The surname Rothschild is very well known throughout the world of finance; however, it is also held with utmost respect in the world of wines. So it was with heightened expectations that we attended the deVine Wine Club Baron Philippe de Rothschild Gala Wine Dinner at the Royal Cliff.
The majority of the wines were from the Mouton Cadet cellars, but the Chateau was represented by a Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2007 (and more about that later).
Alice Agnellet charmed the diners with her exquisite description of the wines of the evening.
It was obvious right from the reception that the deVine Wine Club members had also turned out in their finery to sample the Rothschild winery (sorry about that, couldn’t resist it)!
The reception wine was Le Rose de Mouton Cadet, a Bordeaux which was very complex (Merlot 65%, Cabernet Franc 20%, Cabernet Sauvignon 15%) but spirited and succulent.
From the reception it was down to the Grill Room and Wine Cellar where GM Christoph Voegeli welcomed the members and guests and passed on the good news that the Grill Room had just been notified of its 10th consecutive Wine Spectator Award, a feat which has never been equaled in the world. Christoph then introduced Alice Agnellet, a charming young French lady who spoke on the wines, and without notes, I must add.
Alice spoke briefly on the history of the Baron Philippe, the youngest son in the family (called “Cadet” in French) and his passion for wine and how he wished to share that passion and did so by introducing a “little brother” to the Chateau, which was then called Mouton Cadet.
At formal wine dinners such as this, much work is done in the kitchens to ensure that the food and wines complement each other, and this task has always been more than merely ‘accomplished’ by Executive Chef Walter Thenisch.
For me, the dish of the night was the Baked cod loin wrapped in Parma ham and fresh sage on small ratatouille sauce verjus. None of the oiliness that one associates with cod, so much so that it could have been mistaken for snowfish (and was by many).
Jirawat Lohsiriphat; Lt.Somphon Charumilinda, MD; Patraporn Techapaibul, Senior Marketing Manager, Ambrose Wine Limited; Alice Agnellet, Commercial and Administrative Assistant, Baron Philippe De Rothschild, Orient; Panga Vathanakul, MD, Royal Cliff Hotels Group and Lt. Chawalit Techapaibul, Chairman, Ambrose Wine Limited.
For most of the diners, the wine of the night was the Chateau Mouton Rothschild Pauillac 2007, which was almost ‘big brother’ letting ‘little brother’ know who came first in the family hierarchy! Many thousands of baht a bottle, and for any wine enthusiast, worth every satang! One of the longest finishes you will ever meet. A superb wine by all standards.
Talking with some of the wine club members it was obvious that this wine dinner was more than just a dinner – it was an event.
Alice Agnellet, Patraporn Techapaibul and Lt. Chawalit Techapaibul, pose for a photo with Vathanai Vathanakul, VP, Royal Cliff Hotels Group and his charming wife Ummarapas Vathanakul.
Full marks go to Executive Chef Walter Thenisch (centre) and the Royal Cliff Grill Room kitchen and service staff.
Friends meet once again at this extraordinary wine event.
