Smartbuy issue dated December 22, 2010

Smartbuy Business Line

G A D G E T S

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Wednesday, December 22, 2010

A U T O |

L U X U R Y

www.blsmartbuy.com

Toyota Etios Exclusive test drive Page 8

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Christmas Special Windows 7 phones

WHAT’S HOT this week

Team Smartbuy Editorial Anushya Mamtora anushya@thehindu.co.in

Ketaki Bhojnagarwala ketaki@thehindu.co.in

Mahananda Bohidar mahananda@thehindu.co.in

S. Muralidhar muraliswami@thehindu.co.in

Design Bryan Gaughan aqua@thehindu.co.in

Balakrishnan designkbala@thehindu.co.in

Advertising Contact R. Diwakar ramdiwakar@thehindu.co.in

Web Advertising Contact

View this Viewsonic Viewpad 7

N. Amarnath amarnath@thehindu.co.in

www.blsmartbuy.com

This 7-inch tablet from Viewsonic weighs just about 375 grams, making it a highly portable device. The tablet offers 3.5G HSDPA/HSUPA service, extensive Office support and runs Android 2.2. You can browse the web, check emails, and have access to thousands of apps available at the Android Market on-the-go. Multimedia options are boosted by a dedicated graphic chipset. The tablet has stereo speakers, a 3-meg webcam and can activate functions based on voice-recognition.

Become a fan of our Facebook page: BL Smartbuy Follow us on Twitter

Cover photo: S. Muralidhar

Rs 32,000

Moto’s thirst buster Motorola Quench XT5 The latest Android entrant from Motorola is the Quench, which runs Android 2.1. It has a 3.2-inch capacitive touch screen, and also comes with a trackball for easy, one-handed navigation. It is equipped with a 5-meg camera with LED flash and 32GB of expandable storage. The phone also ships with a free 2GB memory card.

Rs 15,990

Go Retro! LG TUBU 14SR1 Wind back to the flower-power era with the cute little CRT from LG that is a tribute to the earliest TVs that adorned our drawing rooms. Although it comes with a remote control, the 14-inch TV has been styled with old-world antennas, rotating knobs to switch channels and adjust the volume and an option that lets you watch your favourite sitcoms in B/W or Sepia.

Rs 6,990 Smartbuy

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December 22, 2010

What a ‘VU’ VU LED N55T28 The 55-incher LED display from VU might just be the perfect head-turner in your living room. The ultra-slim TV plays content in high-def (1080p) and has an HDMI port where you can plug in your BluRay player and watch your favourite flicks. The unit also has an USB port through which you can play back family photographs, listen to music or watch videos.

Rs 1.25 lakh

Enough said Samsung NF Series This new netbook from Samsung runs an Intel Atom 1.5 GHz Dual Core Processor. At just 1.34 kgs, it’s light enough to carry around, and the 10.1-inch anti-glare LED backlit screen is visible even in bright sunlight. Other features include three USB ports, 4-in-1 card reader, 320GB hard drive, island keyboard, Kensington lock port and 6-cell battery.

Rs 22,990

What’s NEXt? Sony α NEX Series Sony’s new series of cameras claim to be the smallest and lightest in the interchangeable lens category. With a 14-meg sensor, these cameras have features like Background Defocus, Full HD Movie, 7fps high speed shooting and 3D Sweep Panorama. ISO of up to 12,800 allows for good low-light capture, and the 3-inch LCD monitor can be tilted to adjust viewing angle. The α NEX series is compatible with a widerange of A-mount and E-mount lenses, letting you capture DSLR quality photos.

α NEX 3: Rs 29,990; α NEX 5: Rs 34,990

Smartbuy

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December 22, 2010

Open up the brig

SMARTPHONE review

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nticipation has been building up like a typhoon off shore ever since its launch was announced way back in February. Now Windows Phone 7 is finally here, ready to blow

us away.

HTC, Samsung and LG all have handsets ready to go, and the OS actually looks good enough to put Microsoft shoulder-to-shoulder with Apple iOS and Google Android – or at least at their elbow.

Let’s take a look at what the first ever WP7 phones have to offer.

All the phones sport impressive specs, because they have to. Microsoft has specified that all WP7 handsets must have a 1GHz processor, 256MB of RAM, 4GB flash storage, a capacitive touch screen, five sensors – accelerometer, A-GPS, compass, proximity and light sensors, and a 5-meg camera.

