Asian flush

Everyone knows I enjoy drinking alcohol. They even know I drink like a fish! *guffaw* I love my reds and single malts in the evening. I enjoy cool and refreshing ales, beers and whites during a hot day.

I would typically turn red after a few drinks but I generally would ignore the cosmetic side effects to have a good time! Yes, that’s how much I enjoy my drinks!

Why do I turn red? No, it’s not because my blood circulation is in excellent condition. No, it’s not really due to any allergy to alcohol. No, it’s not because my genetics have malfunctioned. No, it’s not because I’m Chinese or Asian.

It has been scientifically proven that most Asian especially Japanese, Chinese and Koreans respond to alcohol by turning red. So there is no surprise when you see a sea of red faces (think loyal Man U supporters!) all over bars and clubs in Asia. In Europe, alcohol-drinking Asians will stick out like the red lights in red light districts!

Alcohol is metabolised in our liver where it is oxidised first to acetaldehyde and then converted to acetate by an enzyme known as aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2). Those who turn red after a bit of alcohol have a genetic change in their ALDH2. The gene variant causes the body to metabolise alcohol more quickly, but become less efficient in breaking down acetaldehyde. The build-up of acetaldehyde is what causes your blood vessels to dilate and your skin to turn red. Sometimes one will also experience itchiness on the skin and the body gets redder after scratching it! Drink too much and chances are you’ll forget your red face/body and itchy skin, as you end up throwing up and busy sorting out your mess!

This condition is known as alcohol flush reaction. Since it typically happens to Asians, it is also called the Asian flush/glow.

Recent studies have revealed evidence that ALDH2-deficient individuals are at much higher risk of developing esophageal cancer from consuming alcohol than those with a fully active ALDH2. Esophageal cancer also happens to be one of the deadliest cancers in the world with pretty low survival rates. Acetaldehyde is a metabolite of alcohol but is also an animal carcinogen and mutagen with recognised cancer-promoting properties. When the tissues of your upper aerodigestive tract are repeatedly exposed to acetaldehyde, the probability of DNA damage and mutation could also increase. OUCH! NO SHIT!

Since this is a genetic problem there’s no cure for alcohol flush except to completely abstain from alcohol. If you get red, you should think about drinking less as you’re putting yourself at a higher risk of developing both cancer and hypertension. If you can’t completely abstain from alcohol, drink moderately and this is defined as one to two drinks a day for men, and one drink a day for women.

Cheers! Opps! :-)

Banrock Station, 2011, Chardonnay

Property of Mr Flabby Less

Banrock Station, 2011, Chardonnay

Attractive golden colour. Quite dense and chewy. Bouquet of pear, peach and vanilla. Short to medium finish. Sharp tannin and a tad sour when it warms up. Table wine price and quality. No complaints.

Poupille, 2008, Castillon, Bordeaux

Property of Mr Flabby Less

Poupille, 2008, Castillon, Bordeaux

100% organic Merlot. Dark ruby in colour. Perfume of dark berries and cassis. Stubborn and needs time to breathe. At least 2 hours of decanting is required. Tannin is harsh initially but would integrate after decanting. Medium to full-bodied. Taste mainly of dark berries. Mild taste of spices and oak. Pretty straight forward wine and easy drinking after decanting. Still needs cellaring IMO.

Les Allees De Cantemerle, 2009, Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux

Property of Mr Flabby Less

Les Allees De Cantemerle, 2009, Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux

2nd wine of Chateau Cantemerle, which is a Fifth Growth. 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc. Even as a second wine, grapes were individually hand-sorted before fermentation and the wine spent 12 months in 20% new French oak before bottling.

Dark ruby-garnet in colour. Medium bodied. Short-medium finish. Pleasantly soft with decent structure. Tannins have rounded and pretty integrated. Loads of dark fruits character and nose- mainly blackberries, dark cherries and cassis. Tastes of rustic mushrooms, pencil graphite, tobacco leaf, cassis and dark berries. Worth cellaring a few years. 

More benefits of red wine

You've probably read and heard that red wine can be a very healthy beverage (heck, I too have personally covered this a few times in my previous posts!). However, you most likely only read and heard about generic benefits of drinking red wine, i.e. the antioxidants and resveratrol.

These are other key reasons why drinking red wine in moderation (1-2 glasses per day max) can be a super healthy part of your diet:-

1. People who drank red wine moderately per day (only dry red wine and not the sugary dessert wine variant) had higher levels of beneficial bacteria in their gut and lower levels of pathogenic bad bacteria in their gut.  Harmony and balance in your gut is crucial to everything from your digestion, immunity, metabolism, skin health etc.

2. In addition to decreasing pathogenic bacteria in the gut, red wine consumption also has a prebiotic effect in the gut in that it supports the growth and colonies of healthy gut microbes, which ultimately protect and promote good health.

