LeDomduVin: Graham's LBV Port 2017 + Cuban Cigar

Graham's LBV Port 2017 + Cuban Cigar

What better idea than going to smoke a cigar with some port at @bertie.hk after dinner to celebrate a reunion with an old friend after not seeing each other for nearly a decade? 

Nothing! So that's what we did! 😁👍🍷 

The night began in a cocktail bar, @tellcamellia, a pretty standard place to go when you're with a renowned mixologist like @ericfossard. Nice place if you like enjoyable tea-based cocktails. 

Then we went to eat in a Korean restaurant at @jeonpo_meatshop. It was really fresh and tasty. 

And we ended up at @bertie.hk Cigar Club to smoke a recently rolled Torpedo Cuban cigar (@partagas_cigars, I believe).

It was great to catch up with my old friend Eric. The opportunities to see each other have been rare over the past 15-20 years, as we are on opposite sides of the world from each other.  He is based in France but travels all around the world, and I'm based in Hong Kong and rarely go back to France. That is why each meeting is precious, and good food, good cocktails, port, and cigars make for great memories and souvenirs.     

The aspect of the cigar was stunning: light wrapper, perfectly rolled, integrated veins, no nots or tightness, ideally moist. Apparently rolled by a retired old professional roller lady from Cuba, exclusively for Bertie HK. The cigar was delightful, fresh, and flavorful, medium-bodied yet rich and aromatic, making it very easy to smoke due to its perfect draw. Loved it. 

We paired it with a half-bottle of Graham's LBV Port 2017. Spawned from an exceptional vintage and matured for 5 years in oak, this is a delightful late bottled vintage port, with intense and concentrated flavors and a firm tannic structure, reflecting the ideal hot and dry growing season of 2017. It boasted ripe black fruit flavors, notes of kirsch and bitter chocolate, mingling with floral and herbal nuances that expanded nicely throughout the mid-palate and lingered in the finish. Loved it. 

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin @grahams_port #grahams #grahamsport #port #wine #vin #vino #wein @bertie.hk #bertie #bertiehk #bertiecigar #cigar @jeonpo_meatshop #jeonpo #koreanfood #friend #friendship #reunion #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #tastingnotes #ilovemyjob #lovewine

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LeDomduVin: Partagas Serie D No 4

Partagas Serie D No 4

J'ai eu 51 ans le 10 Mai, et je me suis fumé un petit "Partagas Serie D No 4" pour fêter l'occasion. Elle est pas belle la vie? 😁👍

Laissez-moi vous conter comment m’est venu mon amour pour les cigares.

Contrairement à ce que peuvent penser beaucoup de gens, le rôle de Sommelier ne se cantonne pas qu'au vin (aux boissons en général), mais aussi à la nourriture et aux cigares.

En France, comme en Angleterre et en Suisse, la formation d’un Sommelier au Lycée Hôtelier comprend la connaissance approfondie, l’élaboration, la dégustation et le service de toutes les boissons : du vin au porto, du whisky aux spiritueux, du Saké aux liqueurs, des apéritifs aux digestifs, mais aussi des cafés, thés, chocolats et eaux minérales. Ainsi que la cuisine et ses techniques, les fromages bien sûr, mais aussi les cigares, et les accords entre eux.

Le rôle du Sommelier seconde souvent celui du Directeur de restaurant et du premier maitre d’hôtel, étant la personne qui propose et sert les apéritifs, conseille et sert les vins, propose et sert les fromages, ainsi que les digestifs et cigares en fin de repas.

Cette histoire aurait bien pu commencer lorsque je travaillais dans la restauration en France (1992-1997), mais c'est en Angleterre que j'ai appris à fumer et à apprécier le cigare, durant mes années Londoniennes (1997-2002), alors que je n'étais qu'un jeune Sommelier.

Je travaillais au "Monte's Club" (sur Sloane Street) qui se composait d'un bar à cocktails (au deuxième étage), un restaurant gastronomique géré par l'équipe d'Alain Ducasse (au premier étage), une discothèque (au sous-sol), et un cigare « shop/lounge » (au rez-de-chaussée).

C'est dans ce club que j'ai ouvert, gouté et servi certaines des plus belles bouteilles de ma carrière en devenir. Et c'est là aussi que j'ai commencé à m'intéresser aux cigares.

Je trainais souvent au "Cigar Shop" et nous avions aussi un très bel « humidor » pour les clients du restaurant et du bar. Mes mentors de l’époque, Tim McLaughlin-Green et Yves Sauboa, ainsi que Neil Millington, m’ont appris les bases et le reste est venu avec le temps et l’expérience.

Durant ces années, nous étions tout un groupe de français qui travaillaient dans les plus grands restaurants et hôtels de la capitale anglaise (Sommeliers, Serveurs, Bartenders, Directeurs et Maitre d’Hotels de Restaurant, Chefs et cuisiniers, etc…).

