Take me to Portugal !

Portuguese Tasting – 20 April 2023 – Raffles Hotel - Singapore

What a great afternoon I had yesterday at the Raffles, tasting Portuguese wines! I thought I would quickly go through the whites and move on to the reds which are more easily associated with Portugal… Big mistake: I found gems in both colour! Here a few of my favourite wines. Hopefully, we can start to see more of these on the Singapore market!

 WHITES

CASA ERMELINDA FREITAS

Vinha da Valentina Premium (Setubal) 2021: delicately floral with pink grapefruit on the nose. Freshness and minerality on the palate: very interesting and refreshing !

Ermelinda (Chardonnay, viognier, Verdelho): mineral nose with nutty and peach notes. Round and full-bodied.

CASA RELVAS

Segredo de Sao Miguel Reserva, 2021: Freshness, minerality and complexity with depth. Long and full. You could have mistaken it for a Chablis Premier Cru.

CAVES CAMPELO

Tapada Do Marques, Arinto Vinho Verde: fresh mint on the nose. Slight sparkle typical of Vinho Verde with freshness and fruitiness. Give me this for my Friday Aperitivo!

Montelouro, Douro: Delicate, floral and exotic fruits on the nose. The palate confirms the subtle aromas with flavours of peach, apricot and cream.

MANUAL COSTA & FILHOS

Magnate Avesso Vinho Verde 2022: Mineral and fresh with the slight Vinho Verde sparkle. Lovely.

Rinha Avesso: Depth with minerality, mint and a distinguished ‘almond glue’ (Colle Cleopatre) aroma that made me jump with joy!!!  The palate is savoury, complex and full bodied.

Rinha Alvarinho***: The little sister of the former: Fresh, mineral and the almond glue again! Fresh palate with high acidity (lime), fresh almonds and long finish

PARRAS WINES

Herdade da Candeeira, Alentejo, 2021***: Stunning exotic fruits on the nose with lime and freshness on the palate.

Quinta da Gradil: Minerality with lemon and apples notes. Beauty!

 REDS

CASA ERMELINDA FREITAS

Dona Ermelinda Palmela Dao Reserva 2021: Chocolate, blackberry and spice. A beautiful, complex, full bodied and high acidity wine with cassis and spice on the palate. Delighted. And the feeling goes on and one.

CASA SANTOS LIMA

Quid Pro Quo, Alentejano: Lovely and complex. Easy and yet complex. A beauty!

CAVES CAMPELLO

Montelouro Reserva, Douro 2015: Amazing and intense nose with sweet spice, dried flowers (dusty roses). On the plate, the sweet raspberry is mixed with cassis. It is full, intense and long but balanced.

HERDADE DO ROCIM

Bela Luz, Douro 2021: griotte red cherry almost as if preserved in alcohol. Soft and fruity. Beautifully light and yet complex. I saw the light!

 Racim, Alentejo, Clay Aged, 2019: Blackberry and blackcurrant explosion with tobacco notes. Full bodied with medium + tannins. A beauty that lasts for ever on the palate.

J. PORTUGAL RAMOS WINES

Marques de Borba Reserva, 2019: Blackberry, savoury (Parma ham), black olives nose. The palate is full bodied, complex and long. Superb.

Duorum, Douro Reserva, 2019: Perfumed with Blackberries and cherries. It is as beautiful as its label: complex, full bodied with black cherries and long, long, long….

PARRAS WINES QUINTA DO GRADIL

Quinta Do Gradil Alicante Bouschet, Lisboa 2019: Black Forrest, Black cherry aromas. Beautiful

Quinta Do Gradil, Tannat, Touriga Nacional, Alicante Bouschet 2019 ***: Stunning wine with huge depth, freshness and blackcurrant aromas. Palate is smooth and beautiful. Got premium Gold for Lisbon wines in 2022.

QUINTA DE S. SEBASTIAO

Touriga Nacional, Lisboa: Lovely nose of blackcurrant mixed with redcurrant. Light tannins with lovely touch of spice and preserved fruits. Long finish.

Touriga Nacional and Syrah Reserva, Lisboa: Depth with black cherries and black berries. The palate is complex with creaminess, black fruits and black olives. Lovely!

SANTOS & SEIXO WINES

Encosta Do Sobral Reserva (Syrah, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional) 2019: Blackcurrant, forest freshness and sweet nose. The palate is lovely: light and yet complex with raspberry flavours lingering around.

SWEET

CASA ERMELINDA FREITAS

Moscatel de Setubal Roxo superiore 2010: Walnut, apricot, honey and almond… Yet, mineral and fresh at the same time. Sweet but not excessively thanks to a high acidity. Simply gorgeous.