3. Red wine drinkers have lower levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and CRP (C-reactive protein).  CRP is a measure of overall inflammation in your body, so it's great to see an association between red wine and reduced inflammation.

4. Red wine consumed with a meal can slow and moderate the blood sugar response you get from that meal.  This is yet another benefit to keeping your hormones balanced, controlling insulin levels, controlling appetite and staying lean!

You’ll not be able to derive any of the above benefits by drinking equivalent servings of another alcoholic beverage. This is because the benefits above are related to the polyphenols and resveratrol in red wine and not the alcohol content itself.

So go ahead and choose your favourite Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Shiraz or any other dry red wine to pair with your meal! I know just which French red to open for my next meal… :-)

Woodstock, Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, 2012, McLaren Vale, Australia

Property of Mr Flabby Less

Woodstock, Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, 2012, McLaren Vale, Autralia

Typical nose of passionfruit and mild lychee. Found this wine quite tart initially. After awhile, I started to taste apples and pears but the overall acidity and citrus notes were rather overwhelming. Quite edgy but refreshing nonetheless.  Not my fav white, I'm afraid...

Chateau Loeville Las Cases 'Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de Las Cases, 1997, Saint-Julien, Bordeaux

Property of Mr Flabby Less

Chateau Loeville Las Cases 'Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de Las Cases, 1997

Saint-Julien, Bordeaux

Second Growth. Even though this wine was classified as a Second Growth in the 1855 classification, this vineyard is special and often considered by those in the know to be as good as any of the First Growths. This inevitable represents great value where you can enjoy First Growth quality for maybe half the price! Chateau Leoville Las Cases borders on the north with Chateau Latour and has often been called the Latour of St. Julien. 

Perfume of sweet cassis combined with mineral, mostly that of lead. Powerful and rich. Concentrated and dense. Tastes elegant and refined, mainly of black berries and dark fruits. Svelte and silky smooth tannins. Beautifully coats your mouth! Can't believe the elegance of this wine!

Chateau Cantemerle, 1996, Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux

Property of Mr Flabby Less

Chateau Cantemerle, 1996, Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux

Fifth Growth. 1996 is a great year in the Medoc.

Balanced sweet perfume of bouquets, truffles, berries, plums and mineral. Tastes of luscious ripe dark berries with some mild spices. Brickish colour at the rim. Soft, smooth and pleasant tannins. Medium bodied. Medium finish/length. Very delicate, elegant, romantic and feminine. Balanced and highly enjoyable wine.

Poupille, 2007, Cotes de Castillon, Bordeaux

Property of Mr Flabby Less

Poupille, 2007, Cotes de Castillon, Bordeaux

A powerful and vibrant red made of 100% merlot. Love the dark garnet colour. Pretty decent legs. Still rather sharp tasting now and tastes quite spicy when open. Typical intense nose of dark berries, plum and spice. Tinge of rustic earthy scent. Medium bodied. Tannins are still edgy. Needs a few years to mellow down and for tannins to be rounded. I think it tastes best after close to 1.5 hours of decanting. Pretty smooth and elegant after decanting.  A value for money French red.

Gemstone, 2009, Estate Red, Napa Valley, California

Property of Mr Flabby Less

Gemstone, 2009, Estate Red, Napa Valley, California

My good friends visited Napa Valley and they brought back this bottle of wine to share. It was delicious to say the least!

This wine is a blend of 68% cabernet sauvignon, 24% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. Wonderful fruity nose especially blackberries. Luscious taste of dark chocolate, mocha, toffee, dark fruit, licorice and blackberry jam. Hint of oak. Concentrated, fleshy, chewy and silky smooth. Massive wine with impressing finishing. Lot of tannins still. Decanting is required- minimum 2 hours.

Drinking well but I'm sure it'll be even better over time until 2020.

This is a 91-pointer by RP.

Frank Phelan, 2009, Saint-Estephe, Bordeaux

Property of Mr Flabby Less

Frank Phelan, 2009, Saint-Estephe, Bordeaux

Deep, concentrated ruby in color. Rich, complex ripe red and black fruits aromas on the nose and flavours on the palate. Tastes of interwoven blackberry and raspberry jam with smooth dark chocolate. Excellent structure. Approachable tannins and acidity. 75% merlot and 25% cabernet sauvignon. Drinking well now, but it will age beautifully through 2018. 

Although this is the second label of Chateau Phelan-Segur, it doesn't feel as if it's second best. Sure it's much more affordable compared to it bigger brother but Frank Phelan stands on its own pedestal and wears its own crown.

Chateau Palmer, 2001, Margaux, Bordeaux

Chateau Palmer, 2001, Margaux, Bordeaux
Property of Mr Flabby Less

Dark ruby in colour. Sweet potpourri aromatics of dark fruits, pencil shavings, tobacco smoke, cocoa and mild leather. Velvety palate. Elegantly balanced. Concentrated. Has depth. Taste of dark fruits, mild spice and mineral. Tinge of green pepper after taste. Silky smooth. Decent finish of cedar and cassis. Firm tannins.

