As part of Cheng International’s #AtHome Instagram series, their range of Baijiu spirits have been showcased by The Wine Tipster and other expert guests including Enrico Gonazato, Andrea Dionori and QiQi Chen, highlighting how to enjoy the spirits both traditionally and in modern ways. Here, The Wine Tipster discusses four Fenjius that have become contemporary luxury lifestyle spirits with a rich history and cultural background which are available to buy in the UK from Harrods and Selfridges, although are sometimes, incorrectly, referred to as ‘Fen Chiew.’ 

Over 90% of Baijiu is drunk in China, making this an exciting new addition to the European drinks market. Baijiu is an established and ancient drink, with an undeniable popularity which has only increased as the versatile spirit has been experienced in new ways. Traditionally enjoyed neat, Baijiu’s ancient fermenting and distilling processes of the sorghum grain give the three Baijiu styles their distinctive aromas: light aroma, sauce aroma and strong aroma. In recent years, Baijiu has increasingly been used as a focal spirit in cocktails and long drinks, proving itself to be a hugely accessible spirit and one that can be savoured in a wide range of ways.

Fenjiu is the oldest Chinese Baijiu in existence. This light aroma Baijiu has been produced in the same ancient and handmade way in Fenyang City in the Shangxi province of North East China for over 6000 years. The intense labour and time required to make the spirit, along with Fenjiu’s advanced quality testing and control systems, result in the product’s unique and outstanding quality and taste. The nose and palate of each Fenjiu offers a wonderful spectrum of aromas and flavours and, just like premium wine, single malt whisky, Vintage Port or the finest cognacs, Fenjiu offers a fascinating and exceptional multi-layered tasting experience.

Fenjiu’s delicate and light aroma starts from its ingredients of the finest organic sorghum and karst water from 840 metres underground from the virgin forest. Fenjiu is also set apart from the sauce aroma and strong aroma Baijius through its traditional double fermentation and distillation process that uses earthen cylinders. The burying of these cylinders underground, covered with stone slabs and sealed with fresh grain for 28 days provides the optimal environment for fermentation and produces the highest level of fragrance, purity and quality. The distillation of the fermented grain is achieved by the manual addition of cornhusk before distilled grains go into second fermentation. The distilled alcohol is then stored in ceramic jars to mature for 1-50 years, a key step in the developing of flavour.

 

The Cheng International #AtHomeWithFenjiu Instagram events have been hugely popular, and The Wine Tipster has introduced audiences to the versatility of this luxury spirit. Having taken Instagram Live viewers through the history, heritage and tasting notes of four different Fenjius, here, The Wine Tipster also shares his advice for enjoying the spirits alone or as cocktails.

Fenjiu 30 year old 53% provides an incredible drinking experience when neat, with an intense and concentrated palate of multiple fruit and savoury flavours complementing its umami undercurrent and smokey top note. In terms of food matching, the possibilities are immense due to the combination of flavours here. For The Wine Tipster, rich savoury dishes cooked with a fragrant spice or rich fruit element – such as slow-cooked pork in sweet ginger or duck in plum sauce – would complement the spirit well. Alternatively, a rich fruit cake would bring out the candied peel, cherry and cinnamon elements of the Fenjiu 30 year old 53%.

Fenjiu Bamboo 10 year old 38% makes a great base for a contemporary cocktail. The infusion of bamboo leaf, honey and herbs in the spirit give it its clear and bright appearance, as well as its sweet and elegant palate of citrus, vanilla and floral tones. The Wine Tipster’s Fenjiu Honey Tang Cocktail brings out all of these amazing characters:

• Into a High Ball glass filled with plenty of ice, pour 20ml Fenjiu Bamboo 10 year old 38%.
• Add 80ml of a good quality dessert wine, ideally with honey and citrus tones such as a dessert Riesling from Australia or a Sauternes from Bordeaux.
• Add 40ml of fresh lemon (or lime) juice
• Top up with 160ml tonic water

Garnish with a slice of lemon and enjoy your perfectly light and refreshing summer cocktail.

Fenjiu Bamboo 10 year old 48% is a pure expression, with no infusions, giving it softly sweet and spicy notes, and alluring savoury and herbal notes. This balanced and complex Fenjiu brings immense depth to the short and zesty cocktail, the Fenjiu Orange Charmer:

In a cocktail shaker, combine

• 20ml Fenjiu Bamboo 10 year old 48%
• 40ml Campari – a perfect match for the Fenjiu’s orange notes
• 80ml fresh orange juice
• Top up with 20ml ginger ale and use a long spoon to stir until well mixed

Serve in a martini glass, garnishing the glass with a slice of fresh orange before enjoying.

