The Walman Report®
Featuring
Travel Restaurants Entertainment & Wine 
By Nancy Walman
As Aired on
WQXR, The Radio Station of the NY
Times, Seen in
Delta & Continental In-flight Magazines, CulinaryGourmetNY, The Internet
World Guidebook &
Syndicated to Newspapers, Magazines & Websites Worldwide
Copyright 2006 by
Punch In International® News Syndicate
http://www.punchin.com/
E-Mail: walmanreport@punchin.com
Punch In is Proud to be the Recipient of the
Prestigious 5 Star Web-Award For Distinguished Content
Wine On Line®
Nancy Walman, Publisher
Copyright 2006 by
Wine On Line® News Syndicate
http://www.wineonline.net/ E-Mail: mailto:wine@punchin.com
HI. Wines
OLIVIER PASQUINI
Olivier is the founder and President of
Hi. Wines. His passion
for wine can be traced back to a
childhood spent in Périgord,
France (in the South near Bordeaux,
famous for truffles
and other gastronomic pleasures).
Olivier has experienced
the French Paradox all his life. He sees
himself as a Carpe
Diem kind of epicurean whose motto is
“Never waste good
time!”
With an MBA from Europe, Olivier left in
1991 for Harvard
University to follow the Graduate
Extension School academic
programs in Business and Economics.
After graduating from
Harvard, Olivier worked on Wall Street
for 10 years. One day
he had a revelation and decided it was
better to crush
grapes than crunch numbers. He believes
personality and
lifestyle best describe people, and therefore
is always on the
lookout for chic simplicity.
A New Yorker for over 12 years, Olivier
is married to a beautiful
and stubborn Italian woman. They have a
3 year-old son
who looks just like his mom and has a
gift for languages. He
can say Merlot in English, French and
Italian.
NEIL TURNER
Neil is the Vice-President and National
Sales Manager of Hi.
Wines. Neil is originally from Texas. He
has 14 years of
experience in the wine industry, most
notably working for
successful distributors and retailers,
both in Texas and New
York. The first time he saw Hi. wines,
Neil naturally replied by
a polite but vigorous
"howdy!". Neil Joined Hi. Wines
in June 2006.
FRIENDS and MENTORS
This exciting adventure is made possible
by the help and
guidance of some of the best
professionals in the wine
industry, friends and mentors:
Jean-Claude Berrouet (oenologist
winemaker at Château
Petrus), Gerard Bertrand and Francois
Miquel (oenologists
winemakers at Domaine l’Hospitalet),
Jacqueline de Sibour
and John Ryan III (Board Member, Château
Latour), Pierre
Beuchet (founder, Diva Group), Cesare
and Marisa Adami
(oenologists winemakers at La Riva Dei
Frati)
HI.
Pinot Noir
VIN DE PAYS D’OC
2005
Grape variety
100% Pinot Noir
Area
Selected vineyards on the highest hills
(1,000 to 1,300 feet in altitude) near Limoux (Terroir Haute-Vallée). The hills
are oriented North-North West and maintain a cold soil temperature at night.
The terroir combines limestone soil and a Mediterranean climate with oceanic influences.
The vines are 20 to 30 years old and produce yields of 40 hl/hectare
Harvest
Green-harvesting in June to improve the
quality of the grapes and reduce the yields. Exclusively hand-picked at the end
of September, the grapes are of very good quality and great maturity. The small
grapes and the little juice resulting is a highly concentrated wine. No
chemicals are used on the vines during the year.
Vinification
The grapes are de-stemmed and macerated
for 15 to 20 days at a controlled temperature of 25° to 30°C. Frequent
pumping-over guarantees the best expression from this grape variety.
Alcohol: 13.5%
Ageing
Malolactic fermentation and ageing take
place in tanks for 6 months minimum before bottling. The wine is then gently
fined and bottled, followed by further bottle-ageing prior to release.
Tasting notes
Intense red with a purple tint. Nose
rich in small red berries (blackcurrants and wild strawberries) as well as
sweet spices. Very agreeable in the mouth, fine with a beautiful mellow tone
and elegant structure. The result of a perfectly mastered vinification and
perfect quality grapes.
Served at 16°C, it will make a wonderful
accompaniment to poultry in a creamy sauce, duck fillet with cherries, or a
mellow cheese.