Nous nous retrouvions souvent pour faire des repas et des fêtes ensembles (avec certains de nos collègues Anglais et autres nationalités).

Le champagne et le vin coulaient à flot, la nourriture abondait et nous finissions régulièrement ces moments épicuriens avec un bon cigare accompagné d’un vieux porto ou un cognac, souvent apportés et conseillés par l’incroyable Georges dos Santos (alias JoJo - Antic Wine).

On était une sacrée équipe ! Tous âgés entre 20 et 30 ans, la plupart d’entre nous ont vécu les plus belles années de leur vie durant ces années-là. Nous liant d’une amitié qui a perduré malgré le temps et la distance et dure encore aujourd’hui.

Après « Monte’s », j’ai travaillé 3 mois « Les Ambassadeurs » (Hyde Park Corner), un Casino privé avec une très belle cave à vins et à cigares. Et pour finir, j’ai travaillé pendant 3 ans à « CHE » (St James Street), un restaurant, bar cocktails et cigare lounge, ou j’ai pu peaufiner mon expertise sur les cigares.

Mon ami et collègue, mixologiste extraordinaire, Eric Fossard, et moi allions souvent fumer un cigare l’après-midi durant notre « break » au bar d’un hôtel situé non loin. Eric m’a aussi beaucoup appris sur les cigares (et les cocktails).

A l’époque, mon cigare préféré était le « Partagas Serie D No 4 », un cigare de taille Robusto, puissant, rond et très aromatique dans lequel se mêlent les notes de café crémeux, de chocolat, avec des nuances boisées et épicées. Et ça l’est toujours.

Et c'est comme ça que je suis tombé amoureux des cigares.

Avec le flou on pourrait croire que je suis à New York. Mais non, je suis bien à Hong Kong.

J'ai arrêté la cigarette, il y a déjà quelques temps, mais j'avoue que j'aime bien me fumer un petit cigare de temps en temps, quand l'occasion se présente.

Pris du désir de fumer un cigare pour mon anniversaire, j'ai cherché sur internet un endroit où aller fumer un cigare tranquille à Hong Kong, et suis tombé sur le « Bertie Cigar Club », que je ne connaissais pas.

Le Bertie Club a l'embarras du choix avec une collection impressionnante de cigares en tous genres et de toutes provenances (Cuba, République Dominicaine, Honduras, US, Europe, etc.…), mais c’est en mémoire de mes années londoniennes que j’ai choisi un "Partagas Serie D No 4" pour célébrer mes 51 ans, que de souvenirs.

Je me suis donc fait ce petit plaisir à "Bertie" qui est un club cosy et sophistiqué, soigné et très confortable, avec une terrasse très agréable. Kudos à Mr Eric Piras (@eric.piras), le patron du Club, et à son équipe. Ce fut une très jolie expérience. C'etait ma première fois, et ce ne sera assurément pas la dernière.

Merci à vous toutes et tous pour vos messages pour mon anniversaire, sur les réseaux sociaux et sur whatsapp, c'est gentil et ça m'a fait très plaisir. 🙏😁👍🥂🍷😙

Cheers! Santé!

Dom

PS: Mr Piras, nous nous sommes croisés dans le couloir de Bertie, aujourd'hui. Vous m'avez dit bonjour, je vous ai répondu bonjour, mais nous n'avons pas discuté (car en fait, je ne vous connais pas et n'ai pas percuté que vous êtes le patron du Club). La prochaine fois que je vous vois, je me ferai un plaisir de discuter avec vous et de vous faire passer le bonjour de Hervé Pennequin (@hwinefrog)

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #cigar @partagas_cigars #partagas #anniversaire #birthday #birthdaytreat #gifttomyself #goodtime

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LeDomduVin: Wine and Cigar

Cigar and Pomerol

Come in here, dear boy, have a cigar, you're gonna go far
You're gonna fly, you're never gonna die
You're gonna make it if you try, they're gonna love you.

Having a cigar with a Pomerol on my balcony while watching the stars and listening to Pink Floyd!
Great match! Match in heaven!

Cheers! Santé!
And Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

Dom

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #lesphotosadom #wine #vin #vino #wein #cigar @davidoffcigars #davidoofficial @vieuxchateaucertan #vieuxchateaucertan #pomerol #bordeaux #midaitumnfestival



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LeDomduVin: Cigar anyone?

Cigar anyone?

For those of you who may not know, a Sommelier is not only trained on all possible beverages and drinks from all around the world, (from mineral waters to all the various types of wines to tea, chocolate, and coffee, and all the other spirits and liquors in between, as well as food and cooking), but also on cigars (from around the world).

In short, a Sommelier is trained, then acquires more knowledge, skills, and experience in his/her career, for one purpose only: to handle, to the best of his/her storytelling ability, adaptability, and flexibility, all situations and questions customers may have and need an answer for.

