Smartbuy issue dated May 18, 2011

SmartbuyWednesday, May 18, 2011

G A D G E T S | A U T O | L U X U R Y www.blsmartbuy.com

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2 May 18, 2011Smartbuy

WHAT’S HOT this week

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Design

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This unique media player from Iomega allows you to stream music, movies and videos straight off the internet and onto your telly. DLNA certified, this media player can stream anywhere in the house. An HDMI cable means you canwatch your vids in high-def, and a full QWERTY remote helps you browse easily. The media players are available withor without storage. An external hard drive can be hooked up to it via the USB ports, so you can watch your own contentas well.1TB: Rs 12,999; 2TB: Rs 14,999; TV Link (without storage): Rs 8,999

The new 14-inch (LED display) notebook from MSI runs on an Intel Core i5processor and features a 720p webcam. For an improved multimediaexperience, you are offered an in-built SRS PC Sound system and MSI’sexclusive Cinema Pro technology. If you prefer a bigger screen when you watchHD films, the CR460 comes equipped with an HDMI slot for connecting totelevisions or projectors.Rs 29,999

The latest in Fujitsu’s LIFEBOOK series, the AH530 is powered byIntel Core i7 processors and AMD Radeon graphics. Running on theWindows 7 Professional OS, this glossy notebook is ideal for workingprofessionals. A 15.6-inch, 16:9 HD LED backlight LCD, as well asBlu-Ray drive, HD audio and 1.3-meg webcam make it mediafriendly.Rs 61,860

Net for your tellyIomega ScreenPlay DX HD

For work and playFujitsu AH530

Lap this upMSI CR460

Cover photo: S. Muralidhar


These wireless headphones from TDK give you superior soundwithout the hassle of cables. Plugging the transmitter into youraudio device is all that’s required. The headphones featuredynamic channel selection, and have ultra low powerconsumption. It requires 4 AAA batteries, two in thetransmitter unit and two in the headphones, which provide 40hours of juice. The headset is compatible with any mediadevice with a 3.5mm headphone jack. Rs 6,900

With a brand new 32-inch LED TV, VU offersyou theatre-like experience right in your livingroom. The telly also has an USB port whichyou can plug in an external storage to viewJPEG images, watch movies and listen tomusic. The display also has an HDMI input forBlue-Ray DVD players and A/V receiver aswell as a socket to plug in your headphones.Rs 28,990

The brand new device to adorn your car is aCD Receiver with a large 2-Line LCD displayso you can have a clear glance at the menu. Ona sleekly designed panel and a 7-Way RotaryCommander you can quickly scroll throughyour media to play on a long drive. Thereceiver also allows for external connectionslike an SD Memory Card slot, USB DirectControl for iPod/iPhone and enables playbackof various audio formats such as iTunes AAC/Mp3/wma.Rs 8,990

Wireless tunesTDK WR700

A brand newview

VU LED-32K16

Hum along in your Hummer!Pioneer DEH-6390SD


TELLY talk

Putting together your own smart TV


There’s a new wave of so-called “smartTVs” in the market, offering Internet-connected features and digital mediastreaming. But do you really need to

spend so much money? Tech companies have beentrying to get into the living room for years, andfailing for the most part. That’s because every-one’s been trying to make the TV more like acomputer, breaking the one-way flow of contentand adding more options. As it turns out, peopledon’t really want that. No one wants to wait aminute or longer for a TV to boot up, then select auser profile, then deal with a bunch of notificationmessages, then jump through a tangle of menusbefore reaching the show they want to watch.

If you bought an LCD TV any time within thelast five years, chances are it’s in perfectly goodcondition. If you’re thinking of an upgrade, it’sonly because you’ve been convinced or seduced byadvertising and shop displays. All these new“smart” features fall into two main categories:accessing digital or online media, and using socialnetworking or apps through the TV. The first setof functions can be added on with one or more ofthe variety of devices we’re talking about. We’lltake you through the whole range of options, start-ing with the cheapest and ending with the mostindulgent. Smart TVs will no doubt change. Forthe second set? You’d probably be happier with aphone or tablet in your hands than pulling upFacebook updates for the whole family to seeanyway! The choice is yours, but we’ve got thepros and cons of each listed right here.