HI.
Ovation
VIN DE PAYS D’OC
2005
Grape varieties
40 % Chardonnay
40 % Grenache blanc
16 % Sauvignon blanc
4 % Muscat sec
Area
Selected vineyards in the villages of
Bizanet and Ornaisons in the Pays d’Oc. The vines are planted in high density
(6,000 per hectare) and, as a result, produce fewer, more compact bunches
comprising smaller grapes with thicker skins and less juice for greater
concentration in the wine.Yields are only 35 hl/hectare.
Harvest
Careful hand picking of only the very
ripest grapes in the finest condition at early September for chardonnay,
sauvignon blanc and muscat sec and late september for grenache blanc. Picking
time is between 7 and 10 a.m. to avoid any oxydation of the grapes resulting
from the hot temperatures rising around mid-day.
.
Vinification
Grapes are pressed immediately after
picking. The juice is vinified in stainless steel vats. By controlling the
temperature at 18° to 20°C, the freshness and intensity of the aromas are
preserved.
Alcohol: 12.5%
Ageing
The wine is then aged for four months on
lees. Following blending, the wine is slightly fined, carefully bottled, and
further bottle-aged for a few months prior to release.
Tasting notes
Pale yellow colour with green tints. The
nose is complex, both floral (laurel, acacia, box tree) and fruity (exotic and
citrus fruits). Very aromatic mouth with a nice acidity level. Grades of fresh
fruits and an unctuous final. Very enjoyable and easy to drink wine, thanks to
its aromatic freshness.
To be served at 12-13°C on hot and salty
starters, fish, poultry and fresh cheeses.
To be discovered too as an aperitif.
HI.
Syrah
VIN DE PAYS D’OC
2005
Grape varieties
85 % Syrah
10 % Grenache noir
5 % Cabernet Sauvignon
Area
The vineyards are close to Narbonne, on
the 1st slopes of Corbieres. The soil
is composed with clay and fractured limestone The weather is hot and windy which helps reaching a perfect
maturity and very healthy grapes.
The vines are 15 to 40 years old and
produce yields of 40 hl/hectare.
Harvest
Green-harvesting can be done during
summer time to improve the quality of the grapes and help reducing the yields.
Hand-picked during September and sometimes October for the latest varieties as
Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes are of very good quality and great maturity. No
chemicals are used on the vines during the year.
Vinification
The grapes are destemmed, macerated on
skin and vinified separately in the traditional way for 20 days at a controlled
temperature in stainless steel vats with 2 mixes every day
Alcohol: 13%
Ageing
Malolactic fermentation and ageing take
place in tanks for 6 months minimum before bottling. The wine is then gently
fined and bottled, followed by further bottle-ageing prior to release.
Tasting notes
Deep red colour with shiny tints. The
nose is complex, both floral (violet) and fruity (red fruits, raspberry).
Supple and fruity attack, with very soft tannins. Very long and fruity aromatic
persistence. Pleasure wine, very palatable and savoury
Serve at 16-17°C or even cooler during
summertime.
Enjoy with delicatessen & cold
starters, traditional cuisine or BBQ and all kinds of cheeses.
HI.
GARNACHA
Denominación de Origen (DO) Navarra,
Spain, 2005
Grapes
100% Garnacha – old vines
Vineyards
Olite – Pitillas – Ujue, Central Navarra
(Spain)
Very poor, clay soils with calcareous
rocky ground, average altitude of 520 meters. This wine is produced from a
selection of the best old vines grow in the vineyards of Central Navarra.
Harvest
Prolonged periods of excessive heat,
with warm and dry weather. However,
average altitude of 520m creates temperature differences between hot days and
cool nights, creating slow ripening, good maturity and acidity.
Winemaking
The best grapes from some of the oldest
vines are selected. Traditional ageing in stainless tanks at controlled
temperatures, followed by 3 month bottle aging.
Alcohol: 13%
Tasting Notes
This is a medium-bodied, fruit-driven
(cherry/berry) Garnacha with low acidity, fragrant and rich, with peppery spice
from old vines. Intense, cherry red
color with clear, bright violet hues, this wine can be enjoyed young or aged.
Food Pairings
Ideal accompaniment to red meats, game
and cheese.
Hi.
