known for meticulous grape handling and precise winemaking, originate from distinct terroirs—limestone, clay, and flint—using 100% indigenous yeasts and slow fermentations. The result: wines of exceptional finesse and minerality, always showcasing well-integrated acidity. The dinner was delightful, and though unplanned, we discovered that Pascal's wines complemented the food at Nadodi! The eight-course feast began with an appetizer and champagne. The first course, THE PRELUDE, featured Thosai, Scarmoza Paniyaram, and Mango Sodhi Tart in little bites. To enhance the special occasion, we tried Bollinger PN TX17! Next up, the HUMBLE BROTH, Nadodi’s take on Rasam, showcased Tamarillo Rasam with Heirloom Tomato, Wild Rice Puffs, and Curry Leaf Oil. Paired with Pascal Jolivet Sancerre 2022, a dry and elegant wine, it was full of fruity vibrance—a beautifully crafted Sauvignon Blanc with power, elegance, and finesse in perfect balance.   Moving on to the next course—Boston Lobsters with Black Truffle, Pineapple Brulee, Passion Fruit, and Black Garlic. The lobster was perfectly cooked, and to complement this delightful dish, we had Pascal Jolivet Blanc Fumé 2022. The initial impression was, 'Wow, this wine is smoky.' On the palate, it revealed itself as fruit-forward with citrus notes and a hint of smokiness. Interestingly, 'Blanc-Fumé' translates to 'Smoky-White.' Pascal Jolivet had been producing Pouilly-Fumé for 25 years, but starting from the 2018 vintage, he rebranded it as Blanc-Fumé to avoid consumer confusion with Pouilly-Fuissé (Chardonnay from the Mâconnais sub-region of southern Burgundy).    The star dish, CURRY IN A GLASS, featured Nadodi's signature Fish Head Curry with Shima Aji, Flat Rice, and Finger Lime, paired with Pascal Jolivet Sauvage—a perfect complement to its extreme flavorfulness. After that, we enjoyed a palate cleanser—RED BEET KARI, featuring Textures of Beetroot, Coconut Curry, and Peanut Crumble. The subsequent wine was special, as Pascal brought a Pascal Jolivet Sancerre 2010 Magnum. This 13-year-old white wine was delicious, showcasing the exceptional quality of his wines. Tasting the same wines but different vintages throughout the night allowed us to truly appreciate the nuances and changes as the wines aged. The final two dishes before dessert were WAGYU with Pepper Curry, Foie Gras Plum Chutney, Brocollini, and NOMADS GLOBE—an Organic Country Chicken with Short Grain Rice, Cashew Salna, Shallot, and Kyuri Salad. We chose to pair this with Lady Laroze 2015. To finish it off, the dessert was KESARI—roasted Semolina, Fresh Cow's Milk Ice Cream, and Fermented Raisin. Despite the short trip, we were genuinely pleased to reconnect with him after many years. Albert Wines proudly represents Pascal Jolivet as their official distributor. Click here to explore their Pascal Jolivet wines.  

Congratulations to Miguel A. Torres, the president of Familia Torres, for earning a spot on TIME magazine's list of the 100 most influential figures driving global climate action. He is featured in the "Innovators" category, making him the sole representative from the wine production sector on the list. TIME recognizes Torres for his pivotal role in establishing the International Wineries for Climate Action association, dedicated to reducing the carbon footprint of the wine industry. Torres is also acknowledged for his commitment to environmental sustainability through initiatives like SmartCrops 5.1, utilizing technology to adapt vineyards to the changing climate. In response to TIME's inquiry on the direction of climate activism, Torres emphasizes the need to break away from fossil fuels and underscores the importance of collaboration to expedite the decarbonization of their activities. Additionally, Torres is the driving force behind Torres & Earth, a climate action program initiated in 2008 to address climate change impacts. By 2022, the winery achieved a remarkable 36% reduction in CO2 emissions per bottle compared to 2008. The ambitious goal is to reach a 60% reduction by 2030, ultimately aiming to become a Net Zero emissions winery by 2040. TIME compiled the list by evaluating nominations from industry leaders, collaborating organizations, and the TIMECO2 Advisory Board. The focus was on recent actions and tangible, scalable achievements. The list features individuals contributing significantly to the fight against climate change while creating business value. The complete list is accessible on Time.com and will be featured in the December issue of TIME magazine—a highly regarded publication globally, known for its influential TIME 100 list, first introduced in 1999. Albert Wines is proud to be the official distributor for Familia Torres wines in Malaysia. To explore the Familia Torres wine range, click here. This article has been obtained from the Torres website.