Basic DVD PlayerA DVD player that can handle digital files is basi-cally the cheapest way to get digital content play-ing on your TV. Most budget DVD players nowcome with USB ports and support the playback ofdigital files from pen drives. These are effortless toset up and use. Moving further up the price ladder,most Blu-ray players include networking capa-bilities and can handle media streaming aroundthe home.Price: Up to Rs 4,000

USB media receiverA number of brands sell tiny devices that connectto your TV and allow you to play digital files offUSB pen drives or hard drives. The more expen-sive varieties can handle HD video and high-qual-ity sound as well. Examples include WD’s WDTV,Amkette’s FlashTV, Asus’ O!Play, etc.

The higher end models include network con-nectivity as well as USB, which is where the funcomes in. Network streaming becomes amazinglyeasy, and it’s even possible over Wi-FiPrice: Rs 4,000-7,500

Media Storage HubPreviously the domain of ultra geeks, media hubsare becoming more common now. These essen-tially combine the functions of a USB media re-ceiver with a built-in hard drive and media servercapabilities in addition to mere reception. The

advantage is that you have your entire collectionaccessible in one single box, rather than having tobrowse over a network and deal with configura-tion and laying wire. These usually come with 1 or2 TB of storage space, or in some cases, make yousupply your own hard drive. Some of the betterknown manufacturers are Xtreamer and PopcornHour Price: Rs 10,000 onwards

Game ConsolesModern game consoles, namely the Xbox 360 andPlayStation 3, both come with networking capa-bilities and can receive streamed content fromhome media servers. Both also include online ser-vices including Facebook and Twitter, which ac-tually makes a bit more sense since text input is abit easier using the game controller. They alsohave USB ports and can directly play most audioand video formats. The PS3 has a rudimentaryWeb browser, and the Xbox can stream live TVfrom a Windows PC if you use its Media Centrefeatures. This is a good option if you want to playhigh-def games anyway or just have an additionalTV in the bedroom, as you get extra functionalityin the same box and don’t need to mess aroundwith multiple wires and remotes. Rs 15,000-22,000

LaptopsWant the ultimate in flexibility? Just plug in yourlaptop, netbook or PC and you’ll never have toworry about which file formats are supported orwhether you can add more storage in the future. Inaddition to simply watching your digital files onwhat is effectively a giant monitor, you can orga-nise your entire media collection in one spot, usethe same machine to download and stream what-ever you like, browse the full Web and use otheronline services, and even play 3D games from thecomfort of your sofa. You’ll need at the least awireless keyboard and mouse, though severalcombo products exist just for the purpose, such asAmkette’s Wi-Key. However you’ll have to con-tend with all the downsides of running a full-sizedPC, such as ensuring you have the right softwareupdates, antivirus protection, etc.

Connected TVsOne step away from full-fledged smart TVs, Con-nected TV was last year’s buzzword. These aresets which have USB and/or network ports, whichact exactly like built-in media receivers. Only thehighest end ones come with LAN ports (or rarerstill, Wi-Fi) that let you run the standard mediasharing and DLNA functions. Some even used theInternet connection to display weather, stock up-dates, and other such widgets.

If you’re an enthusiast who loves movies and TVand you’re buying a TV anyway, it makes completesense to go for the top-end models that offer to-day’s best features. But if not, there’s no need tobuy the upgrade hype—just choose from any of ourlisted solutions and wait for the real killer apps tobe launched.

Amkette Flash TVSimple, portable and inexpen-sive, though limited in flexibil-ity and overall functionality.Good - Plug in your pen drivesand watch movies on the bigscreen. You can even carry it around while travelling.Bad - No online features, no HDMI. Your mileage will varywhen it comes to the more exotic file formats.