PROSECCO
Denominazione di Origine Controllata
(DOC) Valdobbiadene, Italy, 2005
Grapes
100% Prosecco
Vineyards
Valdobbiadene in the Veneto region of
Italy. The soil is mixed: stoney, grainy, rocky, clay-laden and fertile. High
altitude, steep slopes cause shallow vine depth very rich in micro-elements.
Valdobbiadene is known for its high altitude, low-yielding and hand-picked
Prosecco.
Winemaking
Hand-harvested Prosecco made in the
“Frizzante” style to be lively, fresh, pleasant and light with moderately low
alcohol.
Alcohol: 11.5%
Tasting Notes
Very pale straw yellow color with floral
and citrus aromas. Soft, clean green apple and citrus fruit on the palate.
Food Pairings
Perfect for everyday celebrations as an
apéritif, paired with light dishes (grilled fish, vegetables), appetizers, or
desserts. Served well chilled.
HI.
Pinot Noir
VIN DE PAYS D’OC
2005
Grape variety
100% Pinot Noir
Area
Selected vineyards on
the highest hills (1,000 to 1,300 feet in altitude) near Limoux (Terroir
Haute-Vallée). The hills are oriented North-North West and maintain a cold soil
temperature at night. The terroir combines limestone soil and a Mediterranean
climate with oceanic influences. The vines are 20 to 30 years old and produce
yields of 40 hl/hectare
Harvest
Green-harvesting in June to improve the quality of the
grapes and reduce the yields. Exclusively hand-picked at the end of September,
the grapes are of very good quality and great maturity. The small grapes and
the little juice resulting is a highly concentrated wine. No chemicals are used
on the vines during the year.
Vinification
The grapes are de-stemmed and macerated for 15 to 20
days at a controlled temperature of 25° to 30°C. Frequent pumping-over
guarantees the best expression from this grape variety.
Alcohol: 13.5%
Ageing
Malolactic fermentation and ageing take place in tanks
for 6 months minimum before bottling. The wine is then gently fined and
bottled, followed by further bottle-ageing prior to release.
Tasting notes
Intense red with a purple tint. Nose rich
in small red berries (blackcurrants and wild
strawberries) as well as sweet spices. Very
agreeable in the mouth, fine with a beautiful mellow tone and elegant
structure. The result of a perfectly
mastered vinification and perfect quality grapes.
Served at
16°C, it will make a wonderful accompaniment to poultry in a creamy sauce, duck
fillet with cherries, or a mellow cheese.
HI.
Ovation
VIN DE PAYS D’OC
2005
Grape varieties
40 % Chardonnay
40 % Grenache blanc
16 % Sauvignon blanc
4 % Muscat sec
Area
Selected vineyards in the villages of Bizanet and Ornaisons
in the Pays d’Oc. The vines are planted in high density (6,000 per hectare)
and, as a result, produce fewer, more compact bunches comprising smaller grapes
with thicker skins and less juice for greater concentration in the wine.Yields
are only 35 hl/hectare.
Harvest
Careful hand picking of only the very ripest grapes in
the finest condition at early September for chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and
muscat sec and late september for grenache blanc. Picking time is between 7 and
10 a.m. to avoid any oxydation of the grapes resulting from the hot
temperatures rising around mid-day.
.
Vinification
Grapes are pressed immediately after picking. The
juice is vinified in stainless steel vats. By controlling the temperature at
18° to 20°C, the freshness and intensity of the aromas are preserved.
Alcohol: 12.5%
Ageing
The wine is then aged for four months on lees.
Following blending, the wine is slightly fined, carefully bottled, and further
bottle-aged for a few months prior to release.
Tasting notes
Pale yellow colour with green tints. The nose is
complex, both floral (laurel, acacia, box tree) and fruity (exotic and citrus
fruits). Very aromatic mouth with a nice acidity level. Grades of fresh fruits
and an unctuous final. Very enjoyable and easy to drink wine, thanks to its
aromatic freshness.
To be
served at 12-13°C on hot and salty starters, fish, poultry and fresh cheeses.
To be
discovered too as an aperitif.
HI.
