Where can Expats find 'proper' wine? (Shanghai)

Dear Wine Lovers,

At this year’s Decanter Magazine’s Protected content Awards, some Protected content our wines were listed among the elite being commended: and winning Gold, Silver & Bronze medals and special prizes. A good number of these wines are below ¥200, some below ¥100 as all our wines are offered well below the retail price.

The Special Offer on these Winning Wines? 10% discount (which is actually around 20% off the retail price) will begin, on November 20th (for those still available) only for existing customers. No further discount. Register your early interest by email or sms, please. Standard Delivery cost. Minimum order of 12 bottles (3 of any single wine). Some are already Bin Ends: stock is understandably limited.

It's gratifying to know wines we choose to sell are doing well at all price points. Thought you might like to know, with the Festive Season coming. Those with links have further information on our site. The others are found on our PDF longlist on the right hand side of every page. We still haven’t list all the winners yet…

Commended
De Bortoli Family Selection Chardonnay Protected content on site)
Sella&Mosca La Cala DOC Protected content on site)
Lindeman’s Bin 40 Merlot Protected content long list)
Miguel Torres Sangre de Toro Protected content long list)
Joseph Drouhin Laforêt Protected content Pinot Noir (details on site)
Miguel Torres Santa Digna Estelado Rosé NV (PDF long list)
De Bortoli Windy Peak Pinot Noir Protected content long list)
Torres Celeste Ribero del Duero (details on site)
Miguel Torres Manso de Velasco Protected content long list)
Bava Moscato D’Asti Protected content long list)
De Bortoli Estate Grown Chardonnay Protected content long list)
Robert Mondavi Private Selection Chardonnay Protected content Coast (PDF long list)
Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Protected content long list)

Bronze
De Bortoli Family Selection Cabernet-Merlot Protected content on site)
Kleine Zalze Cellar Selection Bush Vines Chenin Blanc Protected content on site)
Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Chenin Blanc Protected content on site)
Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon Protected content long list)
Torres Viña Sol (Parellada) (details on site)
Miguel Torres Chile Santa Digna Carmenére Protected content long list)
Lindeman’s Bin 45 Cabernet Sauvignon Protected content long list)
Torres Vina Esmeralda: Bronze Medal Protected content
De Bortoli Windy Peak Chardonnay Protected content long list)
Sacred Hill Sauvignon Blanc Protected content on site)
Sacred Hill Brokenstone Protected content long list)
Miguel Torres Gran Sangre de Toro Protected content
Rosemount Diamond Label Cabernet Sauvignon Protected content long list)
Terredora Fiano Di Avellino (Sadly, Discontinued)
Robert Mondavi Fumé Blanc Protected content Valley (PDF long list)
Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Protected content (PDF long list)
Rosemount Balmoral Syrah Protected content Vale (PDF long list)
Bava Protected content (PDF long list)

Silver
Bodegas Salentein Portillo Malbec Protected content on site)
Miguel Torres Chile Cordillera Carmenère Protected content long list)
Terredora Loggia della Serra Protected content , discontinued)
Leon Beyer Gewurztraminer Cuvée Comtes d’Eguisheim Protected content long list)
Château d’Esclans Whispering Angel Protected content long list)
Château d’Esclans Les Clans Protected content long list)
Château d’Esclans Garrus Protected content long list)
Castello di Querceto Protected content Classico Riserva (PDF long list)
Miguel Torres Perpetual Protected content long list)
Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Protected content (PDF long list)

Gold
Flechas de los Andes Gran Malbec Protected content on site)
Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut Protected content long list)

Value prizes:
Port under £15 Trophy: Graham’s Six Grapes Reserve NV (PDF long list)
Australian Sweet over £15 Trophy: De Bortoli Noble One Botrytis Semillon Protected content long list)
Port over £15 Trophy: Graham’s Quinta dos Malvedos (PDF long list)
Vintage Champagne Trophy: Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Protected content long list)

Thoughts, on Awards:
Those that have read previous musings about the validity of tasting panels on this site will be aware that they are considered by many to be far from an exact science and not at all the bottom line in quality control that a novice might expect.

Indeed, many reporters argue that blind tastings throw up so much variation in results as to render any scoring system fruitless. Despite this (and try as it might) the wine world has no more universally appealing system in place than judges, err... judging on a points scale and basing their opinions squarely within the framework of a Quality Value Ratio. That means that an expensive wine achieving a bronze medal has a lower quality value ratio compared to a lower cost wine achieving, say, a gold. One must bear in mind that this does not mean that the low cost wine is 'better' than the high cost wine yet; merely that it represents better value and can be considered to be punching above its weight.

That said, we must be aware that there are political and commercial dimensions to large scale events, that can’t be ignored. Regions back certain producers and lend their weight. Trade delegations do their thing to promote their nations, etc. And of course, you have to enter a competition to win it. Self selection in this way affects outcomes, by discriminating against those who don’t enter (for whatever reason). Many great producers don’t enter at all: yet some supermarkets enter so many of their own branded wines (literally dozens and dozens), that it’s clear who has the massive marketing budget to throw at these events. It's not a level playing field.

So long as the awards are seen as a guide, with perhaps an awareness of the associated showbiz-type commercial hype; considering all the evidence in the available data, then we can relax about the outcomes. Having said that, it's always nice to know the wines you opt to sell are doing well; though we won’t get too carried away about it.

Here are the Special Promotion Rules (Only for existing customers):
• 10% discount will begin, on November 20th (for those still available),
• No further discount (remember, our wines are already offered well below the retail prices).
• Register early interest by email or sms. Some are already Bin Ends: stock is shrinking.
• Standard Delivery cost.
• Minimum order of 12 bottles (3 of any single wines).
The Wine Man