Sony PlayStation 3Young folks would probably like tohave a game console around anyway–the other features are a welcomebonus

Good - It’ll be right at home in most rooms and the costisn’t unreasonable anymore. Lots of functions for yourmoney.Bad - The game controller might be a bit awkward and itwon’t be the best way for grandma to browse family photos.ZOTAC ZBOXZOTAC offers a variety of modelswith various levels of capabillities,including Blu-ray and USB 3.0Good - They’re tiny, look great,and don’t consume much power.You can’t ask for a simpler HTPC setup.Bad - You’ll have to deal with the "features" of a PC,including viruses, driver error messages, and possiblecrashes.

Xtreamer ProThis heavy-duty player is practicallya super-optimized computer in it-self. Geeks will be more than happy.Good - Massive storage potentialand media server functions, de-signed solely to satisfy your appetite

for digital media.Bad - Slightly over the top for most casual users, and it’s abit expensive, being a specialized device.WD TV Live HubPerhaps the best balance betweencost, storage, simplicity andfunctionality.Good - 1 TB of built-in space, beautifulinterface, unobtrusive and easy to set up.Plus, all the online features of the Live.Bad - Control is a little difficult and it’s easy to get lost inthe menus, but those are minor niggles with a superbproduct.

Samsung Smart TVExpensive, but impressive. You’llhave access to a wide range of ser-vices that Samsung will no doubtkeep updating.Good - It’s a great-looking high-end TV with the potential to re-

duce a ton of clutter no matter where you install it.Bad - Bragging rights don’t come cheap, and who knowswhat features nest year’s killer high-end set will offer?

Gadgets Galore

CHIP


SOUND bytes

Feature packedSamsung C6730WSamsung’s 1,330W, 7.1-channel system includes asleek Blu-ray receiver that boasts super-sharp HDimages and attractive tallboy speakers with stylishlyripped-open innards. Audio quality may lack theclarity and control of the Oh and Onkyo systems butit’s no sonic slouch and the spec sheet is a homecinema A to Z – DLNA networking, USB playback,wireless rear speakers, built-in Wi-Fi, dual HDMIinputs and extensive format support – the onlything missing is 3D. For ease of use and breadth offeatures the C6730W is great value.Love: Generous feature list. Decent picture andsound performanceHate: Not 3D-readyRs 40,000

Performance pointsHarman Kardon BDS 800This Harman Kardon kit is reassuringly expensive,with slick design and performance to match. TheBDS 800 offers clean, crisp HD audio with 65 wattsper channel and tight bass from the 200W sub; thereproduction of audio detail shames cheaper sys-tems. The HD visuals from the Blu-ray drive aresimilarly awesome. Concentrating on performancethe BDS 800 offers little in the way of extra featuresbeyond a USB port – there’s no media streaming,web access or HDMI inputs. You do get really greatsurround sound, though. Love: Highly impressive performance and buildHate: High price, no HDMI inRs 90,000

Budget buyPanasonic SC-BTT350This 1,000W, 5.1-channel system plays 2D and 3DBlu-rays with pristine picture quality and streamsmedia wirelessly from any PC – albeit via a dongle.

Won’t lehang

Blu-ray surround soundsystems come in all shapesand sizes, from cheap one-

boxers to decadentseparates that attract coosof delight from everyone

including your credit cardprovider. All-in-ones

should offer better VFMand easier setup than

separates, althougharguably not quite such

good performance


It also offers online content, with YouTube andPicasa widgets on VieraCast. There’s a built-in iPoddock, plus an SD card slot and digital audio input.There is however no HDMI and sound quality isdisappointing – sharp, shouty and lacking in basspunch. The basics seem to have been overlooked onthis budget system and you won’t exactly fall in lovewith its clunky, boxy looks either.Love: Plenty of bonus features, 3D-readyHate: Unappealing looks, mediocre soundRs 26,000

