LeDomduVin: 3 is always the ideal number of bottles and choices when it comes to wine.

Why? 

For the number of bottles, during most dinners or events with 3-4 or more people, estimate about half a bottle per person as a general rule of thumb. So, for 3-4 people, 2 bottles might not be enough; 4 bottles are usually recommended for a backup. Hence, three bottles are ideal for regular drinkers drinking with moderation.      

For the choices, it is quite obvious that with 3-4 people or more, diversity is a must, as not everyone likes the same thing. Hence, offering 3 types of wine, like the ones in the photo above (champagne, white, and red), is by far the most ideal choice to please everyone. And these 3 wines were, in fact, really pleasing 

If you incorporate French traditions and culture into this, it is polite to offer your guests champagne as an aperitif with some "amuse-bouches" to awaken their taste buds, then serve white wine with the appetizers and starters, followed by red wine with the main course. 

Jacques Selosse Initial Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut Champagne NV

I have opened several bottles of Selosse’s “Initial” over the years and have always been very pleased with this champagne. Some might say the price is a bit high, but you should keep in mind that, besides being Selosse’s entry-level cuvée and a non-vintage—making up more than half of his annual production, with about 33,000 bottles out of roughly 55,000 to 60,000 made each year—it remains quite limited compared to most small independent and especially large Champagne Houses. 

Additionally, Initial is usually a blend of three successive vintages, aged on lees (both the first and second alcoholic fermentations) for at least six years before disgorgement. This justifies the price and the wait, don’t you think? And, if “Initial” were a person, it would be a “he,” as I find it more masculine than “V.O.” (which I would consider more feminine), and to describe him, I would say he is a smiling, pleasant, curvy, cheerful, relaxed, chic, and cosmopolitan gentleman.

Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru "Les Pucelles" 2019

Here's another classic in my collection, as I have dubbed myself the “unofficial” ambassador of Domaine Leflaive, especially “Les Pucelles,” since my first taste in 1997. It’s a refined wine with prominent mineral notes and a touch of ripeness in its youthful fruit—ripe yet still fresh. The nose reveals apples, pears, and other ripe yellow fruits, all elegant and well-balanced, with beautiful minerality from start to finish. I appreciate it greatly, though I wish it had a bit more acidity to boost its freshness. It’s a very harmonious, full-bodied, and voluptuous wine, with a long-lasting finish. Overall, I love it, but a little more acidity would have completed it. Nice!

Maison Joseph Drouhin Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 2020

I had not tasted this wine in this vintage before, and I must say, I was really impressed. The nose is beautiful, boasting fresh aromas of red cherries, ripe wild cherries, a little spice, mingling with floral, herbal, earthy, and mineral notes. The palate is very silky, extremely well-balanced, elegant and refined, very feminine (for my palate), very delicate yet complex, rich in a very subtle way, harmonious, with lots of cherries, from the attack to the lingering finish, presenting a light touch of earthiness in the end (touch herbaceous?) but not in a bad way. What a great wine! Kudos to Véronique Boss-Drouhin. My grandfather used to say that: “A wine often resembles its maker!” Well, here is a perfect example: refined, delicate, precise, seductive, and feminine.   

Cheers! Santé!

Dom

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LeDomduVin: Limited Edition Wines - Jacques Selosse - Marc Colin - Laurent Ponsot

 

Limited Edition Wines

Jacques Selosse - Marc Colin - Laurent Ponsot

Jacques Selosse Exquise Champagne Sec (RP04) NV

Usually made with the same blend, “Exquise” is Selosse’s slightly sweeter version of “Initial.” While most Selosse wines are extra-brut, this cuvée is a rare exception: a rich, sweet-style Blanc de Blancs crafted from Chardonnay from Grand Cru vineyards, mainly Avize, Cramant, and Oger. The higher sugar dosage of 22-24 g/l provides a creamier texture and a subtly sweeter finish. 

On the nose, Jacques Selosse's "Exquise" offers delicate aromas of brioche, honey, apple, and pastry. The palate is very aromatic, fresh, rich, and juicy, yet balanced by high acidity and mineral notes, with ripe peach, pear, and toasted nuances. The elevated, sweet dosage is balanced by the house’s slightly oxidative style, creating a complex Champagne that’s recommended with desserts but also suitable as an aperitif (as was the case that day). Lovely!

Production ranges from 1,000 to 3,600 bottles per year, making this limited Champagne highly sought after.