Best of the lot Arguably the pick of the bunch is the HTC HD7, with a massive 4.3-inch, 800x480 resolution screen that’s crying out for movies and games to play on it.

It even has a kickstand on the back for propping it on the table for prolonged viewing. Also around the back, you’ll find the requisite five-meg camera with added autofocus, dual LED flash, 720p video recording and various auto modes.

Music-oriented The HTC Mozart 7, as the name suggests, is more music-oriented. It has SRS WOW virtual surround sound on top of a 3.7-inch screen and an 8-megapixel camera – obviously Mozart was also a keen photographer.

It’s testament to how far ahead WP7 is of the late, unlamented Windows Mobile as this is the first HTC

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phone to run a Windows OS without the disguise of a Sense interface.

Make it first!

LG’s Optimus 7 will possibly be the first WP7 handset to land in India. It has a neat, gimmicky augmented reality mode built into its video camera. Point it at your surroundings and it’ll overlay points of interest or provide a weather forecast.

It also has a ‘Play To’ feature - basically DLNA sharing - which lets you send video, music and photos to your compatible TV or stereo.

Silvery screen Samsung’s offering is the Omnia 7, proud owner of the best screen of the bunch, a 4-inch Super AMOLED. It

ht new Windows also contains 16GB of storage, the same 1GHz Qualcomm processor as the HTC handsets and 720p video recording.

It’s a very solid start for Microsoft, with the quality of the third-party hardware matching the promise of its sparkling OS. Other highlights of WP7 include live, constantly updating tiles on your home screen, Xbox Live games on the go – albeit scaled-down versions – and the Zune media player.

Two omissions do glare - no multitasking and no cut and paste - although these are promised to arrive by “late 2011”.

With a slick OS capable of taking on Apple and Android and high-‘spec’ed, good-looking handsets, Microsoft is back in the mobile game. With support from app developers, WP7 should really fly in 2011.

7 top tips for Windows Phone 7

jump to contacts in that section of the alphabet

1. If your phone is locked, just press and hold the camera button to take a picture without having to unlock 2. Press and hold the Start button and speak your commands to make calls, search the web and open apps 3. To delete multiple emails, just tap next to any message in your inbox to display check boxes and delete at will 4. Tap a misspelled word to see suggestions from the built-in dictionary, iPhone-style 5. Give any icon an extended press to reveal hidden menus – just like right clicking on your PC 6. In the People menu, tapping a block letter lets you

7. In Music + Videos, just hit the Play icon to listen to your music collection on shuffle

Highlights 1. HTC HD7 The biggest WP7 handset has a 4.3-inch screen, same as the HD2. There’s also a stand on the back for hands-free viewing 2. LG Optimus 7 Also known as the E900, LG rates augmented reality as a key selling point of the Optimus 7 3. HTC Mozart 7 Features an 8-meg camera as well as SRS WOW tech that provides virtual surround audio 4. Samsung Omnia 7 Has the brightest screen of the bunch, a four-inch Super AMOLED similar to the Samsung Galaxy S

This material is translated or reproduced from T3 magazine and is the copyright of or licensed to Future Publishing Limited, a Future plc group company, UK 2010. Used under license. All rights reserved

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GAME review

n case you live in a place where the Internet doesn’t exist, Black Ops (BO) is the latest in the Call of Duty franchise from developer Treyarch. It’s a first person shooter with heavy emphasis on big, spectacular moments rather than gameplay grounded in reality. At regular intervals, you’ll be pummelled by some insane, over-the-top scripted sequence that’ll leave you begging for more.

It’s nothing you haven’t seen before; only, a lot bigger and way more insane. BO is still highly linear, and you’ll face wave after wave of enemies till you complete a particular objective or reach an invisible trigger in the form of a checkpoint.

As much as I loved the Modern Warfare series, Modern Warfare 2’s campaign felt a bit weak. Not only was the story a bit off, but gameplay sagged quite a bit in certain sections, making the game feel more like a chore.

Thankfully, BO rectifies this with clichéd yet high octane, in-your-face gameplay that’ll barely give you a chance to catch your breath.

Certain missions did feel like a drag, but realistically, it’s not possible to expect every single minute of any game to be full of “OMG, did you see that!” moments.

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Campaign In older CoD games, you constantly shuttled between multiple soldiers, but in Black Ops you’ll mostly play the lead character – Alex Mason, giving the plot a more cohesive feel.