Back to basicsTeufel Impaq 3000

Teufel’s first Blu-ray system is a curious one witha surprisingly light spec list. There’s no mediastreaming, internet access or 3D. Instead, what youpay for is the robust quality and design of the 5.1speaker system and connections, including twoHDMIs, a USB port and iPod dock. That’s no badthing in theory, but the Impaq doesn’t deliver per-formance. The 600W speakers occasionally soundharsh and the 150W subwoofer is too overpoweringfor them. These are flaws for which even the bril-liantly crisp Blu-ray pictures can’t quitecompensate.Love: Build quality and design, dual HDMI inputsHate: Harsh sound, lacks modern featuresRs 45,000

Top of the lineOnkyo BD-SP308, TX-SR608 and Oh by TutundoAnd now for something completely different…We’ve teamed the mind-bogglingly pricey Oh byTutundo 5.1 system with the more reasonablypriced Onkyo SR608, an AV receiver with sixHDMI inputs, and the BD-SP308 Blu-ray deck. TheOh’s five 80W, mic-stand-like speakers and beefy200W sub suck every bit of detail from the SR608,providing detailed, powerful and finessed audiothat all-in-one systems simply can’t compete with.The price tag reflects this, clearly.Love: Remarkably good sound and picture qualityHate: Bothersome priceOnkyo: Rs 42,000; Oh: Rs 4,20,000

Accessorise:One For All Xsight Plus

Add an AV receiver, 5.1 surround sound speakersand a Blu-ray player to your existingTV setup and what you get is a largecollection of remote controls. Cutdown on the coffee table clutterwith One For All’s Xsight Plus, auniversal remote that supports up to12 devices and makes control easywith a 1.44-inch, high-resscreen.Rs 4,000

eave youging

This material is translated or reproduced from T3 magazine and isthe copyright of or licensed to Future Publishing Limited, a Future

plc group company, UK 2011. Used under license. All rightsreserved


AUTO focus

S. Muralidhar

The French are back! More specifically…after arather tenuous first attempt Renault is finally setto re-enter the market with a slew of new cars inthe next two years.

The first to be assembled and rolled out of its jointproduction facility (with Nissan) is the new Fluence. TheKoleos sports utility vehicle will be the next to be launchedand the really locally produced cars will all come later.

I drove the new premium sedan Fluence from Chennaito ‘Le’ Pondicherry to truly experience the French flavourof the new offering and here are my first impressions aboutthe car. The question uppermost in my mind was – Willthe new Fluence be able to colonise the premium sedanmarket?

DesignRenualt (pronounced Ren-o) car design can be a bit offbeatoften. But it is also a company that has won accolades formany of its car designs. While buyers in India might findsome of the company’s other cars to be a bitodd, the Fluence will not be one of them. De-signed and developed for emerging markets inAsia, the Fluence has a certain universal appealto its design, sitting alongside characteristicFrench flair in its lines.

Like the current Toyota Corolla, the Fluenceoutwardly also seems like a car whose design isoriented towards being more practical ratherthan fancy. A tall stance, a raised body withgood ground clearance, 16-inch wheels andsimple straight lines mark the exterior of thenew Fluence.

Large ‘peeled-back’ headlamps, a thin strip of a bonnetgrille and a deep scooped out depression on the bonnetslab are what greet you at the front of the Fluence. Togeth-er with the front design, flared out wheel arches and a highshoulder line give the Fluence a visually robust profile.The high shoulder line hasn’t however restricted the glassarea because the prominent arch of the roofline meansthat there are full-sized windows that lend an airy, well-litfeel to the interiors.

The rear of the Fluence is the more attractive andwell-proportioned part of the car. There is the prominentRenault logo with the Fluence badging positioned at thecentre of the boot lid.

Attractive wraparound taillamps adorn the side panelsand extend onto the sides of the boot lid. The boot itselfoffers a sumptuous 530 litres of storage space. Though theFluence’s C-pillar is chunky and the shoulder line alsogradually rises and merges into the boot, there is stillample rear visibility for the driver thanks to the large rearglass.

