LeDomduVin: When wine friends meet (part 2)

When wine friends meet (part 2)

The day after the UGCB, we decided to meet again for dinner at Nissa la Bella (@nissalabellahk).  

A French bistro in Sheung Wan, where Olivier Bollenbach (@olivierboll) and the team took really good care of us. Really lovely food and wines! 

Left to right: François, Jerry, Minnie, Dom, Benoît, Olivier, Kim, Ophelia, and Martin.

We had an excellent time, having fun, sharing, and cheering. A great occasion to meet old friends, new people, discover a new place, and drink great wines, too.

Everyone brought some great bottles, and these are the wines we drank for dinner. 

Left to right: 

Yann Durieux - Love and Pif - Bourgogne Aligoté (2023 ?)

Even though we were all working in the wine industry, directly or indirectly, at that dinner, I was surprised that some of us did not know Yann Durieux. 

Yann Durieux is a respected figure in the traditional and natural wine worlds, known for his biodynamic and natural winemaking practices, with a focus on minimal intervention, which allows his wines to express greater purity and terroir.   

Yann has been the vineyard manager at Domaine Prieuré Roch since 2008. Prieuré Roch, which has a "cult-like following" among fine wine collectors and connoisseurs, is considered a significant producer in Burgundy. 

Then, in 2010, he founded his own domain, "Recrue des Sens," and vinified his first three vintages in the cellars at Prieuré Roch, which attracted the press and critics and brought significant attention to his name, reputation, and wines. 

He now owns a few vineyards and makes white wines from Aligoté, Chardonnay, and Pinot Blanc, as well as various red wines from Pinot Noir, all aged in old or new barrels. He also makes an ‘orange’ wine from Aligoté (also from Pinot Gris, available on request)

Unfortunately, since he produces only 3,000-5,000 bottles per vintage, his wines are rare and highly sought after. They often do not receive formal notes or scores from the press or critics because, with such low production, it’s understandable that he cannot send samples to all international critics.        

Although more popular now and even trendy in some parts of the world (France, USA, etc.), some people still remain skeptical of natural wines because they often have funky, even faulty, aromas and flavors, along with flaws like a cloudy appearance, effervescence, "funky" or "barnyard" aromas, an unbalanced or unharmonious palate, and possible inconsistency between bottles. 

Even at that dinner, two winemakers attended and shared their concerns about the wine. But that was before tasting it; in the end, even they were pleasantly surprised, as Yann Durieux's wines are not like other Natural wines — they are clean, precise, and focused, with a lot to offer and to like.  

This wine is crafted with a focus on natural winemaking, including spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts and aging in steel and wooden barrels. It is typically bottled without fining or filtration, and with minimal or no added sulfites. 

The resulting wine is a vibrant Bourgogne Aligoté—fresh, clean, zesty, yet generous and complex, with lots of minerality, bright fruit notes, and a long finish. One of the best Bourgogne Aligotés I have tasted in a long time. 

Thank you, Martin, for bringing this bottle to dinner. First, because I am a big fan of Yann Durieux wines, and it was nice to refresh my memory since I hadn't tasted his Bourgogne Aligoté in a long time. Second, because it allowed some people to discover it for the first time. Good choice!  

Louis-Benjamin - Didier Dagueneau Pur Sang 2019 (Magnum)

This is one of the bottles I brought to dinner. The night before, I had dinner with Martin, Ophelia, and Minnie, and Martin and Ophelia treated us to some nice Pouilly Fumé, which inspired me to bring a magnum of this legendary wine, or should I say "this mythic cuvée" from Pouilly Fumé in the Loire (France).

 

Didier Dagueneau, a pioneering winegrower in the Loire, was a renowned expert in the Sauvignon Blanc variety and one of the first to apply biodynamic farming on his 11 hectares in the AOC Pouilly Fumé. 

I had the chance to meet Didier Dagueneau twice in the mid-90s, and even then, his wines were seen as revolutionary and unusual for the appellation because of their richness, concentration, and complexity, providing a sharp contrast to the typically light, grassy Sauvignon Blancs of that time. 