Syrah
VIN DE PAYS D’OC
2005
Grape varieties
85 % Syrah
10 % Grenache noir
5 % Cabernet Sauvignon
Area
The
vineyards are close to Narbonne, on the 1st slopes of Corbieres. The
soil is composed with clay and
fractured limestone The weather is hot
and windy which helps reaching a perfect maturity and very healthy grapes.
The vines
are 15 to 40 years old and produce yields of 40 hl/hectare.
Harvest
Green-harvesting can be done during summer time to
improve the quality of the grapes and help reducing the yields. Hand-picked
during September and sometimes October for the latest varieties as Cabernet
Sauvignon. The grapes are of very good quality and great maturity. No chemicals
are used on the vines during the year.
Vinification
The grapes are destemmed,
macerated on skin and vinified separately in the traditional way for 20 days at
a controlled temperature
in stainless steel vats with 2 mixes every day
Alcohol: 13%
Ageing
Malolactic fermentation and ageing take place in tanks
for 6 months minimum before bottling. The wine is then gently fined and
bottled, followed by further bottle-ageing prior to release.
Tasting notes
Deep
red colour with shiny tints. The nose is complex, both floral (violet) and
fruity (red fruits, raspberry). Supple and fruity attack, with very soft
tannins. Very long and fruity aromatic persistence. Pleasure wine, very
palatable and savoury
Serve at
16-17°C or even cooler during summertime.
Enjoy with
delicatessen & cold starters, traditional cuisine or BBQ and all kinds of
cheeses.
HI.
GARNACHA
Denominación
de Origen (DO) Navarra, Spain, 2005
Grapes
100%
Garnacha – old vines
Vineyards
Olite
– Pitillas – Ujue, Central Navarra (Spain)
Very
poor, clay soils with calcareous rocky ground, average altitude of 520 meters.
This wine is produced from a selection of the best old vines grow in the
vineyards of Central Navarra.
Harvest
Prolonged
periods of excessive heat, with warm and dry weather. However, average altitude of 520m creates temperature differences
between hot days and cool nights, creating slow ripening, good maturity and
acidity.
Winemaking
The
best grapes from some of the oldest vines are selected. Traditional ageing in
stainless tanks at controlled temperatures, followed by 3 month bottle aging.
Alcohol: 13%
Tasting Notes
This
is a medium-bodied, fruit-driven (cherry/berry) Garnacha with low acidity,
fragrant and rich, with peppery spice from old vines. Intense, cherry red color with clear, bright violet hues, this
wine can be enjoyed young or aged.
Food
Pairings
Ideal accompaniment to red meats, game and cheese.
Hi.
PROSECCO
Denominazione di Origine
Controllata (DOC) Valdobbiadene, Italy, 2005
Grapes
100%
Prosecco
Vineyards
Valdobbiadene
in the Veneto region of Italy. The soil is mixed: stoney, grainy, rocky,
clay-laden and fertile. High altitude, steep slopes cause shallow vine depth
very rich in micro-elements. Valdobbiadene is known for its high altitude,
low-yielding and hand-picked Prosecco.
Winemaking
Hand-harvested
Prosecco made in the “Frizzante” style to be lively, fresh, pleasant and light
with moderately low alcohol.
Alcohol: 11.5%
Tasting Notes
Very
pale straw yellow color with floral and citrus aromas. Soft, clean green apple
and citrus fruit on the palate.
Food
Pairings
Perfect
for everyday celebrations as an apéritif, paired with light dishes (grilled
fish, vegetables), appetizers, or desserts. Served well chilled.
These reviews are available and have been seen on the Internet. Click here to see an index of other reviews on the worldwide web <http://www.punchin.com>. <http://www.wineonline.net>. They have been heard on WNCN, WEVD and WQXR radio, seen in Fodor's and Mobil Guide Books, and printed in Chocolatier, Troika, Trump and Metropolitan Millionaire magazines and newspapers and throughout the world, including the NY Post, Women's Wear Daily and the NY Times, via the Punch In International Network. This review may be reprinted free of charge, so long as source and byline credit are included: "The Walman Report," "Punch In International®," Wine On Line International®.
CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE PUNCH IN HOME PAGE
CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO WALMAN'S NEWEST REVIEWS
CLICK HERE FOR WALMAN'S HISTORIC REVIEWS
CLICK HERE FOR INTERNET WORLD TRAVEL GUIDE
CLICK HERE FOR BROADWAY ON THE NET