The CoD franchise has slowly been making its

way to a more ominous and darker setting, and this game ups the ante in a big way. Not only is it backed by a riveting plot that feels like it has stepped out of a mature espionage thriller, but there is also a lot of violence that makes the game not quite suitable for kids.

Even though the campaign is praise-worthy, it is not without its share of faults. For one, the AI is dumb. Painfully dumb. On multiple occasions, the squad just ran past enemy soldiers like they never posed a threat. Enemies too rarely flank or try to save themselves. All of their strength is in infinite numbers. Besides the dumb AI, the game even falters a bit on pacing, where some missions feel like a mindless grind. It’s not as bad as Modern Warfare 2, but it’s there nevertheless. Thankfully, the game has axed the infamous grenade spamming that’s synonymous with this series.

Brownie Points Once you get done with the campaign, you and three of your friends can indulge in some cooperative zombie genocide. Besides slaughtering hordes of the ‘undead’, you’ll have to tackle certain obstacles in your path. For example, a big chunk of debris could be blocking your way, so one of you will have to shell out credits earned by killing zombies - to clear it. You can also earn additional credits by fixing environmental barriers like doors or windows that may have been broken by the zombies. It definitely encourages team play and is an excellent addition to this game. Treyarch has even paid

homage to co-operative top down games with something called Dead Ops Arcade, where players bind together to hunt zombies from a top-down perspective. The areas are full of power-ups and other awesome weapons that help you decimate the ‘undead’. It’s old-school fun all the way.

MPG Time!

Now we come to what I feel is the game’s crowning achievement – the multiplayer angle.

Building on the solid structure laid out by Infinity Ward, Treyarch has improved on the multiplayer by leaps and bounds, giving players a staggering number of options to play with. In case you haven’t played the last three CoD games, multiplayer in this game is class-based, where you level up and unlock a bunch of stuff by playing various adversarial modes.

Credits The biggest game changer this time around comes in the form of in-game credits that will allow you to buy anything you want , be it newer weapons, attachments, face paint, or even squad signs. This approach works a lot better as you aren’t boxed in by what the game offers only at a particular level. Another new addition to the game is the Wager matches, which has players betting on their skills using their in-game credits. To enter a Wager match, you need to put up a bet, and if you perform admirably, i.e. if you end up in the first three positions, you’ll get a decent return on your investment. Like in the real world, the higher your bet, the better the returns. Make sure you master the game first though, or you could end up losing big. If jumping online seems a little daunting, you can even sharpen your skills with bots.

Theatre mode Taking a cue from the Halo games, BO ships with a theatre mode, where you can store your most recently played games in the form of a video or screenshots and share them with your friends. It’s not a revolutionary addition, but it’s a good option to have in the game . But as awesome as this game’s multiplayer setting is, it is still far from perfect. For one, it’s nearly impossible to play as a team with your friends.

You either end up on different teams, not being able to switch teams for some insane reason, or can’t join each others servers.

Considering online gaming is a social experience, this seems like a pretty dumb move. Also, each server can only accommodate 18 players, unlike Modern Warfare, where up to 32 players could fight it out at the same time. Due to this, some of the game’s maps (which are actually quite big) feel empty even when they’re packed to capacity. Finally, there’s a noticeable issue with enemy spawning. It’s highly erratic and there’s a strong chance that the guy you just killed may spawn right behind you and stab you in the back.

A big minus If there’s one department in which the game suffers terribly, it would have to be the technical details . When it works, the game looks real nice, boasting some decent lighting effects and gorgeous set pieces. But certain textures look terribly bland up close and the PC version has been plagued by issues since day one. On both the SP and MP front, the game stutters like crazy even if your system exceeds the requirements. Even after the game was patched, many users faced noticeable lag spikes and stuttering across the board. This is manageable in the campaign mode, but in multiplayer gaming, it results in immediate death, which then leads to immense frustration. Dying due to lack of skill is one thing, but dying due to technical issues that aren’t up to you to fix is a real bummer.

Our Verdict While the game’s technical issues can get very annoying , Black Ops is still a game you shouldn’t miss out on. It boasts of an explosive campaign, co-operative modes and a multiplayer gaming style that’ll have you addicted for months on end. If you do, however, decide to pick up the PC version, I strongly suggest to wait till Treyarch irons out all the glaring technical issues.