It requires a lot of passion, determination, curiosity, consistency, and discipline as well as a lot of learning, reading, writing, tasting, drinking, and even smoking, to reach greatness.

As, let’s face it, one can not talk with passion and knowledge about something he or she does not know and/or has never experienced before, especially when it comes to food, wine, spirits, and cigars.

That is the most essential part of the job of a Sommelier, sharing passion and knowledge to tell stories, bring the customers to the place of origin of the product, and describe it with words, images, and metaphors, to set up the background scenery prior to conveying, with manners and elegance, passion and sincerity, the message the producers have put in their bottles, including geography, topography, climate, soil, subsoil, vineyard, cellar, techniques, processes, family, culture, tradition, time, patience, sweat and love, and all the ups and downs he/she must have been through to craft, year after year, the best possible wine.

And, when it comes to cigars, it is the same, a Sommelier must know everything about its origins, production, and taste, as one can read as many books as possible, tasting remains the only way to know and experience properly a cigar, a wine or a dish (or anything else for that matter).

Now, let's enjoy a cigar. May I suggest you one of these from this @davidoff Gift Selection box? We also have some @montecristo_cigars and @fonseca_cigars, or perhaps a @cohiba or a @trinidad?

Dom

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #cigar #cigars #smoking #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #ilovemy job

Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2023, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, 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: Cigars

Cigars 

For those who may not know, a Sommelier is someone that has studied and has been trained on anything you can serve at a table, including, but limited to: 

Drink (wine, beer, spirits, sake, whisky, cognac, armagnac, port, liquors, cocktails, and basically all alcoholic beverages in general, but also none alcoholic beverages too like coffee, tea, chocolate, etc ..)...

Food (it is very important for a Sommelier to have deep knowledge and even skills about all sorts of food, but also cooking and recipes ingredients, in order to make food and wine pairing, and find the most ideal match (I do not believe in the perfect match, as wine like food is very subjective and taste differ from one person to another). 

And, even smoke! 

Cigars are parts of the service at the table. For those who enjoy smoking them (like me), they are the quintessence of the relaxing time that comes after the meal with a digestive, while enjoying endless conversations with guests, family, and friends. 

I have not smoked a cigar for a long while now, as I completely stopped smoking cigarettes 3 years ago, and did not want to smoke anything, not to be tempted to go back to the cigarettes. Once a smoker, always a smoker, unfortunately. 

Yet, despite a few rare and weird occasions, I have succeeded for the past 3 years in not falling back. Very proud of myself for it. 

However, a cigar is very enjoyable and I keep great memories of my time in London (1997-2002), where I have been initiated to smoke quality cigars and took great pleasure in smoking them. More especially the Partagas Serie D, one of my favorite cigars. 

Dom 

#ledomduvin @ledomduvin #lesphotosadom #cigar #cigars #smoke #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #ilovemyjob

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LeDomduVin: Coincidental pairing

Coincidental pairing 

Following up on "which bottle should I pick to be paired with a cigar?" Some of you guessed it well, spot on, well done! 

Yet, most of you discovered it with the reel (a short video) I posted in the previous post. 

I picked Château Pontet Canet 2010. 

Why? 

Well, as I did not know which cigar it will be paired with, I needed a solid wine with complex aromas and body, so as not to be overwhelmed or overpowered by the flavors, strength, and richness of the cigar. 

It was not an easy choice, as Pomerol first came to my mind. And yet, Cabernet Sauvignon being stronger and more tannic, it had to be from the Left Bank. And, amongst the choice I had, my gut's feeling (combined with my experience and knowledge of the wines) told me that it will probably be the best choice. 

Pontet Canet 2010 is an amazing wine displaying aromas of dark fruits, earth, soil, and wood mingling with floral and mineral notes. It has power and richness, structure and texture while being harmonious and balanced, and beautifully expands throughout the palate with substance and character up to the long lingering earthy finish. Majestic! 

It showed wonderfully after 2 hours of decanting and displayed a lot of complexity and refinement and potential of aging. Highly recommended and to be revisited within the next 5-10 years. 

As for the "coincidental pairing" part, it came when I realized that the cigar, (it will eventually be paired with), was none other than one of my favorite cigars, and truly an excellent choice from the host: 

Partagás Serie D Especial Edición Limitada 2010

What a coincidence! And, what a surprise! (as I had no clue what the cigar will be). A 2010 vintage wine paired with a 2010 vintage cigar. Perfect! 

It definitely makes for a good story to tell. 

Santé! Cheers! 

Dom

#ledomduvin @ledomduvin #lesvideosadom #wine #vin #vino #wein #pontetcanet #pauillac #bordeaux #redwine #decanting #decantation #meninblack #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #ilovemyjob #cigar #partagas @partagas_cigars @chateaupontetcanet_officiel

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