Interiors

Renault has chosen to load the interior of the Fluence withinteresting additions to capture the interest of the poten-tial buyer in the segment. The car with the most novelinterior in the segment currently is the Honda Civic.Offering some special treats to the demanding Indianbuyer, Renault has chosen a beige interior colour themeand an all-new digital instrument cluster, both of whichwill be India-specific features.

Short overhangs and the choice of a platform that allowsmaximising the wheelbase have meant that it gets to be atthe top of the heap in this parameter with a wheelbasemeasuring 2,703mm.

This has also enabled Renault engineers to get a lot morespace optimisation inside the passenger cabin. With seg-ment-leading width and a claimed highest in the segmentrear knee room, it is fair to say that the inside of theFluence feels more spacious than the competitors in thesegment. Flat door panels and

Compact, but comfortable seats add to thefeeling of space.

The dashboard features a simple layout,which is not really Spartan, but feels like it ex-udes a bit of European minimalism. The petrolvariant of the Fluence has been given the beigeand black colour theme, while the diesel gets ablack and dark gray interior. Apart from the alldigital instrument cluster, there is also a cen-trally positioned information display which ismounted at the top of the dash.

Dual air-conditioner controls and the com-pact CD-radio player have been neatly integrat-

Carte blanche with theRenault Fluence

ed into the dash. There are brushed aluminium inserts onthe steering, door handles and aircon vents surrounds.There is also a strip of wood trim insert on the dash in thepetrol variant. The centre console houses the start stopbutton, the gear stick shift and storage spots. While thepetrol engine variant is offered with leather seats, thediesel engine variant is offered only with fabric uphol-stery.

In fact, the diesel variant has quite a few other optionsthat too have been stripped off (compared to the petrolvariant) such as the electrochromic rearview mirror, rearsunblinds, rain sensitive wipers, cruise control, rear park-ing aid etc.

Some of the novel additions to the interior include thesmart card type key combined with the start-stop button,the funky music system controls on a chunky appendagepositioned conveniently behind the steering wheel andthe digital instrument cluster and info display.

PerformanceThe Fluence is being offered with two engine options – a1.5-litre diesel engine mated with a six-speed manualtransmission and a two-litre petrol engine that has beenpaired with a CVT automatic transmission. It is immedi-ately obvious as to which of the two will be the morepopular choice.

The diesel will tend to have a distinct edge over thepetrol despite considerable equipment missing in it com-pared to the petrol. It also need not be a deterrent forbuyers to know that the 1,461cc diesel engine in the Flu-ence is the same block from the Logan dCI. Though itshares the same geometry, the engine has been completelyreworked and retuned in the Fluence.

The diesel mill now produces a beefier 240 newtonmetres of torque at 2,000 rpm and a peak power of 106PSat 4,000 rpm. There were initial reports that talked aboutthe diesel engine lacking adequate low-end torque, butduring my test drive I didn’t miss torque availability in anygear. There is a bit of perceptible delay in turbo assistance,but that is only at really low engine rpm levels.

The diesel engine is refined by the yardsticks that wouldbe applied to a mill in this segment. Inside the cabin, NVHlevels had been contained to low levels, but the onlyintruding, slightly annoying interference is the whine ofthe turbo and a bit of wind noise that seeps through atthree-digit speeds. The wind noise intrusion was lower inthe petrol variant.

The six-speed manual gearbox that the diesel engine isoffered with is a slick shifting unit. The slotting is just rightneither too prominent nor too soft. The shift stick has alsobeen positioned right, but, though the throw is neither tooshort nor long, it can be a bit of a stretch, when in 1st, 3rd or5th gear, for a few drivers.

The 1,997cc four-cylinder petrol engine generates aclass-leading 137PS of peak power at 6,000 rpm, and thepeak torque of 190 Nm kicks in at 3,700 rpm. There isadequate power from the engine for some spirited drivingand the engine is quite refined in the NVH department too.The only dampener for buyers who are involved andlooking to drive the car themselves may be the CVT IIautomatic gearbox that the mill mated to.