Love - Entertaining, fast-paced campaign, addictive and extensive multiplayer, Nazi zombies co-op is a total blast Hate - PC version is plagued by technical issues, Dumb AI. Publisher - Activision Developer - Treyarch Platform - Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC Rs 3,499 (Xbox 360, PS3), Rs 2,999 (Wii)

CHIP

AUTO focus

Toyota redefines S.Muralidhar s there a concept called the Made-for-India car?

Apart from the ultra low-cost car segment, aren’t buyers in India becoming homogenous with their global counterparts?

Apparently not! And, most definitely not in all the segments.

After being amongst the first few companies to enter the Indian automotive space, Toyota has been the last to enter the mass market segment here. Toyota frustrated many of its constituents along the way, because it seemed to be delaying its foray into the small car segment, despite having a considerably large share of mass market cars to dip into in its portfolio worldwide.

But, that exactly would have been the reason why it would have been a half measure to just pick out one of its existing cars, like the Yaris, for launch in India. Coming from Toyota, the much-delayed mass market car just couldn’t have been one of those because it would have neither fit the price segment nor would the car have truly satisfied the needs and expectations of buyers here.

So, Toyota engineers designed and developed the Etios sedan from scratch, meticulously building into it all the major expectations of the Indian entry sedan buyer, as a prelude to which Yoshinori Noritake, the chief engineer of Toyota’s Etios project, is said to have personally interviewed potential buyers to understand their needs. The result is the Etios, a sedan that many are going to drub as being drab, of being too Indian, but will still end up considering because it is a Toyota and because of its overall practicality. So, what is the ‘Indianness’ that the Etios comes with apart from the ‘Teekha’ in its logo?

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“I want design which is smart, but is not intimidating” Toyota’s designs are inherently simple. There are rarely, if

ever, vehicle designs that can be considered aggressive or over the board. It just gets protracted in the Etios because of the perceived conservatism amongst Indian buyers.

And so, for example, while its design rather simplistically attempts to give the Etios an appealing front, with a smiling bonnet grille design, it also focuses substantially on practicality.

Large headlamps capable of lighting up the road ahead and large tail-lamps to ensure good visibility for vehicles at the rear, a simple, straight shoulder line design that ensures large glass area and better natural illumination inside the passenger cabin, and to improve the overall look of strength Toyota engineers have also added a large airdam at the front and well-defined, muscular wheel arches.

Yes, there has been and is bound to be more feedback about the Etios looking very similar, especially from the rear, to a competing car in the market. But, evidently that has not been a deterrent to the huge number of initial customers that have booked the car. One of the lessons that Toyota must have learnt from the Qualis experience is that there is a general distrust for high-brow design amongst entrylevel sedan buyers and amongst institutional (read taxi) buyers. The perception that still seems to exist is that a design excess potentially leads to expensive maintenance.

The Etios strikes a balance that is unique and will keep the buyer happy, though it may not help him get an above average share of stares.

“I want a car with small a foot print, but with lots of space” Liberating extra space inside a car, within the confines of its exterior dimensions is a science that few have mastered. The Etios is a pretty good example of this kind of

the people’s sedan leverage. Though its wheelbase is almost identical to that of competing cars such as the Volkswagen Vento, and is a little lesser than the Fiat Linea, there is a feeling of more space inside the cabin of the Etios.

Toyota engineers have integrated a few features that further liberate space inside the sedan. The first of these is designing almost straight door panels that enable them to keep the door trim intrusion into the cabin to the minimum. This then ensures that there is more shoulder room

for passengers. The other feature that liberates more space is the elimination of the central drivetrain tunnel that has enabled them to offer a flat floor at the rear. A very practical feature in the Indian context where often sareeclad passengers are trying to get off the car from one side only since the car is parked too close to a wall or another car.

The seats in the Etios sedan also feature a thin construction, providing more legroom for rear passengers. Yes, this also means that the seat squabs are thinner and together with the cloth upholstery don’t offer the kind of support that you get in the premium sedan segment.

The rear passenger bench in the Etios sedan is also positioned to perfectly merge with the edge of the rear door, making entry and exit easy. Toyota designers also seemed to have worked on ensuring that there is ample luggage room inside the boot of the sedan – a whole 595 litres of it.

“I want the interiors to be novel, but more importantly they should be practical” Practical interiors in the Indian context means that the air-conditioner should perform excellently even during peak summer, there should be lots of storage space and there should be convenience features for the rear passenger, who is often the owner.

