Top-notch wine is not only crafted from premium grapes; it is the culmination of passionate, traditional winemaking to create a distinctive aroma.
The Peak Resort Dining recently hosted the Koyle wine dinner, an exciting evening for wine lovers in Bandung, with the brand introducing its organic wine to the city for the first time. Max Unduraga, Principal at Koyle Organic Wine, presented four wines to tempt guests’ curiosity.
Koyle is a premium winery from Chile and is located in the upper Colchagua Valley, literally on the slopes of the Andes Mountains. The Undurraga family, who had been producing wine since 1885, founded the brand in 2006. Koyle is a terroir-oriented winery, meaning they believe that the natural environment in which the grapes are cultivated imparts the character and flavor of the wine. Located in Colchagua, the brand produces only red wines that are handpicked and vinified in small lots, after which they are soaked in French barrels.
Koyle’s uniqueness relative to other Chilean wines consists in the three pillars on which the brand is founded. Their fine wines have perpetuated a family passion and tradition since 1885; they produce only premium terroir wines and manage their vineyard organically and with biodynamic methods. The wines come from vineyards located on extreme turf such as soils of volcanic origin with a large proportion of rocks – very deep and with good drainage. The cold breeze from the Andes Mountain and the ocean influences the climate. Given these ideal circumstances, Koyle grows its wine on a small scale, producing low yields with a high concentration for intensive fruit and mineral flavors and a uniquely local taste – a full expression of its origins and life around the vines. The wines have high acidity and low alcohol content to present the wine lover with something a little different.
After a long period of studying the top techniques for producing the best wines, the Unduraga family decided on an organic and biodynamic method of production. After some years of going about this way they discovered that these methods expressed the full profile of the native trees and the natural characteristics of the land. It’s little wonder that biodynamic wines often bespeak balance, expressing their soil and surroundings with a greater clarity and depth of aromas and flavors than their conventional counterparts.
A beginner’s guide to drink wine
Eddy Sugiri, a wine connoisseur at The Peak, discovered his love of wine while studying in Germany, when his professor asked him to assist him in his wine business. His passion for wine grew stronger and stronger the more he learned. He is now the owner of The Peak Resort Dining and recently opened The Peak Connoisseurs, one of the big wine distributors in Bandung.
Eddy shared his tips for beginner wine drinkers on how to choose a wine;
- Acknowledge your preferences (sweet, acid, bitter)
- When pairing your wine with food, remember the old saying: “White goes well with white and red goes well with red.” (White wine for white meat, such as poultry or fish; red wine for red meat such as beef)
- Know the grape. Red wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Carmenerre.
- White wines include Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and Semillon.
- An enjoyable wine doesn’t have to be expensive; choose based on your preferences.
- Wine is a cultivated taste. Beginners should stick with sweet aromatic wine such as muscat for white wine and pinot noir for red wine.
- If you’re new to wine, do not choose old vintage with a full body.
Koyle Costa
Sauvignon Blanc
A weighty but lithe wine with a well-balanced acidity. It has a floral, gingery taste that leaves a hint of citrus. It is a high acid wine that is lean yet bright.
Koyle Royale
Carbenet Sauvignon
A remarkably full-bodied and fruity Cabernet Sauvignon, it has a vivid array of red and black fruits with impressive floral notes supported by notes of spicy French oak. The fine, ripe tannins make this wine better with age. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained, polished tannins and typical notes of cedar wood and tobacco and moderate acidity. It’s a fruity, juicy wine that carries the spiciness of toasty oak. This wine had a much fuller and complex structure with perfectly silky tannins and flavors that seemed never-ending.
Koyle Gran
Reserva Syrah
A remarkably full-bodied and fruity Cabernet Sauvignon, it has a vivid array of red and black fruits with impressive floral notes supported by notes of spicy French oak. The fine, ripe tannins make this wine better with age. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained, polished tannins and typical notes of cedar wood and tobacco and moderate acidity. It’s a fruity, juicy wine that carries the spiciness of toasty oak. This wine had a much fuller and complex structure with perfectly silky tannins and flavors that seemed never-ending.
Koyle Gran
ReservaCarmenere
This wine comes from the hills of Colchagua in Chile’s Central Valley region, outside of Santiago. It’s clear and bright and an opaque purple. It begins with a pleasant fruit flavor dominated by blackcurrants, roasted oak and plums. There are also notes of chocolate and fresh herbs for an uncomplicated and juicy aroma. The spicy and earthy opening notes lead to a long, dry finish.