The Wine Tipster’s final Fenjiu cocktail uses Fenjiu Panama 20 year old 42% with its amazingly velvety coffee and mocha aromas and flavours. On the palate, this Fenjiu is rich and spicy, with a tangy and complex dark chocolate and cigar elegance that makes it a perfect serve on its own or in a cocktail. The Wine Tipster’s take on a classic Espresso Martini utilises this sublime spirit for his very own Espresso Fenjini:

In a cocktail shaker, combine

• 40ml Fenjiu Panama 20 year old 42%
• 120ml double espresso – a top quality one like Nespresso
• 20ml pure cane sugar syrup

Serve in a coupette glass garnished with coffee beans. What a perfect finale to any evening!

The versatility and dexterity of all four Fenjius highlight what a great addition they make to a drinks collection. As a first foray into Baijiu, Fenjiu makes for an accessible and highly sophisticated experience.

For more information and orders, contact order@chengintl.co.uk, and look out for upcoming Baijiu events on Cheng International’s Instagram.

This weekend saw the 2017 QIPCO Guineas Festival at Newmarket: the first two features of the five Classics for the three year old racehorses. The Wine Tipster attended both the 2000 Guineas on Saturday for the colts, and the 1000 Guineas on Sunday for the fillies, and enjoyed, like the other spectators, the excitement around this festival and the chance to discover the talent of the three year olds. After a fabulous weekend of racing, we are sure to have true champions for the 2017 season.

Saturday 6^th May: The first day of the festival highlighted that Churchill, trained by Aidan O’Brien, has carried on from his two year old days and justified favouritism by winning the 2000 Guineas in impressive style. There were also strong form lines from this race with Barney Roy, Al Wukair and Eminent chasing him home. This leaves Churchill 7-4 favourite for the Derby, and we’ll have to hope he takes his place at Epsom.

Sunday 7^th May: This race saw the favourite, Rhododendron, have a troubled passage, and failing to collar her impressive stable mate, Winter, who travelled superbly throughout the race, showing the potential to be a real champion. Despite her difficult run, Rhododendron showed a fantastic turn of foot and will definitely be winning races in 2017. The Wine Tipster fancied her to win not only for her amazing performance at Newmarket last year, but because, as Alan Titchmarsh says, May is the best month for Rhododendrons. The 1000 Guineas race day also saw good performances from Frontiersman and race debutant, Way of Wisdom.

The Wine Tipster spent the weekend presenting in the Chez Roux Restaurant with fantastic dishes prepared by the legendary Albert Roux. Popular wines throughout the Guineas Festival included Bolney Estate Foxhole Vineyard Pinot Gris, and Prophet’s Rock Dry Riesling.

The Wine Tipster also presented on the course TV, promoting the ‘racecourse experience’ featuring the Purely Prosecco Bar with high quality and stylish Proseccos from the famous producer Bisol. As well as enjoying some bubbles, there were some very tasty Powter Sausages from Newmarket, who were established in 1881 and have been associated with the racecourse for 50 years; A delicious way to celebrate the Guineas.

 

The other three Classics coming up are Oaks and the Derby at Epsom in June, and the final Classic, The St Leger at Doncaster in September. The Wine Tipster is looking forward to seeing how the runners from the Guineas perform in the coming months.

The Wine Tipster/Sommelier presented at Newmarket’s Dubai Future Champions Festival on 9th and 10th October in the Champions Gallery Restaurant at the Rowley Mile Course.

Guests were treated to some top class racing from a fantastic vantage point. They enjoyed a high quality dining experience including

Venison Scotch Egg, seared Cold Fillet and Sticky Pineapple Upside Cake paired with delicious wines. Popular choices were Moët & Chandon Rosé Imperial NV, Riva Leone Barbaresco DOCG 2011 Piemonte,

Jean Biecher & Fils Riesling 2014 Alsace and Chambolle-Musigny Domaine Roux 2012 Burgundy.

Stand out racing performances at the Dubai Future Champions Festival included the exciting Air Force Blue, Gifted Master and the remarkable Grumeti, who won the Betfred Cesarewitch, at 50/1. The Cesarewitch is one of the great flat races as a spectacle, with 34 runners racing over two miles two furlongs.

An ideal experiences for novices and regular racegoers alike.