Despite being a CVT shift times are a bit slow and can belaborious at times of need like an overtaking manoeuvre.The only saving grace is the six-speed manual mode thatbe selected by shifting the stick to the left and choosing in+/- mode. In this mode the engine is more willing and can

be coaxed to work in rhythm to the driver’s needs.The driving position in the Fluence can be chosen

thanks to tilt and telescopic steering adjustments. Oneother plus is the availability of a dead pedal even in thediesel variant. The rated fuel efficiency of the diesel andpetrol variants of the Fluence is 21.84 kmpl and 13.42 kmplrespectively.

BottomlineSome of the points that I felt might put off potential buyersinclude the fact that though the Fluence has been devel-oped for many varied global markets, there are still sometraces of the left-hand drive orientation in the car. Forexample, the bonnet release lever is located under thedashboard on the passenger side. So, if you are stopped at asecurity check point and asked to pop the hood, you’ll haveto step out.

The turn indicator stalk is also located to the left of thesteering column, though it has become quite a regularfeature nowadays in many imports and locally producedcars.

Aside of all these points, Renault will have a bigger taskcut out for itself in trying to reach out to the brandconscious car buyer in the premium sedan segment. Thechoice of the car in the Fluence is right, but Renault mustnow set about rectifying any misconceptions buyers mighthave about the quality and reach of the brand.

Considering the fact that the diesel variant is missingquite a bit of equipment, my guess is that the two variants(offered with only one trim level each) will be priced veryclose to each other. My guess for the price would be aboutRs 12 lakh.

[email protected]

Photos: S. Muralidhar


From top (clockwise):Beige colour theme makes the interior look more airyCard-shaped smartkey is a novel additionThe 2-litre petrol engine tightly packed in the boot areadigital instrument cluster gives quick access to informa-tion and is pleasing to the eye at nightAutomatic gearbox stickshift with manual modeAnother novel feature are the music system and Blue-tooth controls right behind the steering wheels


MELANGE luxury redefined

For those who love the curvy ‘X’ front, Tabitha from Tom Ford is stylish in its shaded violet frames.Available: Select lifestyle and optical outlets Price on request

Aqua blue –amethyst with lilac fadedlenses and two-toned frames, this onefrom Vogue is a must have for the youngand the chirpy.Available: Sunglass Hut storesRs 4,580

This is for the biker in you. Oakley’s DucatiJuliet is a 25-piece blend of X METAL andart with a sculptural metal frame andHydrophobic permanent lens coating tokeep the grime away.Available: Sunglass Hut storesRs 25,350

The latest from Maui Jim is its MauiFlexcollection with alloy frames forfeatherweight flexibility and glareprotection tech to keep the sun at bay.Available: Select eyewear outletsRs 14,400

Another one for the sunny days, thisviolet Just Cavalli sunglasses is lightweight with little suds in the relief withthe logo engraved on the arms.

Available: Select lifestyle and opticaloutlets

Price on request

Baroque wears Prada! With curves, friezesand bas-relief effects, this Minimal-Baroque inwhite and blue is sexy, especially with thearms sculpted into rococo curls.Available: Sunglass Hut storesRs 23,210


PREMIUM interiors

The onset of summer might spell simmeringweather, but is always associated with every-thing fun. For most of us, our happiest memo-ries as children are associated with summer

hols. The ‘nimbu paani’, tree houses, mango milkshak-es, unlimited afternoon games with friends… This sum-mer, let’s go back to those days of absolute freedom bybringing back the true summer spirit. Here are six waysto stay stylishly cool and quirkily colourful this season.

Foliage frolicSummer is all about moisture and hydration. Nothingfreshens up a home more than flowers and plants. Fillfoliage into any unusual container and bring them intoshelter on balconies and indoors. Rajnigandha or yel-low roses for simplistic style; or an over-the-top ar-rangement with trailing pink bougainvillea flowers.You can also bring in some greens, like large bananaleaves placed in giant glass bottles or jars, aloe vera andalso hang money plants upside down for a differenttouch.