Didier Dagueneau challenged convention by adopting meticulous viticulture—including biodynamic practices starting in 1993—and barrel fermentation, which was uncommon for the region at the time. This led to wines with a distinct, fuller-bodied profile—much richer, more complex, and dense—along with higher aging potential than their peers within the appellation. 

Starting in the 1990s, Dagueneau wines gained a cult following, commanding prices similar to those of top Burgundy wines and becoming harder to find due to high demand and limited production. 

After Didier passed away in 2008, his son, Louis Benjamin Dagueneau, took over and continued his father's philosophy by crafting complex, layered Pouilly Fumé wines in a very Burgundian style (see this video interview of Didier Dagueneau, courtesy of "Le Média Vin").

 

Didier Dagueneau's "Pur Sang" is made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc from old-vine vines aged 25 to 60 years, planted in limestone, clay, and flint soils. It is considered one of the best cru in the AOC Pouilly Fumé. The vines are farmed using biodynamic practices with organic and ecological methods. The grapes are hand-harvested at peak ripeness. They are then gently pressed, and the must ferments spontaneously with native yeasts for 3 months. The wine then ages on lees for 11 months in oak barrels. 

 

The Didier Dagueneau winery is famous for its relentless pursuit of quality, and the cuvée "Pur Sang" is the perfect example; its name, “Pure Sang”, reflects its purity and unique character. 

 

I arrived at the restaurant about 30 minutes before everyone else and immediately opened the wine, knowing it would benefit from a little air to fully express itself. If it had been a younger vintage, I would definitely have decanted it, but for this 2019 vintage, 30-45 minutes of opening time before serving was plenty to let it open up nicely.   

This "Pure Sang" 2019 in magnum is a perfect example of concentration and precision, freshness and structure, and reveals the surprising complexity and depth Dagueneau's wines develop with some age. 

In the glass, it displayed a bright, pale yellow color. There is a liveliness in the nose enhanced by yellow fruits and citrus aromas blending with floral and mineral notes. The attack is stunning, clean, fresh, focused, precise, mineral, and zesty. The palate is elegant, chiseled, refined, yet complex and layered, gently coating the mouth, balanced, well-structured, and generously textured, with minerality and freshness that extend the aromatic and flavor profile. The finish is intense, prolonged, and immediately inviting for another glass. This is a magnificent, youthful wine with the potential to age gracefully for many more years (the magnum size likely helps). Gorgeous!     

NB: Last, but not least, all Dagueneau wines, including "Pur Sang," have been sold under the label "Vin de France" since 2017. Louis Benjamin Dagueneau decided to move his wines out of the "Pouilly Fumé" appellation due to criticism that his wines did not meet the traditional standards of Pouilly-Fumé. Fortunately, this decision did not affect the wine's reputation or quality. 

Le Guishu - French Saké Sec/Dry 

Following the two previous stunning white wines, Minnie brought us something rather intriguing and unexpected: a French Saké! 

I had heard and read about some of these "Sake made in France" brands, such as 

• "Le Guishu": a collection of “Provence style French Sake” created in 2016, by Olivier Sublett (of Chateau Beausejour, Saint-Emilion), in parts imported in Hong Kong by "Wine to Love" 

• "Wakaze": first created in Japan in 2016 by Takuma, Founder and CEO of Wakaze Sakagura, who opened a second brewery in the suburbs of Paris to share Wakaze with the world. 

• "Les Larmes du Levant": the project of its founder, Gregoire Boeuf, supposedly the first French Sakagura entirely dedicated to the production of Sake, yet also created in 2016 (same years as the other Sakagura) 

However, I had never heard of the brand "French Saké". Minnie (Wong) imports and distributes it to Hong Kong via her company "Wine to Love", as it is made by "Le Guishu" (it took me a minute to realize it after looking at the capsule, as I was focused on the front label, where "Le Guishu" is not mentioned). 

They make different versions of it, Sec (Dry), Demi-Sec (Semi-Dry), and Semi-Sweet, using French ingredients, like rice from the Camargue region, and blend Japanese brewing traditions with French terroirs to create distinct flavor profiles. 

