Early Christmas Lunch with the Team at Le Pan Apicius restaurant

Early Christmas Lunch with the Team

At Le Pan Apicius (Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong), the French restaurant of the company I work for, having an early Christmas lunch with my colleagues. The chef, Edward Voon, made a special menu for us, and the Wine Director / Sommelier, Lauri Vainio, served us some interesting wines:

Today's lunch wines ©LeDomduVin 2017

Château de Fieuzal 1994 Pessac-Léognan (Bordeaux, France)
Grape Varieties: 60% Sauvignon Blanc / 40% Semillon
Very good and very much alive, slightly oxidative, sherry-like nuances, yet still fresh with great acidity, gently evolving and opening up in the glass. A very nice surprise. I had the chance to taste it many times over the last 5 years, and every time I'm taken aback by how good it still is despite its age. Pale yellow gold color with bright reflects. The nose boasts yellow fruits with nutty, oxidative notes at first but opens up nicely with time to deliver more complexity and aromas. The palate is bright, clean, still vibrant with good acidity and focus, nicely structured and ample too, and exposes the yellow fruits and nuts of the nose with mineral nuances. The finish is rather rather long and smooth. What a surprisingly lovely wine!

Château de Fieuzal 1994 Pessac-Léognan ©LeDomduVin 2017

Vodopivec "Origine" 2011 Venezia Giulia IGT (Italy)
Grape Variety: Vitovska 100%
It smells like cider and has the orange-brownish color of a cider, yet it is not a cider, but the strong appley aromas may make you think differently about it. Slightly reduced on the nose, it feels indistinct and if blind tasted you will definitely have difficulties to pinpoint the grape variety and where it is from. Once you know the grape variety name, "Vitovska", you will even have a hard time to believe that you are still in Italy, as the grape name originates from the neighbouring country of Slovenia. Very interesting overall, but lack a bit of substance in the back palate, more especially compared to the previous wine. Esoteric and definitely not your everyday wine, it still boasts the freshness and vitality of the whites in general from this region of Venezia, and ended up to pair really nicely with the food. Definitely one of those mind-scratching wines.

Vodopivec "Origine" 2011 Venezia Giulia IGT

Vodopivec "Origine" 2011 Venezia Giulia IGT

Hervé Souhaut "Les Cessieux" Saint Joseph 2013 (Northern Rhône, France)
Grape Variety: Syrah 100%
Very enticing nose of tart cherry at first, turning into ripe dark red cherries, raspberries and even ripe blueberries, with light earthy, spicy and peppery notes. After a few minutes, floral and mineral notes became more apparent and mingled with the berries aromas. The palate is rather light and bright, almost Burgundian, and expands gently and nicely till the mid-palate. Unfortunately, I personally found that it "kind of" cut short in the mid-palate and thinned out in the finish. A lovely and enjoyable wine overall, with a lot to say of up front, yet, which lack a bit of structure and texture, more especially in the back palate and finish, as it vanishes leaving a slight trace of bitterness (probably due to unripe tannins). But still, a pleasant re-discovery, as I did not try Herve Souhaut wine for a while.

Hervé Souhaut "Les Cessieux" Saint Joseph 2013

Hervé Souhaut "Les Cessieux" Saint Joseph 2013

Hervé Souhaut "Les Cessieux" Saint Joseph 2013

Château Guiraud 2014 Sauternes (Bordeaux, France)
Grape variety: 65% Semillon / 85% Sauvignon Blanc
I don't know about you, but I love Sauternes. Of Course, I love Yquem as I have the chance to taste it regularly and more often than any other Sauternes. Yet, I need to admit that Chateau Guiraud has always been one of my favorite Sauternes and this 2014 is no exception to the rule. Fresh and clean, exuberant and perfumed nose mingling white flowers, honey, beeswax and honeysuckle with candied orange and yellow fruits. The palate is clean, fresh and light on its feet, balanced, tense and focus by a bright acidity and a lovely smooth and gentle texture. It expands with ample and generous fashion toward the finish without feeling too rich or too thick, on the contrary it is like a gracious ballerina hovering on your tongue. Love this wine.