All Rights Reserved Marjolaine Roblette Geres, 2023

Two Masterclasses and Tastings on the Loire Valley Wines for F&B, Trade and Media

I am super excited to organise my next event on Loire Valley Wines exclusively for Sommeliers and F&B on 23rd March and Trade and Media on 24th March 2021 at Uma Nota (Central). Stay tuned for more info!

Registration for Monday (Sommeliers and F&B): HERE

Registration for Tuesday (Trade & Media): HERE

From the classic Cabernet Franc to Gamay and Grolleau for the reds and Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Melon de Bourgogne for the whites, you will discover the most important grape varieties from up and coming appellations from the Loire.

PRESENTATION

WINE LIST

1-     Crémant de Loire Château Moncontour NV Tête de Cuvée (Penticton)

2-     Muscadet Sèvre et Maine 2017 - Domaine Landron - Muscadet Haute Tradition (La Cabane)

3-     Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2019 - Pierre Chainier Cour de la Roche Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (EMW)

4-     Touraine Amboise 2016 - Domaine Plou & Fils - Les Menigotes (Vines & Terroirs)

5-     Val de Loire Grolleau 2015 - Clau de Nell (Watson’s)

6-     Chinon 2017 - Les Parcelles par Les Tetes - Domaine Grosbois (Natural F&B)

7-     Saumur 2018 - Château de Fosse-Sèche - Gondwana (Cuvees)

8-     Vouvray Demi Sec 2018 - Domaine Huet, Le Haut-Lieu (Summergate)

Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux Tasting at the Rosewood

Pomerol collection

The Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGCB) wine tasting took place last Thursday at the beautiful Rosewood Hotel. 

What a privilege to have been able to taste almost 75 wines in this beautiful setting with only two other fellow sommeliers! Very intimate and private experience that allowed me to focus on tasting the wines rather than networking with colleagues ;-) 

So how was this 2017 vintage? Wherever you look, whatever you read, the 2017 was not easy: destructive frosts in April and some rain in September, in between two great vintages… It is not an easy situation for poor 2017 and some people have decided to forget it altogether. 

However, there is some great wines to be found in this vintage and because it comes after the fab’ 2015 and 2016… the prices should be good! 

Here are a few of my favourite ones: 

Whites

Some great surprises with Chateaux Carbonnieux (pepper spice), Domaine de Chevalier (minerality), Malartic-Lagraviere (almond), Smith Haut Lafitte (freshness of mandarin). 

Pomerol

Loved them all. They were almost all ready to drink! Château Beauregard (Perfumed and floral), Château Le Bon Pasteur (amazingly fragrant), Château La Cabanne (pure raspberry with long finish), Château Clinet (violet becoming animal and spice with aeration and chocolate on the palate), Château Gazin (red fruit explosion)

Moulis-en-Médoc

Château Chasse-Spleen forever with already some forest floor character and Château Moncaillou (surprisingly fresh raspberry and white pepper)

Haut-Médoc

Could not miss to taste Château Cantemerle, the best value GGC that you can find on the market: red and black fruits, fragrant and fresh. Round, full bodied and long finish. Château Citran did not disappoint either: Sweet red fruits, red currant and fresh spice. Full bodied and noticeable tannins. 

Marvellous Margaux

Margaux

Classic but nonetheless noteworthy: 

Château Brane-Cantenac: depth of dark fruits and forest floor on the nose. Powerful black cherry, spice and plum on the palate. 

Château Cantenac Brown: Dark fruits, black currant and freshness of the eucalyptus. The palate was surprisingly balanced. 

Château Giscours: beautiful depth, maraschino cherry and spice. Powerful palate of dark fruits and long finish.

Château Kirwan: classic cassis with freshness and intensity

Château Prieuré-Lichine: cassis, freshness. Round, full and tannic with long spicy finish

Saint Julien

Surprisingly, the dark chocolate dominated the Saint Julien: 

Château Beychevelle had dark fruits and chocolate on the nose and palate

Château Leoville Barton had black currant, chocolate and animal character. Very powerful and yet, very elegant. I gave it a three stars! ***

Château Leoville Poyferré: perfumed, cassis and black cherry with added smokiness and cacao with depth and power. 

Pauillac… Forever

Pauillac

The Pauillac were true to themselves: powerful! I loved: 

Château Grand-Puy Ducasse with pure cassis and mint on the palate and a powerful and tannic long finish

Château Lynch-Bages: The power and depth of black berries on the nose. Full and fresh power on the palate.