**********work in progress**********

Jaffelin Fixin 1er Cru Hervelets 2020

Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 1990

Château La Cabanne Pomerol 2022

Château Le Bon Pasteur Pomerol 2022

Château Troplong Mondot Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 1988

Bussola Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Vigneto Alto (2019 ?)

Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey 1er Grand Cru Sauternes 2017

Kim, Ophelia, Martin, Francois, Minnie, Benoit, Olivier, Olivier's wife

After dinner, we went to have a few more wines and finish the night at a great wine bar, called "Think Wine" by Romain Loriot (@thinkwine.hongkong), where we drank: 

Granbazan 'Etiqueta Àmbar' Albarino Rias Baixas (2021 ?)

Baptiste Pimouguet, Dominique Noël & Romain Loriot

Then Romain Loriot treated us to an interesting blind tasting of two Cabernet Sauvignons from China. 

Jiang Yu Cabernet Sauvignon "6000 Li" Shangri-La Yunnan 2022

Tinnyu "Random Cabernet" Shangri-La Yunnan 2023

Francois, Jerry, Minnie, Dom, Benoit, Olivier, Kim, Ophelia & Martin

Kim, Ophelia, Martin, Francois, Minnie, Benoit, Olivier, Olivier's wife

A beautiful evening spent with some old and new friends.

It was great to see you all and spend this memorable moment with you guys! Loved it! 😁👍🍷🍷🍷

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #wine #vin #vino #wein  #hongkong #hk #friends #winefriends #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #lovewine #dinner #bistro #winebar 

Unless stated otherwise, all rights reserved ©LeDomduVin 2025, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, collages, visuals, logos, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, lyrics and even music and video (when and where applicable).

LeDomduVin: When wine friends meet (part 1)

Wilson Kwok, Francois Estager, Minnie Wong, Benoit Prévot, Dominique Noel & Martin Brady

When wine friends meet (part 1)

UGCB - Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux - Hong Kong 2025 - Nov 21st at The Regent Hotel HK (@hongkongregent) 

The UGCB is always a really good occasion to meet and catch up with friends you haven't seen for a while. It was good to see you and spend a moment with you guys! 

😁👍🍷🍷🍷

Left to right in the first picture: 

Wilson Kwok - Wine lover and promoter (and much more)

(@travelkwokovin) 

François Estager - Château La Cabanne 

(@chateaulacabanne) 

Minnie Wong - Easiness Wine

(@wminniem) (@easinesswine) 

Benoît Prévot - Château Le Bon Pasteur

(@chateaulebonpasteur) 

Dominique Noël (Myself)

(@ledomduvin)

Martin Brady - Acker Wines

(@martin_brady67)

Martin Brady, Dominique Noel & Minnie Wong

Wilson Kwok, Minnie Wong, Dominique Noel & Martin Brady

Benoit Prévot, Minnie Wong & Dominique Noel

Voilà! It was a very nice event, and the 2022 Bordeaux vintage is really good, too. 

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #wine #vin #vino #wein #tasting #UGCB #uniondesgrandscrusdebordeaux #hongkong #hk #2025 #regenthotelhk #friends #winefriends #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #ilovemyjob #lovewine 

Unless stated otherwise, all rights reserved ©LeDomduVin 2025, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, collages, visuals, logos, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, lyrics and even music and video (when and where applicable).

LeDomduVin: UGCB - Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux - Hong Kong 2025 - Vintage 2022 Tasting

UGCB - Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux - Hong Kong 2025 - Nov 21st. at The Regent Hotel HK (@hongkongregent), Vintage 2022 Tasting. 

Here are a few "Coup de Cœur" from the UGCB HK 2025 (@ugcbwines). 

I particularly enjoyed these wines. Of course, I also enjoyed many others, but didn't necessarily took a picture, as it was packed and also talked a lot, so not enough time to taste them all and to visit everyone. 

