Wine dinners are always an enjoyable way to sample new wines, savour the best cuisine a restaurant has to offer, and meet people who, similarly, enjoy some of life’s finer offerings. Recently, Leonardo’s Dining Room & Wine Loft hosted a marvellous evening of wining and dining, pairing a multi-course meal with a selection of outstanding De Bortoli wines from Yarra Valley, Australia provided in conjunction with Albert Wines & Spirits, one of Malaysia’s premier wine and spirits distributors. On hand to introduce the wines and offer insight into the vineyards that produced them was De Bortoli’s Export Manager, Nikki Palun, and she was joined by Albert Tan, the Managing Director of Albert Wines & Spirits.

Delighted diners started out with an offering of De Bortoli sparkling wine, and as the meal began with a rich Zuppa de Mare seafood soup, the paired wine was a perfectly chilled Gulf Station Sauvignon Blanc whose crisp notes accentuated and complemented the soup’s flavours and acidity quite well. This course was followed by a fresh Avocado and Crab Salad, which was paired with a beautiful, medium-bodied Gulf Station Pinot Noir, laced with nuances of dark berries and spice. As the evening progressed, diners noshed on a choice of mains, either a brilliant Roasted Rack of Lamb or a juicy Grilled Rib-eye Steak, complemented perfectly with a bold, peppery Gulf Station Shiraz Viognier. Those with any room left were treated to a picture-perfect Red Wine Poached Pear with a Malbec Coulis. The dessert wine was none other than De Bortoli’s triumphant, award-winning Noble One, a botrytis Semillon wine redolent with notes of pear, honey, and oak, balanced impeccably with lingering hints of acidity. A perfect finish to a terrific evening.

Albert Wines & Spirits is now celebrating 20 successful years as a leader in the field of wholesale and retail distribution of not only outstanding wines from around the world, but some of the world’s premium spirits, as well. Together with one of their many labels, De Bortoli Wines, and the efforts and hospitality of one of Bangsar’s finest dining venues, Leonardo’s, Albert Wines & Spirits provided a dining room full of well-contented patrons with a truly enjoyable and memorable evening of good food, good wine, and good company.

For the latest offerings and events from Albert Wines & Spirits, please visit www.albertwines.com.my or e-mail [email protected].

Source: The Expat August 2012
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