Château Guiraud 2014 Sauternes

It was a nice early christmas lunch to say goodbye to one of our colleagues for his last day and the food was exquisite thanks to Chef Edward Voon (crossing fingers for you to get 1 or 2 Michelin Stars next year).

Here are some pictures of the lunch dishes:

Santé,

LeDomduVin

Ruppert-Leroy "Fosse Grely" Champagne

Ruppert-Leroy "Fosse Grely" Champagne

Ruppert-Leroy "Fosse Grely" Champagne

Ruppert-Leroy "Fosse Grely" Champagne Brut Nature (dégorgé in 2016)
Market Prices 40 to 45 euros (370 to 415 HKD)

50% Pinot Noir 50% Chardonnay

Pale gold color with very fine bubbles. Beautiful enticing fruity nose with aromas of yellow fruit (peach, pear, apple) mingling with floral notes and mineral nuances. The palate is light, bright, crisp, a touch fruity but not sweet, or let's say the sweetness of the fruit rather than the sugar, beautifully balanced and structured, focus with a great acidity and a fairly long finish. A well crafted vibrant champagne. Highly recommended.

Funny capsule too with the "I love you" around the lipstick kiss mark. Lovely.

Read more about Ruppert-Leroy at
http://www.rarewineco.com/producer/champagne-ruppert-leroy/

Ruppert-Leroy "Fosse Grely" Champagne

Ruppert-Leroy "Fosse Grely" Champagne Capsule

Ruppert-Leroy "Fosse Grely" Champagne Capsule

#ruppertleroychampagne #champagne #fossegrely #tastingnotes#ledomduvin #ledomduvintastingnotes

Santé, 

LeDomduVin a.k.a Dominique Noël 

Memories of My Cigars days

Memories of My Cigars days...

Dominique Noël - Sommelier at CHE Restaurant, Cocktail Bar & Lounge
back in the late 1990s - London, UK (Courtesy of Cigar World Magazine)

I retrieved an old copy of Cigar World Magazine from 2001, with an article about London's Sommeliers and "what to drink with your cigar?" back from our London years at CHE Restaurant, Cocktail Bar & Cigar Lounge on St. James street (used to be on the ground floor and first floor of the Economist Building)

Cigar World Magazine cover 2001

A time when I remember smoking quite a few cigars every week... with the team: John Davey, Fossard Eric, Tim McLaughlin-Green, Ludovic Peyrard, Stephane Gilet, and even Mark Pratt during the break in the afternoon at the bar of the small hotel/club next door.. (St. James ?)..

CHE Restaurant, Cocktail Bar & Cigar Lounge Team (small part of it in fact)
Mike West, Stephane Gilet, Dominique Noël, John Davey and more...

And of course I also remember smoking with Georges Dos Santos, Yves Sauboua, Christophe Brunet, during memorable dinners and parties... even with Christophe Vuillemin, Stephane Buliard, Jorge Calisto, and a few others (and some already mentioned above) during our time at Monte's Club.. 😁 ... 

Dominique Noël featured in Cigar World Magazine 2001 - London Sommelier's Article

Dominique Noël featured in Cigar World Magazine 2001 - London Sommelier's Article

Thierry Tomasin and Rachel Pacquelet featured in Cigar World Magazine 2001 - London Sommelier's Article

What a great time we had and what a dream team. 

#CHE #ourlondonyears #greatmemories #greatpeople #cigars #wine #sommelier #sommelierlife #londonsommeliers #winepeople #winepersonalities #ledomduvin @ledomduvin #cigarworldmagazine 

Santé, Cheers, and stay tuned for more posts coming soon....

LeDomduVin a.k.a Dominique Noël

LeDomduVin: A Huge Thank You to all my readers...

A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL MY READERS....

Recently, I was astonished to reach the milestone of 1,200 page views in just 7 days, which is huge for a small blogger like me. Thank you for this. 