It was good to see so many people attending this tasting. It is reassuring and a proof that wine is still alive and kicking, and that people continue to drink and appreciate wine. There is still some hope. 😁👍🍷🍷🍷

Left to right: 

Benoît Prévot - Château Le Bon Pasteur

(@chateaulebonpasteur) 

François Estager - Château La Cabanne 

(@chateaulacabanne) 

Lauren Laudrin - Château Petit Village & Beauregard 

(@chateaupetitvillage)

Elise de Bailliencourt - Château Gazin 

(@chateaugazin)

Qin Jiang - Château Haut-Bailly 

(@chateauhautbailly) 

Marc Perrin - Château Carbonnieux

(@chateaucarbonnieux)

Adrien Bernard - Domaine de Chevalier 

(@domainedechevalier) 

(je n'ai pas demandé son nom😅) - Château La Lagune 

(@chateaulalaguneofficiel)

Marion Millaire - Château Cantemerle

(@chateau_cantemerle)

Erwan Le Brozec - Château Beychevelle

(@beychevelle1855)

Matthieu Bordes - Château Lagrange

(@chateaulagrange)

Fiona Rim.... - Châteaux Léoville Barton & Langoa Barton

(@bartonwine)

Voilà! It was a lovely event and the vintage 2022 is really good, too. 

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #wine #vin #vino #wein #tasting #UGCB #uniondesgrandscrusdebordeaux #hongkong #hk #2025 #regenthotelhk #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #ilovemyjob #lovewine 

Unless stated otherwise, all rights reserved ©LeDomduVin 2025, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, collages, visuals, logos, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, lyrics and even music and video (when and where applicable).

LeDomduVin: Wine doesn’t have to be expensive to be good.

Wine doesn’t have to be expensive to be good!

Ok, granted, these wines are not cheap, as they cost between HK$335 and HK$650 (about 38-75 euros), which makes them expensive for most people. But, you get what I'm trying to say, right?  

People always think that the more expensive a wine is, the better it is! In theory, yes, it should be. In reality, that is not always the case. In fact, I have tasted plenty of wines in my career that were way too expensive for the poor quality they offer, despite their history, name, appellation, pedigree, and/or rank. 

There's no real point in naming names or blaming anyone, but I've tasted wines that are supposedly worth thousands of dollars or euros that, just by their names, suggest luxury, custom craftsmanship, limited production, and excellence in the glass. Yet, they weren't really that good, to say the least.       

A well-known name, a pedigree, a rank, or a classification don't necessarily mean the wine is automatically good, especially in lesser vintages.   

In Burgundy, the vineyards' classification (Village, 1er Cru, Grand Cru) does determine a certain standard of quality, that's true. However, the expertise and techniques used by winemakers can vary greatly, which is why two wines from the same Premier Cru or even Grand Cru vineyard, but made by two different winemakers or domaines, can taste completely different. One may taste much better than the other, and it might not cost more. Domaine's name, reputation, history, and high demand usually command high prices, but the wine may not be worth that much when tasting it! (Writing these lines, a few examples came to my mind right away, but I won't tell to prevent extended argumentation).    

In Bordeaux, the same is true: some 3rd, 4th, and 5th Growths surpass the quality of certain 1er and 2nd Cru Grands Crus. Château Palmer, for example, which is a 3rd growth, often outperforms some 1st and 2nd growths in certain years. Château Pontet Canet, a 5th growth, is another excellent example; it offers fantastic value for money compared to many of the other châteaux ranked above it.   

So my advice is never assume a wine's quality until you've tasted it and assessed it yourself, based on your palate. Never let yourself be influenced by the name, reputation, history, classification, rank, pedigree, scores, medals, stars, or price.  

January 2025 Market Report - Liv-ex - Courtesy of Liv-Ex 

Fine wine prices have gradually yet significantly increased over the past 25 years. Although they dropped to their lowest point since late 2015 to early 2016 around March-April 2020, they quickly rose again, reaching their peak in 2022. This followed a wave of price hikes in the 4 or 5 vintages before, with a 28.5% increase between February 2020 and February 2022.  