Photos: S.Muralidhar

The Etios’ interior features a simple, centre console heavy dashboard layout. The central air-con vents are stacked one on top of the other to possibly ensure better cold airflow to the rear. The vent fins are a simple slatted ball and socket design that is easy to adjust. Controls are all within easy reach for the driver and feel sturdy to hold and adjust.

There a huge amount of storage available – a 13-litre cooled glovebox and seven one-litre bottle holders all around the interior. A novel feature, which Toyota says is also more safe and practical, is the centrally positioned instrument console. Behind the steering wheel there are just acres of plastic to stare at. The analog instrument cluster looks cooler at night when it is backlit. Also on offer in the top-end V and VX variants is a 2-DIN music system with a remote control for use by rear passengers. A thoughtful addition is the clean-air filter for the air-con system. The top variant also gets steering mounted audio controls.

The other novelty is the steering wheel itself which features a racing car style flat or cut-away bottom. But, I wonder if the feature was also thought of to help Indians with an expansive waistline to get in and out of the car with greater ease.

Despite some of the variants getting fabric door trim and inserts to break the monotony, the interior of the Etios does feature a lot of plastic. The fit and finish quality is very good, though there is a general feel of it being an entry-sedan in terms of overall build.

“I want a car that can handle the rough and tumble of Indian roads” One of the biggest concerns for sedan buyers is ground clearance. The Etios has enough of that at 170mm to handle the most monstrous speed breakers you’ll come

across. There are other difficult Indian conditions that Toyota’s engineers have provided for, including the addition of anti-corrosion steel sheets at areas in the car that are prone to rusting and stone hits. There is also underbody protection to prevent damage to fuel and brake lines and also interestingly, a new type of chip resistant paint has been used on the rocker mould and fender to prevent the need for frequent touch up and repaint visits to the workshop.

Toyota engineers have also chosen large knobs or switches for two keys functions that are often overlooked

by Indian car users – the use of a large oval hazard or parking light switch and the headlamp levelling knob (instead of the scrolling wheel). Hopefully these two simple safety features will be used more by Etios users.

“I want a peppy engine, but show me the money first” The Indian car buyer is extremely value conscious and Toyota wants to show that it is acutely aware of this fact with the Etios. The integration of frugality, without compromising on its trademark quality standards, starts with the very conception of the Etios’ EFC platform, which will be shared with other vehicles and will be used over a longer generation cycle. There are other features like the single windscreen wiper blade, which might have helped Toyota save costs, but as long as the buyer benefits too, he not going to be too bothered.

But, the one feature that will satisfy the Etios buyer most will be the choice of the powertrain. The brand new 2NR-FE, four-cylinder petrol engine was developed specifically for the Etios and it sure seems capable of delivering on its promise of being a frugal mill. Toyota claims that the engine will offer a ARAI rated 17.6 kmpl of mileage.

After my test drive of over 400 kms with a mix of city

roads, the highway and hilly terrain, I got about 15 kmpl.

The 1,496cc engine has fairly meaty performance numbers, with peak power being 90 PS at 5,600 rpm and peak torque being 132 Nm at 3,000 rpm. The key figure there is of course, the torque, which also rises up to the peak with a pretty flat curve. How does it help? There is ample torque available in every gear from very low rpm levels. It translates into fewer gear shifts, lower fuel consumption and lesser engine damage due to knocking.

For example, while on third gear, I could go down all the way to about 18 kmph and also all the way upto about 100 kmph. The engine is fairly refined too keeping down noise levels during idling and initial acceleration. The fivespeed manual gearbox mated to the engine is also a good choice. Shift quality is very good, though there is a bit of play when the stick shift is in gear. The clutch feels progressive and will be both a bit accommodating of the average Indian driving style and also won’t lead to driver fatigue.

Bottomline After driving the Etios in Chennai, I head out on National Highway 46 towards Bangalore. The Etios’ straight line stability is quite impressive. But for a mildly bouncy ride at high speeds, the car keeps its cool even at speeds of about 140kmph. Engine noise starts becoming intrusive after I cross speeds of about 125 kmph. Another feature that was helpful on the highway was the large amount of low-end torque that was available, enabling easy overtaking without the need to shift down to a lower gear slot.

