Red Wine Heartfelt Messages -- Zhang Jianxiong's "Crazy Wander" Series

Author: Zhang Jianxiong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: Among the Chinese, there has emerged a wine expert who, it is said, can identify a French wine by taste alone without opening his eyes, knowing both its brand and year of production. Since reading Jianxiong's book, I have added a wine cabinet to my home, and my wallet has begun to complain. But let's turn the tables—coming home at night, after dinner, with a glass of red wine, savoring it slowly, in good spirits and sound sleep, what's a little extra money?——(Hamburg) Guan Yuxian, Professor at Hamburg University, renowned writer Tang Lujun, and other elders in the realm of culinary taste are quintessentially Chinese. Zhang Jianxiong embraces openness, blending East and West in his "Gluttonous Journey." In reading Jianxiong's "Gluttonous Journey," what we care about is not just the flavors but the realm his words evoke. A realm is a manifestation of culture, and it is this that sets Zhang Jianxiong's "food appreciation" writings apart from the ordinary。——(Hong Kong) Lau Sau-ming, Dean of the School of Chinese, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, renowned writer The greatest feature of Zhang Jianxiong's "food guide" is its inclusiveness and broad scope, far from being narrow-minded Jianxiong's book not only allows readers to follow the map to seek fine wines and delicacies but also broadens horizons and dispels prejudices, even when read at home。——(London) Qiu Xiangzhong, former Editor-in-Chief of Hong Kong's "Ming Pao," scholar in the UK Advanced red wines have a long maturation period, usually taking fifteen to twenty years to reach their prime. With proper care, they remain elegant even at fifty. But if one is impatient and drinks them in their bud stage, they may taste like tart green apples—absolutely classic commentary. This book emphasizes the art of taste, blending infinite flavors with literary embellishment, the of sipping and savoring. Readers can follow the guide to embark on a journey of discovering fine wines. Red wine is indeed a culture, and wine tasting is no less an art. Temperature, aeration, wine naming, aroma, decanting, price, wine books, bottles, glasses, storage, aging, candles, corks, wine knives, second growths, wine connoisseurs—all require attention. The author, Zhang Jianxiong, is particularly fond of red wine. He has traveled extensively to vineyards in France, tasted many fine wines, and written extensively on selecting and tasting red wine, which has now been compiled into this book. The content is divided into introductory, advanced, vintage, food pairing, investment, and other sections. Those who wish to improve their red wine tasting skills can read the "Advanced" section on authentic red wine appreciation. As for the "Wine Country Glossary," it includes a bilingual and trilingual (Chinese, English, French) comparison table of the collectible value and age of various vintage red wines, providing a comprehensive overview and giving readers an understanding of red wines from the 1980s and 1990s. The culture of red wine is long-standing, and readers are sure to find it enriching. The book is fully color-printed, richly illustrated, and discusses red wine from the perspective of Hong Kongers' taste and vision, making the words and wine intertwined, and the wine and literature fragrance spread together!