Best of the Maldives: American Wine – One & Only Reethi Rah

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One and Only Reethi Rah bottle of Screaming Eagle

 

Happy Independence Day! The 4th of July is the day of red, white and blue. In the Maldives, you sit on the flour white sand surrounded by the turquoise blue waters. So to add that star-spangled final touch, consider a glass of the rarest of American red wines – Screaming Eagle. Considered by Cult Cab at the best cabernet you will ever find, they produce only 500 cases per year. Despite limiting purchases to 3 bottles per person, they still have a waiting list over 5,000 long. Exclusive to One & Only Reethi Rah, they have both the 2006 and 1999 vintages of this exquisite Napa gem.

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Best of the Maldives: First Growth Wine – One & Only Reethi Rah

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One and Only Reethi Rah first growth wines

 

Wines have their own 5-star system to help buyers distinguish between the subtle quality differences. Although in the wine world the “5 star” system is the 5 “Crus” and the grading is flipped (“1” is best and “5” least distinguished). Actually, the full “Cinquieme Cru” is only for Medoc red wines, but other French wines have comparable classifications. The grading follows the property (not unlike resort ratings) and denotes the quality of the vineyard and a wine making operation.

At the top of the class (or “classee” so to speak) are the “1er Cru Classé” (sort of translated as “first class growth”). And at the top of the class in the Maldives for 1er Cru Classé selection is One & Only Reethi Rah. First growth wines on the Island include such legendary bottles as…

  • 2001 Château Latour, 1er Cru Classé
  • 1999 Château Latour, 1er Cru Classé
  • 1985 Château Lafite Rothschild, 1er Cru Classé
  • 1999 Château Lafite Rothschild, 1er Cru Classé
  • 2009 Château Mouton Rothschild, 1er Cru Classé
  • 2004 Château Mouton Rothschild, 1er Cru Classé
  • 1993 Château Mouton Rothschild, 1er Cru Classé
  • 1989 Château Margaux, 1er Cru Classé
  • 2003 Château Margaux, 1er Cru Classé
  • 2009 Château Haut Brion, 1er Cru Classé
  • 2006 Château Haut Brion, 1er Cru Classé
  • 2001Château Haut Brion, 1er Cru Classé
  • 1995 Château Haut Brion, 1er Cru Classé

They even have a very rare vintage of Château d’Yquem – 1904 1er Cru Classé Superieur.

Here at Maldives Complete, the “1er Cru” of all things Maldivian is of course “Best of the Maldives”. And so many vinous distrinctions have come to my attention recently that I have added the new “wine” tag to the categories.

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Best of the Maldives: South African Wine – Constance Halaveli

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Constance Halaveli sommelier

South Africa Freedom Day today. And no better way to toast the new, modern generation of South Africa than with one of its delectable wines. At each resort we visit, Lori and I always enquire about what’s a bit unconventional and we haven’t had before. And when Lori and I visited Constance Halaveli, the sommelier Cedric Jacob, served up some delightful South Africa varietals including A.H. Badenhorst (see below). We are no strangers to South Africa’s fermentations, but Halaveli’s extensive collection was the broadest we had seen in the Maldives. This vineyard in Swartland, North of Stellenbosch, produces this 9 grape young vintage blend, mostly Chenin Blanc (30%) which is “quite engaging, very complex” as Cedric describes. Constance Halaveli is a bit of a specialist in Southern Hemisphere wines with their distinctive Brazilian offerings as well.

 

Constance Halaveli south african wine

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Best of the Maldives: Brazilian Wines – Constance Halaveli

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Constance Halaveli Brazilian wines

If you prefer your seaside fun in the sun to be more loud, boisterous and frolicsome, then Brazil’s Carvinale starting today offers the energetic antonym to Maldivian idyll. Especially with World Cup Rio just weeks away and the Summer Games in Rio next on the Olympiad calendar, all things Brazilian will have a bit more cachet and buzz these days.

For a taste of effervescent Brazil in the tranquillity of the Maldives, Constance Halaveli’s sommelier Cedric Jacob (see above) offers a distinctive collection of Amazonian varietals which he shared with us during our trip…

“The wine makers that I mention is Lidio Carraro. A pretty new winery because they open in 1998 and a pure family business that we could say ‘Boutique’ winery. What I particularly enjoyed while tasting those wines was the fruit character and the purity of the wine. I love wine that express themselves naturally without adding any ‘make-up’, these kind of wines that you can literally bite in the fruit while drinking it. Among the one I tasted, here was my favorite:

  • Lidio Carraro Davidas Chardonnay;
  • Lidio Carraro Davidas Merlot / Cabernet Sauvignon;
  • Lidio Carraro Agnus Merlot;
  • Lidio Carraro Elos Touriga Nacional / Tannat

It is actually funny but since we were talking about all the things that are going to happen in Brazil, especially the World Cup, I just rode that Lidio Carraro became the official sponsor for this Event in 2014. “

Obrigado!

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Best of the Maldives: Wine – Huvafen Fushi

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Huvafenfushi Wine Celllar

While alcohol is forbidden in the non-resort parts of the Maldives in line with its Muslim traditions (do not attempt to bring duty free with you into the country), the resorts are granted exemption to serve alcohol to visitors. The resort with purportedly the most extensive array in the archipelago is Huvafen Fushi with its massive underground wine cellar (the only one in the Maldives). The collection is managed by what one report described as ‘its flamboyant sommelier Sonny.’ Cheers!

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