2010 Korbin Kameron “Demon Blend” Proprietary Red Moonridge Vineyard

Korbin Kameron, the Demon, and a Chinese Crackdown

Dubbed as “X-treme Chinese Cuisine,” the dining parade at 3-Michelin Star Bo Innovation in Hong Kong is anything but pedestrian — neither is the prix-fixe.  At Chef Alvin Leung Jr.’s table, seats start at $325. Want the wine pairing? Tack on $180. On the surface, President Xi Jinping’s clampdown on extravagant consumption seems nonexistent, but could it be the reason Leung’s buyer eventually went silent on the folks at Korbin Kameron?

Chef Leung, nicknamed “the Demon Chef,” was tasting-room hopping in Sonoma with his wine buyer when they ended their day at Korbin Kameron.  Within minutes, Leung and his buyer had commissioned Mitchell Ming to bottle a wine for their list. The former engineer-turned-culinary innovator only had one request:

“Can we call it the ‘Demon Blend’?”

“Sure,” replied Mitchell with a wry smirk.

Drawing off the same Bordeaux blend used in his “Kristin” Proprietary Red Blend, Mitchell bottled the “Demon” and shipped the first half of Leung’s allotment. Months went by, and several emails to Leung’s buyer regarding shipment for the second half went unanswered. Were the shockwaves of Xi Jinping’s austerity campaign reverberating over Mitchell’s Moonridge Vineyard? Mitchell sent one last courtesy note, but in the slim corridors of the Wan Chai district, there was only radio silence.

That’s when we got the call.

Jenny and Mitchell Ming’s Moonridge Vineyard sits on the ridgeline of the Mayacamas Mountains, a coin’s toss from Lokoya. It has rapidly garnered a reputation for producing supremely elegant Bordeaux-based wines. Mitchell’s philosophy and rigorous practice of minimal intervention, biodynamics, and sustainable agriculture has further elevated Moonridge’s outstanding quality.

The 2010 Korbin Kameron “Demon” is a carefully nuanced blend of all five Bordeaux varietals pulled from the best lots of Moonridge.  A bouquet of eucalyptus, cocoa, and anise precedes a mouthfeel of cassis, black currants, and bittersweet chocolate. A truly harmonious mix of opulent fruit with supple tannic structure.

The Wine Advocate advised collectors to “do whatever they can to source the best 2010s, as they are magnificent.” This acclaimed vintage did throw most vineyard managers a curveball, however. A delayed bud break was followed by two heat waves. August saw cooler than normal temperatures, so only the most seasoned viticulturists doubled down on a warm September. Those who did were rewarded with tightly concentrated, small-berry fruit.  The Advocate added these wines are “utterly brilliant, with deep colors, precise fruit, ripe tannins, and expressive aromatics.” The Korbin Kameron“Demon” is definitely one of them.

$85 at the Korbin Kameron tasting room in Glen Ellen. $175 on the list at Bo Innovation. Just $40/bottle today on WineAccess. ONLY 240 bottles available.

• ABV 13.90%
• Enjoy right away
• % Bordeaux Blend