In Burgundy, prices increased because of strong demand for limited-production, high-end wines, which is understandable and justified, even if it’s a bit painful for your wallet. 

While in Bordeaux, where production per Château is much higher, prices usually increase from one year to the next, based on the quality of the previous vintage. If the previous vintage was inferior, the price tends to go up. It might seem logical, if you keep your prices within a certain range—for example, if your wine is worth 100 in a normal year, you might lower it to 80 in a lesser year, and raise it to 120 in a better year, maybe up to 150 in exceptional years. And it seems fair if, despite inflation, you try to maintain your prices within this range to ensure consistency and avoid confusing your clients with a roller-coaster of prices that rarely decrease and mainly increase year after year (as we witnessed with Bordeaux prices in recent years).   

Let's take an example: 

**********work in progress********      

Afterward, they have been declining due to a lack of sales, leading to large amounts of unsold wines at the properties and stocks in importers' and distributors' warehouses, oversupply versus demand, shifting habits and consumption patterns with the new generations, changing priorities due to financial struggles, growing health concerns, countries favoring domestic wine consumption, thus reducing import-export, and so on. 

And consequently, the market has shifted recently from premium wines to more affordable bottles. Wines costing around HK$100 or less (about 12 Euros) have gained popularity.

Yet, here in Hong Kong, the average cost of a mid-range bottle of wine is about HK$120 (roughly 13.5 Euros), with prices usually between HK$80 and HK$200 (approximately 9-23 Euros). 

And, yet again, for a good-quality bottle of red table wine, most people are willing to spend between HK$250 and HK$350 (about 28-40 Euros), up to HK$500 or more (around 56 Euros) for special occasions. 

Therefore, I admit these wines are not the cheapest, but they offer very good value for wines under 75 Euros. Especially when compared to the wines I usually serve at private and corporate dinners and events, which typically range from HK$1000 to HK$3000 (about 112-335 Euros). 

*******work in progress*******

Thierry Germain Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Franc de Pied Loire Valley 2016

Château Cantemerle Haut-Médoc Bordeaux 2010

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Saint-Joseph Rhône Valley 2021

*******work in progress*******

Cheers ! Santé !

Dom

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #wine #vin #vino #wein @domaine_des_roches_neuves #thierrygermain #domainedesrochesneuves #francdepied #loirevalley @chateau_cantemerle #chateaucantemerle #cantemerle #hautmedoc #bordeaux @jeanlouischave #jeanlouischave #saintjoseph #rhonevalley #tastingnotes #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #lovewine

Unless stated otherwise, all rights reserved ©LeDomduVin 2025, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, collages, visuals, logos, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, lyrics and even music and video (when and where applicable).

LeDomduVin: Three to Tango (Cristal 2015, Corton 2018 & Montrose 2003)

Three to Tango 

(Cristal 2015, Corton 2018, & Montrose 2003) 

The other day, I had the chance to serve these wines at a private dinner, and they performed really well. 

Champagne Louis Roederer Cristal Brut 2015

Pale yellow color, with fine bubbles in the glass. Fresh, crisp, mineral, zesty aromas on the nose with yellow stone fruits, floral, nutty, and toasted notes. The palate is also fresh, crisp, and mineral, medium-bodied, with similar flavors to those on the nose, excellent balance, and zesty acidity through the mid-palate, leading to a fresh, clean finish. Loved it! 

Hospice de Beaune Corton Grand Cru Cuvée Docteur Peste 2018

(Aged and bottled by Joseph Drouhin)

Pale golden hue in the glass. The nose combines aromas of yellow and stone fruits with toasted, buttery, floral, and mineral notes. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is quite rich, complex, and layered, offering plenty of buttery and oaky notes that are nicely balanced and well-integrated. The minerality provides a coating sensation, the acidity adds freshness and focus, while the butteriness and oakiness contribute creaminess. The finish is quite long and buttery, yet very well integrated, with the oakiness adding complexity and dimension rather than being overwhelming. 

Chateau Montrose Saint-Estèphe 2003

2003 in Bordeaux was a challenging vintage. The Bordeaux region experienced a severe heat wave as part of a disastrous Europe-wide event, bringing extreme weather and record temperatures that significantly affected public health and the region's renowned wine industry. 