To experience the Etios in a more demanding driving situation, I turn off from the Chennai-Bengaluru highway and drive towards Yelagiri. The 23 kms drive uphill has a mix of tight hair-pins and swooping hill-side turns to reach the top of this small hill town. Yelagiri looks like it has dropped out of the heavens to land in the middle of verdant fields. The Etios tackles the inviting 30-degree incline of the road with gusto and here again the torque and range available on each gear is a great help in pushing it into every corner and turn, and then pulling off quickly after that, without shifting down.

The steering is light and easy to use and though it could have been more precise, doesn’t take away from its drivability overall. The suspension set up is more tuned towards offering the passengers a pliant ride. That has also meant that there is a bit of body roll, which I observed more on the hills than while driving the Etios sedan in city roads or the highway.

The Etios is being offered with four variants, which range in price from Rs 4.9 lakh to Rs 6.8 lakh. Apart from the very affordable pricing coming from Toyota, there is a lot going for this sedan. The competition is faced with a very difficult task of taking on the might of the Etios.

From top (clockwise): Top-end variant gets black and red upholstery and the red gear knob. Safety equipment includes ABS with EBD and twin airbags Engine feels peppy enough to drive and since the Etios weighs in at just 930 kgs, delivers almost 100 PS of power per tonne Air-con vents feature a simple design and are easy to adjust Funky glovebox door opens downward to reveal 13 litres of storage space 595 litres of space in the boot can easily accomodate two oversized suitcases and more

Christmas Santa, I’ve been good! Perfect name for this priceless porcelain creation.

Available: Lladro boutiques Rs 1,50,500 More the merrier. Seat your party guests on some classy furniture, like this champagne leather pouffe.

Available: Address Home, New Delhi Rs 7,900

Tip-toe under the mistletoe with the gorgeous siren red Feline Suede pumps from Fendi or Salvatore Ferragamo’s mirrored leather Varina Mosaic ballerina shoes Available: Fendi and Salvatore Ferragamo boutiques Rs 43,855 (red pumps)

Chocolate hamper, not for the palette. Indulgence, but less sinful.

This goody bag’s contents are meant to please your skin.

Available: The Nature’s Co. stores Rs 1,795 (Christmas offer)

Special

This Moet & Chandon chill box in gold adds just the right sparkle to the eve party.

Available: Delhi Duty Free Price on request

Feel all cuddled up at the Christmas hearth in French Connection’s ‘All hours fur coat’ Available: French Connection stores Rs 13,999

Sparkling stockings, heart and candy stick, crystal ornaments to do up the special tree.

Available: Swarovski boutiques Rs 6,350 (set)

Fruit cakes, cookies, gourmet chocolates and ravishing cutlery make Christmas tea-time scrumptious.

Available: Ravissant stores, New Delhi Price on request For that toast to remember, Johnnie Walker Gold Label impresses with its Tarun Tahiliani pack and refined taste.

Available: Select premium wine stores Rs 5,350 (Mumbai)

TASTER’S choice

2010’s best wines, relished and listed Bordeaux while remaining completely Napa.

Elin McCoy n 2010, I once again sipped thousands of wines looking for the few worth recommending. I’m happy to report I found more compelling high quality wines than ever - especially from the 2009 vintage in Germany, Beaujolais, Bordeaux and Burgundy - among a sea of plonk and expensive disappointments.

Here are my 10 picks of the year.

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1989 Argyros Estate Vinsanto ($100, 500ml) I travelled to the Greek island of Santorini to taste its dramatic dry whites, but fell in love with its luscious sweet Vinsantos made from the same grapes, dried in the sun to concentrate their sweetness. This caramel-coloured example, barrel-aged in a 300-year-old winery, was the stunner. Its intense dried fruit and roasted coffee aromas and fig and toffee flavours make it my new ideal match with chocolate - or, for this season, plum pudding.

2007 Fia Nobile Cerasuolo di Vittoria ($20) My bargain of the year is this lively red from Sicily, discovered at New York’s Convivio restaurant. Charged with finding one wine for dishes with clashing tastes, the sommelier offered his secret weapon - the Frappato and Nero d’avola grape blend known as Cerasuolo di Vittoria. The Fia Nobile version, my introduction to the category, brims with crushed cherry aromas and light but rich texture.

NV Jacques Selosse Initiale Brut Champagne ($140) Wild man visionary Anselme Selosse makes concentrated, highly original, terroir champagnes. The bad news is that they are extremely hard to find. Which is why I eagerly downed several glasses of his Brut Cuvee Initiale offered before a grand dinner in New York. This all-Chardonnay blend of three vintages from three grand cru villages is rich and creamy, with amazing energy and complexity.

