LeDomduVin: Ornellaia 2019 Tasting Lunch

Ornellaia 2019 Tasting Lunch

On Monday, I was invited to the "Ornellaia lunch" at CIAK in the Kitchen, where I joined Kerry Wines team Stephen (@st4phen7) and Steven, and a dozen Sommeliers and other people from the F&B world and wine business. 

Casual atmosphere for a casual, relaxed lunch with some great wines and good bistro food. 

Ornellaia "Le Volte" 2019

A delightful surprise! It was pleasant, bold, forward, silky, and juicy, offering good red and dark fruits, excellent balance, texture, and structure. Very open and easy to drink. A steal at this price. Highly recommended. 

Ornellaia "Le Serre Nuove" 2019

It is in the same vein as "Le Volte," yet more complex and sophisticated, layered and generous, richer and much longer on the palate, with great acidity and a good grip of tannins contributing respectively to freshness, texture, and structure. There again, it was delightful. Still young, yet incredibly satisfying still! 

Ornellaia "Ornellaia" 2019

On the nose, it boasts rich and complex aromas of blackberries and fresh floral and herbal notes. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is smooth and silky, polished and refined, balanced and long with firm yet agreeable chewy tannins. The finish is an excellent example of how Ornellaia combines strength, elegance, complexity, and aging potential. Loved it. 

 

DVO Napa Valley 2018

DVO is a collaboration between Dalla Valle and Ornellaia. Although it combines the best of both worlds, it shows more of California than Tuscany. A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Cabernet Franc aged for 22 months in 75% New Oak, and only 400 cases made, it is one of these garage wines, sought-after and expensive. Yet, it is a beautiful, fleshy, ripe, generous, ample, and voluptuous wine. Loved it. 

Thank you to @kerrywines_hk, Stephen, and Steven for inviting me. Enjoyable lunch, good company, and lovely wines. 

Cheers! Santé!

Dom 

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LeDomduVin: Selfie time with Opus One

Selfie time with Opus One

Yesterday, while I was having lunch with our event team, doing a food/wine pairing tasting session (see my previous post), at the same restaurant, the Opus One team and one of their distributors were having a tasting lunch with some Sommeliers and F&B people, in one of the private rooms. 

My lunch finished, I paid them a visit to say hello, and was invited to taste 2 of the wines: 

“Overture” Napa Valley NV 

(Opus One 2nd wine) is a blend of different vintages (predominately 2019 vintage for this one, I was told) 

Nice, bold, generous, forward, fruity, ripe, Bordeaux-style with that “je ne sais quoi” of California vibes and taste. Really enjoyed it. 

Opus One Napa Valley 2018

Behind its lovely dark garnet robe, it displayed incentive aromas of blackberry, cassis, and black cherry, with floral notes of violets and earthy nuances. Rich and bold, yet elegant and distinguished, it expanded nicely with fresh and fruity, licorice, and dark chocolate flavors. Beautifully balanced, with smooth integrated tannins and fresh acidity, the palate is soft, round, creamy, and layered, and the seamless finish is an invitation to another glass. 

Before leaving, I had to take a selfie with the protagonists (right to left):

Laurent Delassus (Vice Président of International Marketing at Opus One (@laurent.delassus_opus_one)

Stephen Raducki (@st4phen7) Kerry Wines

Yvonne Chiong Mougin (@yvonnechiong) (Export Manager South East Asia, Hong Kong and Macao for Opus One)

And your humble servant, me, (@ledomduvin)

Missing in the picture was Chris Lynch (Opus One CEO)

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #wine #vin #vino #wein @opusonewinery #opusone #napavalley #california #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #ilovemyjob

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LeDomduVin: Au revoir Bernard...

Au revoir Bernard 

Bernard (de Laage de Meux) was a friend, an adviser, a leader and a mentor for me. I first met him in 2002, when he was working at Chateau Palmer, and I was working as a Maître-D / Sommelier for a catering business doing occasional dinners and events at the Chateau. 

Then, our paths crossed again while I was working in New York (2002-2011). And finally, here in Hong Kong, our paths mingled even more, as I ended up working with him, at Goldin Wines, for 7 years (2014-2021). And, our friendship continued to this day, even after my departure from Goldin Wines, (back in July 2021).  