Unexperienced in dealing with these conditions, some vignerons harvested too early to preserve freshness, yet also ended up with unripe, green flavors, while others harvested later to allow ripeness and maturity, yet ended up with overripe, high-alcohol wines.  Some did both, harvesting part of their vineyards too early and the rest too late.  As a result, 2003 was one of the most unbalanced and least homogeneous Bordeaux vintages I had ever tasted En Primeur. 

Their inconsistent and unbalanced profile, and lack of integration, combined with mostly over-ripeness, strange acidity, green flavors, and under-ripened tannins, prevented complexity and aging potential, resulting in weird wines better drunk young, as if they were Australian Shiraz rather than Bordeaux.    

The 2003 vintage was the hottest and driest vintage since records began. Therefore, late-ripening grape varieties, such as Cabernet-Sauvignon, performed best, so most of the top wines were produced in the Haut-Médoc, where that variety dominates, especially in the northern part of the appellation, around Saint-Estèphe and Pauillac, and some Saint-Julien.  

Chateau Montrose was one of the top scorers of the vintage 2003, along with Chateaux such as Latour, Mouton Rothschild, Lafite Rothschild, Cos d'Estournel, La Mission Haut Brion, Margaux, Pichon Baron, Gloria, Meyney, Pichon Lalande, Haut Brion, Pontet Canet, Lynch Bages, and Beychevelle (to only name a few). 

I had the chance to retaste most of these wines over the past 20 years, and I must say, my liking for the 2003 vintage in Bordeaux has not grown with the years; on the contrary, it has worsened, as some of these wines did not develop or age well.  Yet Château Montrose 2003, which was one of the best at the time, has remained amongst the best of that vintage, even 20 years later, and revisiting it that night confirmed it.  

A blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2003 Château Montrose displays a deep garnet color with a light brown brick hue. The nose is dark and ripe, yet fresh and appealing, offering aromas of crème de cassis and blackberry, along with tobacco leaf, leather, coffee, toasted oak, and earthy notes. The palate is medium-bodied, but dark, ripe, rich, and chewy, layered with black fruit, savory and earthy flavors, good texture, and structure enhanced by enough freshness to keep it focused and balanced. It presents integrated yet firm, chewy tannins that lead to the earthy finish. Nicely done! I loved it! (more especially knowing it came from a challenging vintage and still managed to survive the past 2 decades and remain so charming.) 

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom 

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #wine #vin #vino #wein @louisroederer_ #louisroederer #cristal #champagne @domaine_hospicesdebeaune #hospicedebeaune #corton #cuveedocteurpeste @maisonjosephdrouhin #burgundy #josephdrouhin @chateau_montrose #chateaumontrose #montrose #saintestephe #bordeaux #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #lovewine

Unless stated otherwise, all rights reserved ©LeDomduVin 2025, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, collages, visuals, logos, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, lyrics and even music and video (when and where applicable).

LeDomduVin: Nice little tasting of some of the wines of JC Garnier (Auxey-Duresses, Burgundy)

Dominique Noël (LeDomduVin) & Vincent Garnier of JC Garnier Père et Fils

Nice little tasting of some of the wines of JC Garnier (Auxey-Duresses, Burgundy)

A pleasant surprise! Nice little tasting of some of the wines of @jc_garnierperefils, with Vincent Garnier (5th generation) and Tony Wong, his importer/distributor here, in HK, at WVinery (@wvinery_official).

Vincent Garnier of JC Garnier Père et Fils, Dominique Noël (LeDomduVin) & Tony Wong of WVinery

We tasted the red first, which is relatively uncommon, especially compared to Bordeaux wines, where whites are usually tasted before the reds. Very Burgundian! Loved it. And I loved the wines, too. 

Tony Wong of WVinery & Vincent Garnier of JC Garnier Père et Fils 

We tasted: 

Bourgogne rouge Côtes d'Auxerre 2023

Nice, light, sharp, and refreshing, with notes of wild red cherries and strawberries. Perfect as an aperitif! 