1939 Massandra Gurzuf Rose Muscat ($525 at auction) In the Ukraine’s Crimea, the Massandra winery on the Black Sea once produced sweet dessert Muscats for the Czars. Its collection of bottles, stored in 21 underground tunnels, survived the Russian Revolution and some were served to Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt at the Yalta Conference. History was in my mind as I sipped the amazingly fresh-tasting 1939, with aromas and flavours of rose petals and spicy brown sugar, at a Zachys’ auction before 38 lots of old vintages went on the block.

1980 Soldera Case Basse Brunello Riserva ($350) One of the maestros of Brunello, Gianfranco Soldera produces cult reds revered by tradition lovers. During a long Italian dinner, my generous host brought out this 30-year-old vintage. I was blown away by its cedar-and-chestnut fragrance, toffee flavours and luminous character that sang in the glass.

2003 Brokenwood ILR Reserve Semillon ($40) I don’t understand why Australia’s Hunter Valley Semillons remain stuck in the world’s underappreciated-great-wines category. While judging Semillons at the annual Critics Challenge wine competition in San Diego, this flagship white from the

2007 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Montrachet ($2,500)

grand Brokencru Heiliwood esgenstein tate won my vineyard, I was top marks for its struck by their fruitintense lime and Photo: S. Muralidhar and-mineral precision. honey aromas and toasty My pick? The exciting, succulent complexity. The wine’s magic depends on aging, not oak or alcohol, and it 2004, with its long complex finish. will only get better.

2004 Schloss Gobelsburg Heiligenstein Riesling ($40) Austria is the land of Gruner Veltliner, but dozens of Rieslings from top vineyards impressed me even more during a tasting tour along the Danube. Who says terroir is a myth? In sampling six vintages (1976 to 2009) made by this 900-year-old winery in Kamptal, from grapes grown in the steep

Smartbuy

2002 Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District Oak Vineyard ($70) When I retrieved this bottle from my cellar for a birthday dinner, I thought it would be good, but it was much grander. Since the 1970s, Clos du Val has been creating splendid Napa Valley Cabernets that show all the ripeness you could want without overthe-top, palate-bruising extraction and alcohol. This elegant wine echoes top-class

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December 22, 2010

This year I happily braved a snowstorm to get to the annual release tasting of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti’s great Burgundies. The 2007 vintage is not a top one, but the DRC’s ultra-elegant rare white, made in tiny quantities from the most famous Chardonnay site in the world, has a purity and complex layered citrus-andstone character that makes it extraordinary. Worth it? Perfection is always pricy.

1989 Chateau Palmer ($350) After sipping and spitting a barrel sample of the powerful 2009 Palmer during last spring’s Bordeaux en primeurs tastings, I swallowed with pleasure the satiny, seductive 1989 with lunch in the chateau’s elegant dining room. A star of the Margaux appellation in that vintage, it’s all black fruit and silky texture, perfect for drinking over the holidays - and costs no more than the still-in-barrel 2009, which won’t reach maturity for 20 years.

(The author writes on wine and spirits for Bloomberg News. The opinions expressed are her own.)

WATCH collection

Longines latest The DolceVita additions win wrists with their steel and gold combination, silvered flinque or mother-ofpearl dials, diamonds and classic rectangular cases. Available at select watch stores.

Rs 94,500 onwards

Chopard in the wind

Dancing with the stars

Elton John fans can queue up for this special collection by the music star that dazzles in colourful diamonds and gems. This pink crocodile leather strap watch is a quirky winner. Available on request at Chopard store, New Delhi and Mumbai.

Price on request

Piaget’s Dancer does a little tango with a white gold case and bracelet and jives through its brilliant-cut diamonds.

Available at Piaget’s store, New Delhi and Mumbai.

Price on request

Invading time Romain Jerome’s latest is this Moon Dust DNA: Moon Invader that overpowers in its ‘technically complex’ case and multi-layered dial. Available at Jot Impex.

Price on request

Prune perfect

Swarovski’s Piazza gets a new look with an extra large face, prune sunray centre and a lovely prune-coloured leather strap. Head to Swarovski boutiques for more.

Rs 27,000

It’s complicated!

A new Septagraph complication is the latest to grace this Borgeaud watch which indicates the ’Rahu Kalam’ period every single day.

Available at Time of Lord, Mumbai.

Rs 18 lakh to Rs 22 lakh