Today, I was just checking something on my blog and was immediately stopped by the number of page views. At first, I refreshed the page to see if it was a mistake. No, it was not. I was speechless. I could not believe the number of page views in the last 7 days: 

17,517 (and climbing...)

WOW!?! Such numbers may appear rather small for the renowned bloggers out there, yet for a small blogger like me who only writes sporadically... THAT'S AMAZING!?!  And the only thing I can say is

 A HUGE THANK YOU to ALL MY READERS... 

You are the inspiration and motivation behind my writings.  

, 

Cheers! Santé!  And thank you again! Stay tuned for more posts in the near future. 

LeDomduVin a.k.a Dominique Noël

@ledomduvin, #ledomduvin, #thankyou, #thanks, #merci,  #views, #pageviews, #blogger, #thankful, #posts, #blog, #wineblog

Unless stated otherwise, all rights reserved ©LeDomduVin 2017, 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: "Le Vignoble Girondin" de Germain Lafforgue 1947

"Le Vignoble Girondin" de Germain Lafforgue 1947 - ©LeDomduVin 2017

"Le Vignoble Girondin" de Germain Lafforgue 1947

I just received this amazing book I bought online today, titled "Le Vignoble Girondin" by Germain Lafforgue. It's a 1st edition from 1947, numbered 295 out of the 910 copies published. I must say, it's in superb condition for a 1st edition from 1947.

I discovered this book while conducting some research online for my post titled "Bordeaux is not only two banks and not all Bordeaux wines taste the same...."  (read it here), where I mentioned the invaluable "Geologic Map of the Gironde Soils" contained in that book.

I cannot express or hide my joy and pleasure to possess such a treasure, especially for someone passionate about vineyard soils, subsoils, topography, and geology like me.

"Juste pour vous mettre le vin à la bouche" (the correct French expression is "vous mettre l'eau à la bouche, " meaning "to make your mouth water"), here are a few pictures essentially teasing you to discover this book and all the valuable information it contains. 

It is a magnificent book that every Bordeaux lover should have on their wine library shelf, especially for the foldable Geologic Map included with it, which is a true gem.  

"Le Vignoble Girondin" de Germain Lafforgue 1947 - ©LeDomduVin 2017
Introduction

"Le Vignoble Girondin" de Germain Lafforgue 1947 - ©LeDomduVin 2017
Table des Matières

"Le Vignoble Girondin" de Germain Lafforgue 1947 - ©LeDomduVin 2017
Table des Illustrations and Héliogravures

There is even the original letter from the editor.... amazing

"Le Vignoble Girondin" de Germain Lafforgue 1947 - ©LeDomduVin 2017
Original Editor's Letter

And of course, the treasure inside, the cherry on the cake, is the unfoldable map divided into two parts: the Gironde Vineyards Map and the Gironde Soils Geologic Map. Love it!

"Le Vignoble Girondin" de Germain Lafforgue 1947 - ©LeDomduVin 2017
Vineyards Map of the Gironde Region

"Le Vignoble Girondin" de Germain Lafforgue 1947 - ©LeDomduVin 2017
Geologic Map of the Gironde Region

It is a great book filled with invaluable facts and data known during the years 1946-1947 about the wines, vineyards, soils, subsoils, geology, and topography of the Gironde Region (Bordeaux)- information that remains relevant to this day for the most part. That's what makes this book invaluable, in my opinion. I may be wrong, but I find that reading the insights of the old and wise is always a source of enlightenment. The old and wise were not always right, but if that's the case, why do we continually turn to ancient methods and traditions (i.e., Organic and Biodynamic)?

A big thank you to Denis, the person who sold it to me, the bookseller of a library called "La Belle Page," located in Prades-Le-Lez (34730), a village situated north of Montpellier (Hérault), in Languedoc-Roussillon, France. He packed the book the old way, in newspaper, which I appreciated very much as it reminds me of my grandfather and how he used to pack all sorts of things back when I was a kid growing up surrounded by vineyards in the Côtes de Bourg.