Auxey-Duresses Rouge Cuvée d'Antan 2023

Very attractive nose of dark fruits, black cherries, blackberries, mingling with floral notes, and smoky nuances. Medium-bodied, yet dense and generous, with an outstanding balance and a juicy finish. Loved it!

Pommard Les Petits Noizons 2023

A bit subdued on the nose, with dark fruits, earthy notes, and more pronounced minerality. The palate is complex and layered delicately and elegantly. It is very approachable now, but it would deserve a few more years to develop its full potential. 

Saint-Bris Mont Embrasé 2023

Beautiful, easy-going wine! A Sauvignon Blanc with the attributes of a Chardonnay. Touch grassy and zesty with good acidity and minerality. Lovely! 

Auxey-Duresses Blanc Vieilles Vignes 2023

On the nose and on the palate, this wine could easily be mistaken for a Meursault in a blind tasting. A lot of minerality, combined with a gentle touch of butteriness. Nicely done! 

Vincent Garnier of JC Garnier Père et Fils 

As discussed with Vincent Garnier, all these wines shared a few commonalities. And what I loved about them is that they were clean and focused, with no angularities, from beginning to end. 

It was a pleasant surprise and discovery, too, as I had never tasted the wines of JC Garnier before. 

Thank you to the Gentry Club Team for organizing the tasting and inviting me to taste these wines. Thank you to Vincent and his family for their wines and to Tony for helping bring them to Hong Kong. 

Cheers! Santé!

Dom

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #wine #vin #vino #wein @jc_garnierperefils #jcgarnierpereetfils #burgundy #burgundywine #tasting #tastingnotes #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #ilovemyjob #lovewine

Unless stated otherwise, all rights reserved ©LeDomduVin 2025, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, collages, visuals, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

LeDomduVin: Grower Champagnes casual tasting at the office with Cuvée Champagne

Grower Champagnes casual tasting at the office

Grower Champagnes casual tasting at the office with Monica from Cuvée Champagne (@cuvee_champagne). Go to their website for more info, here.   

We tasted: 

Champagne Roland Champion Secret d'Aramis

@champagnerolandchampion

Champagne Benoît Beaufort Rosé Grand Cru 

Champagne Benoît Beaufort Tradition Grand Cru 

@champagne_benoit_beaufort 

Champagne Lancelot et Fils Le Fer de Lance Réserve 

@champagne_lancelot_fils 

Champagne Charlot-Tanneux Les Meuniers de Moussy Millésimé Extra Brut 2019

@champcharlottanneux

I liked Benoît Beaufort Rosé for its freshness, balance, and friendliness. Very easy drinking. 50% Pinot Noir, 50% Chardonnay. Nicely done! 

I particularly enjoyed the Charlot-Tanneux for its complexity, richness, structure, texture, and yeasty notes. 

A small production of 3087 bottles made from 100% Pinot Meunier, which is uncommon and, thus, makes it even more worth tasting. Lovely! 

Thank you to Monica and the team at the office who organized this casual tasting. It was a good occasion to meet and bond with the team. 

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #wine #vin #vino #wein #champagne #tasting #champagnetasting #organic #biodynamic #organicchampagne #biodynamicchampagne #demetercertified #champagnerolandchampion #champagnebenoitbeaufort  #champagnelancelotetfils #champagnecharlottanneux #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #ilovemyjob #lovewine #lovechampagne

Unless stated otherwise, all rights reserved ©LeDomduVin 2025, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, collages, visuals, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

LeDomduVin: What's a great wine! (Illustration addition to my 2018 post)

What's a great wine?

We can argue on the subject for hours, but first and foremost, a great wine is a wine YOU love.

A wine that is satisfying to you for its aspect, robe, color, intensity, aromas, bouquet, freshness, ripeness, richness, depth, complexity, balance, harmony, structure, texture, layers, taste, aftertaste, sensations, from the attack to the finish, and whatever else you can think of that is pleasing to you in it. 