Treat the kidsDuring summer vacation, you can be sure that yourchildren’s friends will be hanging out at your home. Aclever way to keep them out of the heat is to make theirroom a real summer retreat. Push the beds against thewall, and turn them into ‘loungey’ divans. Throwaround lots of floor cushions with low tables.

Indulge in art

When the heat sizzles and lethargy sets in, it is alsouplifting if we shed off all that is unnecessary. Stripthings bare and sort out the clutter. It’s a great time togive in to every artistic pleasure or indulgence youwanted to pursue. Chase those art classes or potterymaking sessions. Unusual objects give inspiration andyou can create some lovely craft pieces to do up yourhomes.

Welcoming guestsOne is always short of storage in modern apartments.But guests during summer vacations are no surprise.It’s ideal to keep everything in place in your guest room,like creating a welcome space for them… a mini-homeaway from home. Use pretty cupboards and stock themwith bed and bath linen, candles and teatime parapher-nalia. Add a bedside table lamp, especially if your guestis fond of reading.

Food for thoughtThen of course, is the challenge of making food appetis-ing in the sweltering heat. Tasteful and cheery cutlerymakes a world of difference. Many people create snack-like meals for summer dinners, presenting food gor-geously to shake off the languor. Pick and mix food fromall parts of India and take a lesson from other tropicallands. Make a Burmese khow suey, Asian-style bite-sizemeals or Spanish tapas. They are appetising and palata-ble in their small portions served on appealing colour-pop ceramics.

Summer styles to beat the heat

Better Interiors


The Great Eastern Home has introduced a neat pick ofbook shelves for those who love to hoard on books anddisplay them. Crafted in Burma teak wood with elegantcarvings, these shelves are available at its store inMumbai.Price on request

Book addicts

If you want a change from tile and wood floorings foryour brand new entertainment room, take a peek atIDUS’s new range of leather flooring. Though it’s highmaintenance, it can elevate your interiors up a fewnotches. Available at IDUS, New Delhi.Rs 700 per sft onwards

Floor talk

Black and white strips of leather with teak legs andaccents, and drawers lined in ultra suede…PortsideCafe’s Hughes Road Chest from its latestrange is a perfect addition to a contemporary livingroom. Available at its stores in New Delhi, Mumbaiand Pune.Rs 1.24 lakh

Classic twist

Italian furniture brand Riva 1920 has launched itsexclusive solid wood furniture collection in India. ThisNatura Table designed by the Creative Group is made ofwhitened brushed oak with base in painted iron. Therange also includes beds, cabinets, chests, racks andmore. Available at Zolijns, New Delhi.Price on request

Solid look!


TASTER’S choice

John Mariani

Connoisseurs - very rich connoisseurs - will paybig bucks for a case, even a bottle of a rare wine.But the biggest trophies at wine auctions are theso-called large format bottles.

At last year’s Auction Napa Valley, an eight magnumbottle of Colgin Cellars’s Cariad, with dinner for six, wentfor $250,000. Owner Ann Colgin then offered to replicatethe lot for four bidders to bid $250,000 each.

This March in Chicago, Hart Davis Wine Companyauctions sold a single imperial of 1982 Lafite-Rothschildfor nearly $42,000.

The appeal of these bottles is clearly their impressivesize: a magnum holds two regular, 750 ml bottles; a jerobo-am, four; rehoboam, six; an imperial or Methuselah, eight;on up to a Nebuchadnezzar, 20. An added virtue is thatthese bottles are said to age more slowly because of theratio of wine to oxygen in the neck.

“People who entertain a large group frequently favourbig bottles out of convenience,” said Peter Meltzer, auc-tion correspondent for Wine Spectator and author of“Keys to the Cellar: Strategies and Secrets of Wine Collect-ing” in a phone interview. “In the fine wine auction world,sales of large format bottles are considered a reflection ofthe economy.

“When times are good, people won’t hesitate to uncorka big bottle, but during a recession they scale back onpurchasing them. When the economy improves, they caneither drink up or re-sell the bottles.”

