First Wine Review in Hong Kong - Roshambo 2000 Syrah

After moving to Hong Kong for about a month and a half, I finally opened a bottle of wine at home. It is not like I have not drank wine in Hong Kong yet, but far from it, since many times when my lovely employer took out its employees to many of lunches or dinners, there are always wine there. However, I just have not opened a bottle of wine at home yet, especially from one of my collection that I brought with me in New York.

I moved my wine here by regular transit, which isn't exactly the best conditions for wines to spend in for 6 weeks. However, it would have been hard for me to get my firm to pay for air-conditioned, temperature controlled shipment just for my wine, I thought, oh well, what the hell, lets take the risk. Fortunately, I thought the wine tasted much better this time around than the first time I drank this wine earlier this year in February. The wine was 2000 Roshambo Syrah Dry Creek Valley.

I opened this bottle on a slow Friday night, after getting home from work and eating dinner at home around 10pm, with a business trip looming the next day. I thought the wine had good aromatic note of roast coffee and plum (which I didn't notice at first, but became pretty apparant after the bottle is opened for a while). Even later, the note of violets started to appear as well. Flavor of smoke dominates the wine and the fruit was overpowered. A hint of spice but I thought it was little bitter, similar to the first time I had this wine. I don't think there are enough substance or fruit to compensate the bitterness. Finish is decent, and there is a lingering eucalyptus taste, a little minty, a little mediciny, but pretty interesting. I thought this wine was B- when I drank it this past February, but I am now bumping this up to a B just because of the eucalyptus tasting finish (which I did not notice the first time). However, the bitterness killed the score a little, but good thing the bitterness didn't carry to the finish.

Hey, I just realized that my fridge is really small. My unfinished bottle of wine wouldn't be able to stand up in my fridge in one of the side holders in the fridge that people put milk and juice in. It would have fit, but with the addition of the winestopper, it doesn't fit. This is horrible . . . . I think I need a better place, but at least I am saving money . . . Which might end up going to the high wine prices here, so I might no come out that ahead . . .

Oh yeah, if anyone is coming to Hong Kong, can I trouble you to bring me two bottles of wine? =)