A wine so exciting and delicious to your palate that it makes you shiver, or pause, or reflect, or smile right after the first sip. A wine from which the first glass immediately calls for another one. A wine you will never forget for that blissful moment. A wine triggering only one reaction from you: "Wow! What a great wine!"

Wine tasting is so subjective and can be influenced by so many factors that you can only count on yourself to really define what a great wine is for you. 

You might be the only one in the room who loves this wine, yet who cares, as long as you are satisfied with it. And don't let anyone or anything influence your own taste and judgment!!!

[...] (*)

I just made this illustration as a header for a blog post I wrote in 2018 with the same title, which was missing one. 

All these names/words are slang and old popular French synonyms for "bad wine" from various regions, eras, and uses. 

I thought it would be funny to see my two protagonists, Bordeaux and Burgundy, insulting each other with these old-fashioned French words. 😁👍🍷 

(*) If interested, you can read the full post here. 

Cheers! Santé!

Dom 

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #wine #vin #vino #wein #whatsagreatwine #questcequungrandvin #greatwine #grandvin #definition #pointofview #perspective #subjective #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #lovewine #wineyearly #tasting #winetasting

Unless stated otherwise, all rights reserved ©LeDomduVin 2025, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, collages, visuals, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

LeDomduVin: A Sommelier Portrait (by Roger Lee)

LeDomduVin: A Sommelier Portrait 

by Roger Lee (@rogerleestudios)

In late October 2025, I attended the WEMP event "The Children Ball," where I assisted the Rosewood Hotel team in serving the wines at the head table of the event. 

WEMP is Hong Kong's first non-profit organization dedicated to the mental well-being of underprivileged children and families. WEMP usually partners with another foundation or organization to co-host the Children's Ball, a fundraising gala that raises money to support both organizations.

This year, the Rafa Nadal Foundation and the WEMP Foundation joined forces to support the holistic well-being of children through a charity gala in Hong Kong, held at the Rosewood Hotel. 

As I arrived early, I walked the venue and, while visiting one of the private salons, met Mr. Roger Lee, the official photographer who photographed that night's event personalities and celebrities, including the co-host of the night, the Spanish former professional and numerous-time number one tennis player, Mr. Rafael Nadal, and his family and guests.    

Roger and I had a very nice talk, and since I don't often meet professional photographers like him, I asked if he wouldn't mind taking a few pictures of me with my phone (as it is not every day I dress in a full black suit). 

He accepted and professionally guided me on how to pose for the camera while he was snapping a few shots. 

These are some of the pictures he took. Roger did an excellent job, as I'm not very photogenic and don't really know how to pose. 😅😅😅

Thank you, Roger, much appreciated. I love these pictures. 

Roger is also a skilled video producer, so consider reaching out to him for professional photography and video services. 

Later on that day, inspired by Roger, I wrote a song about photographers, which I published under my other alias "DOMELGABOR". It is called "THROUGH THE LENS (A PHOTOGRAPHER'S STORY)" by @domelgabor 2025 (Available on YouTube, see below video, but also on Spotify, Apple Music and most music platforms) (*)  

 

As for Rafael Nadal, I was very impressed, as he is very charismatic and genuine (and taller than I thought, too). I had the pleasure of filling up his glass of wine during the night. I also took some great pictures of him, especially some where he has the greatest smile I have ever seen on his face (in reality and on TV). Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to disclose these pictures, so I will keep them for myself.      

Cheers! Santé!

Dom 

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #wine #vin #vino #wein #portrait @rogerleestudios #rogerlee #rogerleestudios #photo #photographer #lens #picture #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #ilovemyjob #wineyearly #lovewine #wineinlife #hongkong

(*) For those who may not know, I do create and write lyrics and songs under my other alias, Domelgabor. Primarily experimental background electronic music, but also featuring EDM, House Music, as well as songwriting styles, pop, rock, soft rock, ballads, country, and storytelling. If interested, please check out my songs, under DOMELGABOR, on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, and other platforms. Thank you for listening. 

Unless stated otherwise, all rights reserved ©LeDomduVin 2025, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, collages, visuals, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).