"Le Vignoble Girondin" de Germain Lafforgue 1947 - ©LeDomduVin 2017
Packed like the old days with newspaper

"Le Vignoble Girondin" de Germain Lafforgue 1947 - ©LeDomduVin 2017
Packed like the old days with newspaper

"Le Vignoble Girondin" de Germain Lafforgue 1947 - ©LeDomduVin 2017
Packed like the old days with newspaper

"Le Vignoble Girondin" de Germain Lafforgue 1947 - ©LeDomduVin 2017
Just unpacked - Nearly pristine condition

Voilà! I hope you like it as much as I do. You know what's left for you to do if you are curious enough: go buy the book. It would definitely be worth it if you could find it.

Santé,

LeDomduVin a.k.a Dominique Noël 

@ledomduvin, #ledomduvin, #wine, #vin, #vino, #wein, #geologic, #geologicmap, #bordeaux, #bordeauxmap, #map, #geology, #topography, #germainlafforgue, #bordeauxvineyards, #soil, #soils, #vineyards, #levignoblegirondin

Unless stated otherwise, all rights reserved ©LeDomduVin 2017, 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: Bottle Sizes & Dimensions

Bottle Sizes & Dimensions

To design and order custom-made Gift boxes and Shipping boxes for the company, my management asked me to provide them with bottle dimensions. 

As always, I first browsed around the Internet and found countless websites talking about bottle volumes/sizes and their respective names (and their respective ratio of 750ml contained per volume, similar to what I did in the following table), but rare were the sites really specifically detailing bottle dimensions. 

Bottle Sizes and Names Chart compiled by LeDomduVin 2017

Therefore, I decided to write this post for those of you who might be in need of detailed information on bottles dimensions (height, overall width, neck top, neck height, shoulder width, bottle body height, the bottom of the bottle, etc...) and create a table based on the measurements of actual standard bottles of different formats from various regions.

In fact, quite a few websites show you pictures of different bottles with or without dimensions, but they are not detailed enough, in my opinion. Other websites are too technical and do not necessarily offer a listing of the dimensions like in my table above and below (easy to see at one glance rather than to have to browse around various pictures or web pages).     

So, as usual, unsatisfied with my search results, I decided to do it myself. I took the measurements of the bottles I had on hand at the office and in our cellars to create the following easy-to-read "Bottle Dimensions" table. 

Then, I posted it on my blog as it could be useful for some of you needing these kinds of details. 

I always go by the principle that if I'm looking for something and can not find it on the Internet, then at least one person in the world must have the same issue as me. I'm sure you might be interested in finding the kind of detailed table I did below for this particular subject about "Bottle Dimensions" (measurements of sizes and formats).

So here it is. 

Bottles Dimensions

 

Wine Bottle Parts © LeDomduVin 2017

In my "Bottle Dimensions" table below, you will notice a few things:

• The measurements are in Centimeters as the metric system is easier for me (sorry for those of you who are using the Imperial system). 

• The measurements are mostly "ranges" due to bottle dimension variations. It is understandable, as creating a table for each unique specific bottle would have proved impossible as there are so many wine bottle shapes, forms, and sizes. Therefore, the variations ranges apply to the most common bottles found in the market. So-called "standard" bottles.  

• There is no measurement for the "shoulder". As for the human body, it is difficult to really define where the "Neck" stops and where the "Shoulder" begins... it is a grey area, so I leave it up to you to decide and be the judge of that...😉

Consequently, the bottle "Body" measurements are approximate and may vary depending on your judgment, yet it is roughly measured from the bottom of the "Shoulder" to the bottom of the bottle.

Bottle Dimensions and Sizes measured by LeDomduVin © 2017

Some bottle sizes and measurements are surely missing as this table is non-exhaustive and only reflects the bottles I had on hand at the time. Hope it helps.     

Bottle shapes

I took a few pictures this afternoon while measuring the bottles at the office and in one of our cellars to show you the differences in the bottle's shapes and sizes.