Third growth. Quite stubborn so needs patience when opened. Ideally decant for at least 1.5 hours.

Chateau Fleur Cardinale, 2008, Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux

Property of Mr Flabby Less

Chateau Fleur Cardinale, 2008, Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux

This Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe is a 91 pointer by RP comprising 70% merlot, 20% cabernet franc, and 10% cabernet sauvignon. This dark purple wine is medium to full bodied, concentrated, has lush texture with a nice bite/chew, silky smooth with rounded and elegant tannins, balanced and seductive. I enjoyed the lengthy finish with a nice lingering aftertaste of anise, coffee, chocolate, licorice and plum. The slight oaky taste offers character. This wine also offers beautiful perfume of blackberries, earth and flowers. Drinking very well now right up to 2020.

Les Charmes de Kirwan, 2000, Margaux

Les Charmes de Kirwan, 2000, Margaux

Property of Mr Flabby Less

Second label of Chateau Kirwan (Third Growth Wine) and 1 of my favs! Made with 40% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 20% cabernet franc and 10% petit verdot. Seductive ruby colour. Tastes slightly earthy. Velvety and smooth with a long aftertaste. Good nose of mature berries. Drinking very well now.

Chateau Fleur Cardinale, 2009, Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux

Property of Mr Flabby Less

Chateau Fleur Cardinale, 2009, Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux

A blend of 70% merlot, 20% cabernet franc and 10% cabernet sauvignon. Full bodied, silky smooth, rounded and rich in texture, concentrated and very expressive/full of character. Taste of dark chocolate, dark berries, plum, spices, oak, with a hint of licorice, vanilla and cassis. Beautiful nose of blackberries/raspberries jam and mocha/espresso. Requires breathing/decanting, minimum 2 hours so that it opens up nicely. Perfect for cellaring.

Chateau Moulin De Chollet, 2009, Bordeaux

Property of Mr Flabby Less

Chateau Moulin De Chollet, 2009, Bordeaux

Ruby in colour. 80% merlot and 20% cabernet sauvignon. Dominant taste of cherries, blackcurrants and plums. Hint of spicyness. Pretty fine tannins. Pleasant and easy drinking. Short length. Weak character. Not all that great but given the affordable price, overall it's decent.

Chateau Pibran, 2000, Pauillac, Bordeaux

 Chateau Pibran, 2000, Pauillac, Bordeaux

Property of Mr Flabby Less

Still dark red in colour with no visible orangy brick colour yet. Drinks very well now actually and not past it's drinking date. Quite earthy with just the right amount of acidity. Quite dusty. Pretty smooth tannins with loads of berry after-taste. Overall, this is still a solid medium-bodied bottle of Paulliac rouge that's very elegant.

This wine is far more enjoyable and delicious compared to the older 1996 vintage.

Elixir Du Grand Enclos, 2010, Graves, Bordeaux

Elixir Du Grand Enclos, 2010, Graves, Bordeaux

Property of Mr Flabby Less

This is a truly special wine of Chateau de Cerons as it is only produced in perfect vintages and in exremely limited quantities. Blend of mainly cabernet sauvignon with merlot. Very complex tasting and one of the most interesting wines I've ever tasted. Taste evolves over time. At the beginning, it tastes of vanilla essence but as you let it breathe, the taste begins to change to more blackcurrant and cocoa. Dense and velvety. Smooth and rounded tannin. This wine taste very good now but I bet it'll taste even better after a few years. Yes, this wine is definitely made for cellaring.

Robert Mondavi, 2009, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA

Robert Mondavi, 2009, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Property of Mr Flabby Less

One of my fav wineries. Although the label says "cabernet sauvignon", this wine is actually a blend of 75% cabernet sauvignon, 11% merlot, 10% cabernet franc, 2% syrah, 1% petit verdot and 1% malbec. This is perhaps the reason for its more complicated (in a good way) taste and note compared to a bottle of straight cabernet sauvignon.

Deep alluring dark red colour. Dense and concentrated, my kind of texture! Intense taste of blueberry with a nice balance of chocolate, sweet cinnamon, toasted oak and cassis. Bold wine. Quite rounded and velvety. Good nose of berries and hint of oak. Perfect tannin. Long finish and aftertaste.

Leopard's Leap, 2009, Shiraz, South Africa

Leopard's Leap, 2009, Shiraz, South Africa 

Property of Mr Flabby Less

Nice concentrated violet colour. Medium-bodied. Sharp taste of blackcurrant, black pepper and spiciness. Hint of licorice. Spicy nose. Some people found it rather harsh tasting. Not too complex, quite straightforward wine. Short after-taste. Didn't enjoy the tannin.