Basically, I knew him for 20 years, during which, he was, in turn, a client, a host, a guide, a salesman, a Chateau representative, a consultant and even my direct boss, but, most of all, he was a great man and someone I really enjoyed spending time and talking with.      

And, understandably, I was devastated when I heard the news, early this morning (June 9th), about his passing on June 7th. 

He was kind, discreet, generous, approachable, personable, courteous, educated, polite, and well-mannered. A charming man in many ways. 

He was passionate, knowledgeable, opinionated, open, optimistic and pragmatic, and was always with a smile. 

And most of all, he was a globetrotter and a people person, always sharing his passion, knowledge and experiences with others, always with a touch of humour. 

He loved life, wine, food and people. 

He also loved travelling and being part of the actions. He was reactive and proactive in everything, leading the way and always keeping himself busy with many things and projects simultaneously. 

He was a good man, dependable, authentic and charismatic. He will truly be missed, as he was really appreciated everywhere he went by most people he met. He was known at the 4 corners of the world. 

All my thoughts and condolences go to his family, friends and colleagues, loved ones, and everyone else who crossed his path while travelling, at a restaurant, during a tasting or a wine event, or even at work. 

May you rest in peace now, Bernard. Peace to your soul. You will be missed. 

Thank you for taking me under your wings all these years, and thank you for being a friend and a mentor. 

Dom 

Et, j'ai aussi ecris ce petit texte en Français. 

Il vient de partir...

De nous quitter...

Il regardait toujours vers l'avenir,

mais tout vient de s'arrêter.

Un père, un frère, un époux, 

un ami, un mentor, une inspiration, 

un homme généreux et doux,

réactif, énergique, positif 

et toujours dans l'action. 

Il aimait la vie, le vin et les gens, 

le bien manger et le bien boire, 

les rencontres et les voyages. 

Des décennies à vadrouiller, 

par monts et par vaux, 

aux quatre coins du monde, 

il connaissait du monde et 

était apprécié de tous 

pour ses qualités humaines 

et professionnelles. 

Condoléances à la famille et aux proches, 

ainsi qu'à celles et ceux qui l'ont croisé 

au détour d'un repas ou d'une dégustation.

Merci à lui de m'avoir 

pris sous son aile 

et guidé durant toutes ces années. 

Paix à son âme et 

qu'il repose en paix. 

Au revoir Bernard...

Dom

C'est un grand monsieur qui nous a quitté...

Mes anciens collègues et moi-même partageons la peine de son épouse et de ses enfants, ainsi que le reste de la famille et les proches, en ce moment de deuil.

Nous vous présentons nos plus sincères condoléances et nos sentiments les plus affectueux.

Nos pensées vous accompagneront ce Vendredi 10 et Samedi 11 Juin 2022. Il nous manque déjà.

Je continuerai de penser à lui et de parler de lui, car, le souvenir d'une personne disparue ne disparait vraiment que si l'on cesse de penser et de parler d'elle comme si elle était encore là.

Bernard vous resterez a jamais dans mon esprit et dans mon cœur. Reposez en paix et paix à votre âme.

Pour clôturer ce post en votre hommage, Bernard, je vais utiliser ces petites expressions qui vous tenaient à cœur, que vous aimiez dire, et que je vous ai entendu dire si souvent face à un problème ou une situation compliquée, et qui serviront sûrement à toutes celles et ceux qui sont dans la peine et vont avoir du mal à faire le deuil de votre départ si soudain et si inattendu, dans les prochaines semaines, mois, et années qui vont suivre:

"Force et courage! Force et confiance! Courage et confiance!" - Bernard de Laage de Meux 

Au revoir Bernard.... Je ne vous oublierai jamais. 

Et encore, merci pour tout, et merci pour vous. 

Dom

#rip #mourning #bernarddelaage @bdldmhk #wine #vin #vino #wein #wineworld #lifeinwine #winelife #bordeaux #napavalley @chateaulebonpasteur #sloanestate @ledomduvin #ledomduvin #lesphotosadom #hommage 

Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2022 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).