750 ml Bottles of various shapes ©LeDomduVin2017

DRC Romanee Conti 750ml ©LeDomduVin2017

Paul Jaboulet Hermitage 750ml ©LeDomduVin 2017

Petrus 1961 750ml and Magnum and Gruaud Larose 5 liters and 6 Liters ©LeDomduVin 2017

Guigal Ex-Voto 750ml and Chapoutier ermitage Le Pavillon 3 Liters ©LeDomduVin 2017

Yquem 375ml and 5 Liters ©LeDomduVin 2017

Voila... Hope it will maybe help some of you. 

Santé!

LeDomduVin a.k.a Dominique Noel

#lesphotosadom, #lesillustrationsadom, #lesdessinsadom, @ledomduvin, #ledomduvin, #bottledimensions, #bottleshapes, #wine, #vin, #vino, #wein

Unless stated otherwise, all rights reserved ©LeDomduVin, 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: Bordeaux is not only two banks. And not all Bordeaux wines taste the same....

Le Monument aux Girondins - Bordeaux
revisited by @ledomduvin 2023

Bordeaux is not only two banks.
And not all Bordeaux wines taste the same...

As a French, born in Bordeaux, and grandson of a winemaker from the Côtes de Bourg, as well as being a certified Sommelier opening, preparing, pouring and tasting Bordeaux wines for more than 25 years, I feel the need to put my fist on the table and remind people that Bordeaux is not only two banks and not all Bordeaux wines taste the same...

One can not reduce Bordeaux to only two banks, and one can not say that all the Bordeaux have the same taste or taste alike. Yet, unfortunately, it is the view of most people in the world: Bordeaux is 2 banks only, and both banks' wines roughly taste the same…

Under that perspective, imagine what a Bordeaux Wine Regions map could look like...

For a majority of people in the world Bordeaux is 

2 banks only and both banks’ wines taste roughly the same… 

Original Bordeaux Wine Regions Map courtesy of DUCLOT

Revisited by LeDomduVin

This normally pristine Bordeaux Wine Regions Map produced for DUCLOT LA VINICOLE is, of course, a metaphor translating the concept of "Bordeaux is 2 Banks only"... a scary metaphor, in my opinion... moreover it is the vision of the majority of people in the world.

In reply to a comment on Facebook to a recent article from the newspaper "Le Monde" on the "Flying Winemaker", a.k.a. "the Wine Guru" Michel Rolland (which I posted earlier today on Facebook - read the article here) roughly saying:

"All Bordeaux have the same taste, and even experts have difficulty in defining the right bank and the left bank as all Bordeaux wines taste alike."

I replied that it is quite exaggerating and exasperating to think or say such things as Bordeaux is so much more complex and far more diversified than just "2 banks only and all wines taste alike", for the following reasons:

More than 9800 wine estates in Bordeaux

• including 6 700 winegrowers 
• including 3,775 declared or registered as private cellars "Châteaux" 
• plus about 2,950 cooperators from 42 cooperative wineries 
• producing more than 10,000 different wines 

Map of the Graves and Sauternes courtesy of Hachette-vins.com

Right Bank Map courtesy of Hachette-vins.com

Spread over 57 Appellations d'Origine Controlée (AOC)

Bordeaux Appellations Map courtesy of "Vins de Bordeaux"

Bordeaux Appellations (in Alphabetical order)

• Barsac
• Blaye
• Bordeaux
• Bordeaux Clairet
• Bordeaux Côtes de Francs
• Bordeaux Moelleux
• Bordeaux Rosé
• Bordeaux Supérieur
• Bordeaux-Haut-Benauge
• Cadillac
• Canon Fronsac
• Cérons
• Côtes de Bordeaux-Saint-Macaire
• Côtes de Bourg
• Côtes de Castillon
• Crémant de Bordeaux
• Entre-Deux-Mers
• Entre-Deux-Mers-Haut-Benauge
• Fronsac
• Graves
• Graves de Vayres
• Graves Supérieures
• Haut-Médoc
• Listrac-Médoc
• Loupiac
• Margaux
• Médoc
• Moulis-en-Médoc
• Pauillac
• Pessac-Léognan
• Pomerol
• Premières Côtes de Blaye
• Premières Côtes de Bordeaux
• Sainte-Croix-du-Mont
• Sainte-Foy-Bordeaux
• Saint-Emilion
• Saint-Estèphe
• Saint-Julien
• Sauternes

Each appellation has its own particular "Terroir"  

• Soils and Subsoils types (Geology)
• Climate and Microclimate
• Environment (river, lake, residential or industrial proximity)
• Reliefs (Topography)
• Fauna and Flora (Animals, Insects, Plants, Trees, etc..) 