Get into the Halloween spirit! Put on your best costume and join us at our participating outlets for a taste of our exclusive Halloween cocktails featuring Peddler's Gin! We've concocted four cocktails, each perfectly themed for the season. As an extra treat, don't miss our guest mixologist, Charles Lee, who will be crafting enchanting drinks at the bar. Check out his schedule below and join us for a night of fun! The participating outlets are: Bar Roca KL Piccola Kitchen & Bar Havana Bar & Grill BaBulan KL RATA Restaurant @ SS15 Subang Jaya HALLOWEEN COCKTAIL MENU This spooky menu is available only from October 24th to 31st, 2023. ALL COCKTAILS BELOW ARE RM38 BLEEDING HEARTSPeddlers Salted Plum Gin | Black Plum | Aperol | Soda THE SHININGPeddlers Salted Plum Gin | Grapefruit Soda I Lime I Salt WHITE RABBIT ESCAPEPeddlers Shanghai Craft Gin | Earl Grey Tea | Peach | Lime | Egg White HANNIBAL'S CHASERPeddlers Shanghai Craft Gin | Raspberry | Raspberry & Chili Foam Available at the following outlets: Bar Roca KL, Piccola Kitchen & Bar, Havana Bar & Grill and BaBulan KL Rata Restaurant Menu Please note that Rata has a slightly different cocktail menu. While they continue to serve the Bleeding Hearts cocktail, they've also crafted two new delights: Peddler's Plum Patek: Featuring our salted plum gin. Peddler's Gin and Tonic: A classic, crafted with our Shanghai Peddlers Craft Gin. Here is the full menu: BLEEDING HEARTSPeddlers Salted Plum Gin | Black Plum | Aperol | Soda PEDDLERS PLUM PATEKPeddlers Salted Plum Gin | Sugar Syrup | Lemon Juice | Egg White | Orange Juice | Plum Sauce PEDDLERS GIN TONICPeddlers Shanghai Craft Gin I Sugar Syrup |Lemon Juice | Tonic Water -ALL COCKTAILS 42 RM- Indulge in these exclusive concoctions at Rata! 🍹

What an amazing night at Soleil Restaurant & Wine Bar in DC Mall with Familia Torres Wines! Last week, Salim Frederic Isler, our Familia Torres brand ambassador, joined us in Malaysia. During the dinner, he shared insightful details about what makes Familia Torres special and the exquisite craftsmanship behind their wines. It was inspiring to hear about the passion and love that go into the wines they create, which made the entire dinner more special. To start our evening, we enjoyed an amuse-bouche: Smoked Spanish sardines rillettes on sourdough toast with pickled sweet pepper. This delightful bite was paired with the enchanting Vardon Kennett 'Cuvee Esplendor' - Penedes 2014. Tasting a sparkling wine from the 2014 vintage was a rare treat, and this one didn't disappoint. It revealed aromas of citrus and bready notes, delivering a fresh and elegant introduction to the evening. Our first course featured a beautiful Salted Cod Salad with black olive, semi-dried tomato, lemon, and Cava sorbet. Accompanied by Familia Torres 'Milmanda' Chardonnay - Conca de Barbera 2018, this medium-bodied wine exuded pronounced tropical fruit and bready aromas, impeccably complementing the light and refreshing starter. For the mains, we brought out the Magnums, presenting Torres' flagship wine, Mas La Plana—a Cabernet Sauvignon boasting intense aromas of cocoa bean and blackcurrants. On the palate, it offered a ripe blackcurrant flavor with a perfect balance of acidity and firm, ripe tannins. It was paired with a slow-cooked free-range Capon, Mushroom ragout, and tarragon sauce. Super yummy! Afterward, we had a King River purebred Wagyu with Roasted green asparagus and black garlic mashed potato. Paired with Familia Torres 'Gran Muralles' - Conca de Barbera 2015, this full-bodied wine offered a fruit explosion, showcasing blackberries, cherries, plums, and subtle herbal and spice notes. For dessert, we had a tasty Dried Fruits and Nuts Pudding with Caramelized Apple Ice Cream and Vanilla Sauce. It was great with the Familia Torres '20 - Hors d'Age' Superior Brandy. The brandy made the cinnamon spices in the dessert stand out, giving it a cozy, Christmas-like feeling. To cap off the evening, at Salim's request, I enjoyed an "Espresso Martini" with Familia Torres '20 Brandy instead of vodka. This unique cocktail left a lasting impression with its rich, creamy, slightly sweet profile and delightful vanilla notes—a perfect way to conclude a memorable night. Thank you to Chef Evert Onderbeke and his amazing team for making our night so special!

"Newbies Drink Wine" is our new series where our team members with little to no wine experience gather weekly to taste various wines. This is a fun way to expand our wine knowledge, learn how to recognize different tasting notes, and get together as a team. Weinrieder Riesling ‘Beerenauslese’ This wine has a lovely golden colour and smells like nuts, honey, and ripe pears. When we took a sip, we noticed the honey flavour, but there was also a hint of ripe pineapple. While this wine is a bit on the sweet side, it has a good amount of acidity to keep it tasting balanced. Decoding wine labels: Weinrieder: Estate Name Riesling: Grape Variety Beerenauslese/BA: A term used for wines made from carefully selected grapes that have been affected by botrytis (a type of fungus). When grapes are affected by botrytis, they shrivel up, which concentrates the sugar, acidity, and flavor in the grapes. We think this would go well with Foie Gras or serve as a great pre-dinner drink! Louis Guntrum ‘Nierstein Bergkirche’ Riesling Kabinett Right away, it had a unique smell of petrol, which is a classic characteristic of Rieslings. It was off-dry with a touch of minerality and a refreshing acidity when tasting it. We also detected citrus, melon, and a bit of green apple flavours. Try pairing this with sweet and sour fish or even a local dish that has a touch of spice to it! Decoding wine labels: Louis Guntrum: Brand Name Nierstein Bergkirche: Name of the single vineyard Kabinett: Sweetness Level - This is the lightest style of Riesling, made from grapes with a specific sweetness level. Kabinett wines range in style from dry to off-dry. Riesling: Grape Varietal