Added GlamourThis assertion is backed up by Piero Selvaggio, owner ofValentino restaurant in Santa Monica, CA, where he cel-lars 75,000 bottles, with 250 of them in large formats.“When the economy was booming, I once sold a Nebu-chadnezzar to a party,” he told me, “but the recession hasblunted that kind of extravagance. These days some cus-tomers want to bring their own big bottles, and I charge a$50 corkage fee.”

For the most part large formats are made by the mostillustrious Bordeaux and Burgundy estates, which usuallygrab the highest auction prices. A few California cultwineries also make some big bottles, in most cases donatedto charity auctions.

At restaurants, large bottles create a more celebratoryatmosphere at the table. “I tell my customers that a mag-num is an ideal size when dining with six to eight people,”says Linda Gerin, Partner and Wine Director at RestaurantJean-Louis in Greenwich, CT. “One bottle is not enoughand as long as you’re having two, uncorking a magnum hasa real glamour about it.”

High RollersIn fact, big bottles can be the most sensible way to go forcertain celebrations. “Las Vegas is the perfect city for largeformats,” Jennifer Eby, Wine Manager at Bartolotta Risto-rante di Mare at Wynn Las Vegas told me. “We serve ourfood family style, often to large tables, and I suggest a largeformat as being easier and more festive.”

Asked about what wines freebie-loving high rollers or-der, Eby said, “The hotel wants to look after those guestsand they drink whatever they want, but they really don’ttake advantage by ordering big bottles. Our Asian guests

Trophy wines, bigger the better


Piper-Heidsieck gives its Champagne CuveeBrut bottle a stylish new look by collaboratingwith fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier. To beunveiled in Cannes, France, the bottle oozes oomphin a new design inspired by French cancan,featuring latex and fishnets. Available from May inthe best bars and restaurants, it will be served ina black-tinted champagne Coupe and an icebucket, also draped in transparent fishnet.

Sexy toast!

Remy Martin’s VSOPspecial edition forCannes Film Festival isthis exclusivechampagne. The ‘VerySpecial Old Pale’bottles have beenindividually numberedand is elegantlydesigned with goldlace, against abackground of brilliantblack. Available atDelhi Duty Free for$60 per litre bottle.

Remy’s Cannes’version

Photos: Bloomberg

almost never do and tend to be very modest in theirconsumption of wine.”

The more dedicated to stocking huge cellars a restau-rant is, the more large format bottles it will carry. Thecellar at Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago holds more than 130large formats, including one of only five imperials evermade of Penfolds 1990 “Grange.”

At Valbella in Riverside, CT, Wine Director Nick Zher-ka offers a Methuselah of Richebourg, Domaine de laRomanee Conti 1996 for $22,000. When I asked if that wasnegotiable, he said, “Well, maybe $21,000.”

Birthday BoysFor the individual there are big risks in buying big bottlesas investments. Rarely would the investor get a betterprice re-selling to a wine store or restaurant - and thenonly in a state where it is legal to re-sell wines. Auctionhouses post estimate prices at the going rate.

Crucial for the seller, says, Meltzer, is that “whateveryou do, you must keep the wines in a professional, temper-ature controlled facility, so that an auction house canvouch for how it had been stored.”

There’s no real way, shy of opening and tasting them, toknow if the wines will be sound in years to come, or if invertical vintages, any one of them may have gone bad.Which is why so many large format bottles are just soldand re-sold and never drunk at all. In which case, you areselling an artifact, not a work of art.

It makes more sense to buy a big bottle at a retail storefor a special occasion, as I did when my sons were born, in1980 and 1985 respectively.

I put the bottles away for their 21st birthdays, when themagnums made quite a splash. Rarely had I enjoyed a winemore and it was money very well spent.

(The author writes on wine for Bloomberg News. The opinionsexpressed are his own.)

Photos (back page): NewsMarket

Beveragelaunch

Documents

Smartbuy issue dated May 18, 2011