"Carte Géologique du Vignoble Girondin"
from Germain Lafforgue book "Le Vignoble Girondin"
Edition Louis Larmat 1947

NB: This map is very valuable proof of the diversity of the soils and subsoils of the vineyard of Bordeaux. I acquired the book and will soon this picture of the map by a better one, easier to read.

Carte des Sols Dominants de France - Map Courtesy of INRA

As you can see, the predominant soils type of Bordeaux are

• Left Bank: Gravelly, Clay, Sandy soils with Calcareous parts and patches
• Right Bank: Calcareous, Clay, Gravelly soils with Sandy parts and patches
• Entre-Deux-Mers: Clay, Gravelly soils with Sandy parts and patches

The diversity of Bordeaux soils and subsoils also accounts greatly in the resulting wines.

Le bassin sédimentaire aquitain (Image de J Fanet)

courtesy of terroirs-oeno-jng.skynetblogs.be

Providing each wine with its own particularity and personality

• Light
• Fresh
• Rich
• Complex
• Dry
• Fruity
• Ripe
• Sweet
• Young
• Mature
• Old
• Short
• Long
• Tannic
• Acidic
• Balanced
• Texture
• Structure
• Ready
• Can Wait
• Organic
• Biodynamic
• Lutte Raisonnée
• Natural
• Treated or not
• Etc, etc, etc.... 

Crafted with various grape varieties 

of which the % differs on the blend depending on the appellation of production

•  Red / Rosé
• Cabernet Sauvignon 
• Merlot 
• Cabernet Franc 
• Malbec
• Petit Verdot
• Carmenère

• White - Dry / Sweet / Sparkling
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Semillon
• Muscadelle
• Sauvignon Gris

NB: Ugni Blanc, Colombard and Merlot Blanc can also be found in Bordeaux

Producing wines of all styles and colors 

Wines of all colors

Wines of all styles

And finally, atop the reasons already cited above (Appellations, Terroirs and Grape Varieties), the wines of Bordeaux also differ from one another (like any other wines in the world) due to the age of the vines, the weather, the quality of the vintage, the environment, the vinification techniques used, the ageing process (concrete vats, stainless steel vats, used oak or new oak barrels, etc..), the final blend, and so much more.. not to forget also the winemaker style, the desired wine to be produced, the effect of culture, traditions and the level of expertise on the perception of the wine intrinsic qualities and dimensions.

This list is nonexhaustive and so many other things could be added, yet there are many reasons and diversities that explain quite obviously why it is impossible for all the Bordeaux Wines to taste the same!!!

Unfortunately, the public and many of the so-called "experts" and "critics" only know, recognize, reward and/or promote (at the most) the top of 500 to 600 Châteaux (history, ranking, awards, notoriety, marketing, etc. ..) and altogether reduce Bordeaux to two banks only, without taking into account the many differences (and other influential factors) of the of the wines produced in the 57 AOC of this beautiful region of Bordeaux.

The comment cited above made on Facebook in response to "Le Monde" article is in my opinion the perfect example of the mass with a narrow, critical and reducing mind and spirit, and it is offensive in the eyes of all the other Bordeaux producers who are trying to change that image of "Bordeaux is 2 banks only and all wines taste alike".

Do you agree? Or do you also think that all Bordeaux are similar and that there are only two banks?

Santé!

LeDomduVin a.k.a Dominique Noël

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #vin #wine #vino #wein #bordeaux #twobanks #rightbank #leftbank #region #vineyards #gironde #france #coupdegueule

Unless stated otherwise, all rights reserved ©LeDomduVin 2017, 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).