Below is an Ice Bar at the Hotel Plaza Athénée, Bangkok, a Royal Le Méridien Hotel. This year’s French vintage is being heralded as “very good” by reports from wine authorities tasting from the barrel, although I have not heard a verdict as to Bordeaux yet. The Beaujolais Nouveau, 2009 from Georges Deboeuf, tasted at the Reflections Restaurant on November 19, 2009, exhibited more acidity and tannins and less fruit than many previous years. For such a young wine it is growing up in the fast lane, and if this speaks for other wines from this vintage, we can expect structured, firm and most likely, long-lived specimens. I personally, welcomed the slight acidity melding with the  fruity overtones of this year’s nouveau offering from Beaujolais, although I heard remarks about it being “sour” from one taster.

The “Ice Bar” fashioned entirely from ice blocks was a highlight of the hotel’s ingenious design theme for the evening

Pictured above: Rubeth, the outstanding vocalist who performed throughout the evening, she can normally be seen singing at the Glaz Bar from 9:00 to 12:45 at the Hotel Plaza Athénée on the ground floor.

Above: As in years past the culinary displays were truly amazing with a large selection of authentic French dishes