You may have just waved goodbye to the relatives and not had a chance to consider your New Year’s Eve vino so here are a few time saving selections from The Wine Tipster. If champagne is your fizz of a choice then Harvey Nichols have a few bottles left of the stunning Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut Millesime 1998 at a great price of £52.50. Of course you might be throwing a party and looking for ground pleasing bubbles for under a tenner then The Wine Tipster would rather go with the dry, applely, characterful Prestige Cava Brut NV, Penedes, Spain, £8.99, M&S, than a prosecco at the same price. For pink fans, the Moscato Rosé 2012, Bosman Family Vineyards, Wellington, South Africa, £8.99, M&S, is creamy, with ripe strawberry fruit, only 8% abv and a fun wine to kick off New Year’s Eve.

To keep your party rockin’ it is worth having a couple of crisp, fruity whites at home like Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Mâcon Villages 2011, Burgundy, France, £6.99 or Domaine Félines Jourdan Rousanne Chardonnay 2011, Côteaux de Bessilles, France, £7.99 or £7.59 when purchasing any 12 mixed bottles, The Oxford Wine Company.  Alternatively, if you want a more aromatic style then go for the peachy, lychee, spicy McManis Viognier Family Vineyards 2010/2011, California, USA, £10.99, Waitrose, Majestic £10.99 down to £8.79 if you buy 2 bottles of still Californian wines under £20.

Of course a still rosé must be on hand and the Zalze Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz Rosé 2012, Coastal Region, South Africa, £7.99, Waitrose, has just the right easy drinking, fruity, crowd pleasing style , whilst for the tinto fans, these have been some of the most consistently enjoyable reds of the year for The Wine Tipster starting with the Portal da Águia 2009, Tejo, Portugal, £8.00, Oddbins, from Rioja the medium bodied Campo Viejo Tempranillo 2010, Rioja, Spain, £8.29, – look out for offers – Tesco, Asda, Ocado, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and the excellent, well priced Negroamaro 2011, Puglia, Italy, £6.49, M&S

As the party organiser you need to think of some lower alcohol wines like the Dr. L Riesling 2010 Loosen Brothers, Mosel, Germany, abv 8.5%, £7,99, Majestic  or Tesco Finest Vinho Verde 2011, Portugal, abv 11.5%, down from £7.29 to £5.00 until 1/1/13.

Have a great time and here’s to a fruitful and fabulous 2013. Cheers!

 

The Wine Tipster was on yesterday’s BBC Radio Oxford Sunday lunch time show with the lovely Bill Buckley. Bill is a renowned foodie and wine lover and yesterday we went in search of different grapes – not for the wine trade but for us punters. First up was the crowd pleasing dry and fruity white Alma de Blanco Godello 2010, Monterrei, Spain, £7.75, Oddbins, with the very talented Godello on goal scoring form, then followed the delicious, limey, refreshing Charles Smith Kung Fu Girl Riesling 2010, Washington State, USA, £11.70, www.slurp.co.uk, Bibendum made by rockin’ Charles Smith, who used to manage rock bands before becoming a self taught winemaker.

On to the three reds, Tempranillo, the major red variety in Spain is becoming more well know, thanks mainly to playing a major role in the Rioja region and Campo Viejo’s Tempranillo 2010, Rioja, Spain, £8.39, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose is full of strawberry, plummy fruit with subtle spice and soft tannins. This is quality easy drinking and a great way to introduce people to Tempranillo. Touriga Nacional is the most important red grape variety in Portugal,

with some preferring Touriga Nacional blended with other grape varieties, whilst others like Touriga Nacional on its own like Tesco’s Finest Touriga Nacional 2010, Alentejo, Portugal, £7.99, which is packed with appealing flavours of damsons and plums. The final red on the show was the Delheim Pinotage 2011, Stellenbosch, South Africa, £14.49 or £13.77 when purchasing 12 mixed bottles Stockist: The Oxford Wine Company. Pinotage can be very easy drinking or like Delheim’s Pinotage full bodied, complex with nutmeg, raisins, dark fruits and a must with game. Decant this high quality red wine a couple of hours beforehand.

 

The Wine Tipster was introduced to Charles Smith’s Kung Fu Girl Riesling 2011, 11% abv, Washington State, at the stylish Merc Bar in Soho NYC last weekend.  This Riesling from the Evergreen Vineyard in Columbia Valley has to be one of my wines of the year because Smith’s Kung Fu Girl is bursting with ripe, super friendly fruit, balanced by attractive minerality. This is a wine to make you salivate and would be a popular choice for kicking off a party evening. Kung Fu Riesling 2011 is available in the UK from Slurp at  £11.70 or Bibendum Wines.

When you are next in New York, check out Soho’s Merc Bar because this stylish, loungy bar is producing top cocktails, with a broad, quality wine list at sensible prices.

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