Domaine Marc Colin et Fils Montrachet Grand Cru Burgundy 2017

Domaine Marc Colin was founded in the 1970s and expanded during the 1980s and 1990s by Marc and his wife, Michele. Their four children followed their example. Pierre-Yves took his part of the family vineyards to start his own wineries in the early 2000s, while Damien, Joseph, and Caroline now run the Domaine, managing around 12 hectares across 26 appellations. From their cellar in St. Aubin, Damien produces a superb selection of wines that are both pure and expressive. The work in the vineyards and cellar is kept as simple as possible, with careful attention to detail. 

Based on the excellent, high-quality vintage for white Burgundy, the 2017 Domaine Marc Colin et Fils Montrachet Grand Cru is a rare and highly sought-after wine that offers breathtaking elegance, intense minerality, and concentration, with notes of white peach, hazelnut, and honey. Although enjoyable now, it will benefit from a few more years in the cellar to reach peak maturity. Beautiful wine!

This Montrachet is made from a 0.06 ha parcel of 75+-year-old vines on the Chassagne side. Only 275 liters were produced—which is roughly the equivalent of less than 2 Burgundy barrels, or about 366 bottles—and it was aged in 50% new wood. 

Laurent Ponsot Griotte Chambertin Grand Cru An Zero Burgundy 2015

Laurent Ponsot was born into a winegrowing family in Morey-St.-Denis in the 1950s. He grew up working alongside his father, Jean-Marie Ponsot, at the family’s Domaine Ponsot, among barrels, vats, and vines. For a while in his 20s, Laurent lived in Paris and built a successful travel agency there. In 1981, Laurent returned to Domaine Ponsot, where he became the fourth generation of his family to serve as winemaker. After 36 years, Laurent left the family Domaine in February 2017 to pursue a new wine venture. He is joined in this new effort, simply called Laurent Ponsot, by his son Clément. Above all, Laurent Ponsot remains a vine grower and continues to farm a core set of Burgundian appellations.

The 2015 vintage was his first to produce this wine, which is why the “An Zero”, meaning “Year Zero”, appears on the labels of his 2015 vintage wines, signifying the inaugural release of his new negociant business, Laurent Ponsot SAS, after he left the family estate, Domaine Ponsot. While 2015 was the initial release ("An Zero"), Ponsot considers 2016 to be the first "bona fide" vintage for his new project, with wines named after trees (reds) or flowers (whites), for example, the “An Zero” cuvee has been renamed as “Cuvee du Saule”. Laurent Ponsot focuses on high-quality, sustainably farmed Burgundy wines with zero new oak, low sulphur, and innovative, "connected" packaging designed to ensure authenticity and temperature control.

Laurent Ponsot Griotte Chambertin “An Zero” 2015 is a beautifully crafted wine, boasting a spicy, elegant, and fresh nose with aromas of ripe red and dark cherries, cassis, plum, violet, and subtle earthy notes. The palate is medium-bodied, with flavors of dark cherries and blueberries. It is well-structured and of good length, with supple tannins and balanced acidity, though a somewhat austere heartiness persists on the finish. Some may describe it as refined elegance, but I would have preferred a bit more substance and minerality to enhance it. Overall, this is a very good wine, though a bit dry and austere for my taste; it might benefit from a few more years of aging. 

Only a few barrels are produced, making this wine's availability very scarce.

Cheers! Santé!

Dom

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LeDomduVin: Champagne Charlier Père et Fils Carte Noire Brut NV

Charlier et Fils "Carte Noire" 

Champagne Brut NV

Tasted it for the first time recently, thanks to Monica and Jean from "Cuvée Champagne" (@cuvee_champagne). 

I really enjoyed this champagne, especially for the price (average at HKD 410, roughly 45 euros). It offers great value for money. 

A blend of 60% Pinot Meunier, with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay making up 20% each. 

The nose features delicate aromas of yellow fruit and stone fruits, complemented by spicy and brioche notes. 

The palate is medium-bodied, fresh, crisp, easygoing, harmonious, and well-balanced between fruit and acidity. It is also well-rounded, with a toasty character from aging for at least 8 months in large oak barrels (known as "Foudres de chêne"). The finish is gentle and pleasing. Nicely done! 

 

Technical points: the reserve wines used in the blend are stored in barrels for 2 to 3 years. After oak aging, the bottles are kept in the cellar for nearly 3 years, roughly twice the legal requirement, before disgorgement. 

I didn't know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised. This champagne is a "quaffer". 

Thank you, Monica and Jean, for bringing this champagne to the office. It's a nice discovery. 

Cheers! Santé!

Dom

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Unless stated otherwise, all rights reserved ©LeDomduVin 2026, 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).