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande: the last of the reds that I tasted and my full four stars wine: a beauty of sweet spice, black cherry and plum with elegance and fragrance. Deep, powerful, balanced on the palate. ****

Sweet Sauternes

Christmas calling…

Sauternes

Still managed to squeeze in two fab’ Sauternes: 

Château Rieussec: a very Christmassy sweet wine with orange peel, mandarin, caramel and honey nose followed by a lovely sweet spice palate. 

Château Suduiraut: pure marmalade and beautiful mandarin peel nose and a long long long finish of honey and almond. 

So, in conclusion, would I recommend the 2017 vintage? 

Yes, absolutely! The wines that I tried were precise, delicious and complex demonstrating a complete mastering of the vineyard management and the winemaking techniques. 

Thank you to Business France HK and UGCB for making this tasting possible!


Marjolaine Roblette Geres

Five Ways to Impress your Colleagues with Wine Tasting!

TGI Friday ! Time to impress your colleagues with your wine tasting skills !

It’s Friday and your boss has proposed to meet up at the new wine bar down the street with a bunch of colleagues to taste some wine. You don’t know much about wine and you’re not too sure on how to taste wine properly ? DO NOT PANIC ! Wine tasting is easy as long as you follow these five tips ! 

TIP #1 : 

Don’t fill up the glass ! Not because you are worried that your boss is going to think that you are alcoholic but because when you will swirl your wine in your glass in the next few minutes, you do not want to spray your beautiful white shirt with red wine. And also, always hold your glass by the stem. This way, you won’t heat up the wine and will not leave finger marks on the glass. Smart, clean and stylish ! 

TIP #2

Look at the wine. That is the first step of wine tasting. Do not drink right away. First you look ! Why ? Because the colour and the intensity of the wine have a lot to say. For example, age can be guessed by just looking at the wine : the more brick colour: the older the wine. Similarly, different grape varieties give different colour and intensity to the wine: just check pinot noir (light and ruby when young) and cabernet sauvignon (dark and purple when young)… How exciting to be able to guess the grape variety before you have even tasted the wine ! That’s definitely how I impress my family ! 

TIP #3

Smell the wine. Ready to taste ? Hold on ! Smell first ! First a quick sniff to make sure that the wine is not faulty (if it smells of cardboard, that’s not a good sign…) and then swirl to release the aromas and smell more deeply. No need to be stressed if you cannot smell any fruits : cherry, blueberry or raspberry, anyone ? The point is to start enjoying the wine even before you taste it. Does it smell fresh ? Does it smell like walking in the forrest ? Does it simply smell good ? Does it make you want to smell again ? One of my greatest pleasure is to smell a wine numerous times and each time to smell something different ! Red and black fruits, undergrowth, sometimes even dried herbs, leather and chocolate… The more aromas, the more exciting the experience ! 

TIP# 4

Now you can drink ! The best way to taste the wine is not to gulp it all at once but to savour the wine. No better way to achieve this by making the wine travel in your mouth. Not as if you were rinsing your mouth just after you brushed your teeth but more in a way where the wine touches all the parts of your mouth: tongue, cheeks, gums… They all have something to say. Indeed, the tongue will tell you about acidity and sweetness while the gums will tell you about tannins and the cheeks will tell you about the body of the wine (does it feel like water or does it feel like full milk ?) Basically, you are like Hercule Poirot looking for clues ! All of these elements tell you a lot about the wine: does it come form a cold or warm climate, what kind of grape variety is it, is it old or young… You might not be ready to guess that it is a Romanée Conti or a Chateau Latour but you have guessed it is a Bourgogne or a Bordeaux ? Well done ! Your boss and colleagues are super impressed ! 

TIP# 5

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy ! Wine tasting is not about being a snob or a know-it-all, it is about enjoying the moment you share this wine with your friends. There is nothing more exciting than sharing a good glass of wine with people who appreciate it as much as you do ! Add a bit of cheese to the equation and you are ready for the best night you ever had with your colleagues ! 

Word's Alchemy - Wines & Poetry - 4th edition

We are doing it... Again ! 

Join me and Matthieu Motte (Sauvés par le Kong) for the fourth edition of
Word's Alchemy - Wines & Poems on Wednesday 24 June 2020.
 Wine Tasting and Poem Reading
A Musical Ballad in France

• When:         Wednesday 24 June / 7:30 PM - 9+ PM

• Where:        Galerie Bulle d'Art & Lumeun Home

• Address:     Kwai Bo Industrial Building, 8/F Space A, 40 Wong Chuk Hang Rd, Hong-Kong

• Tickets:       280 HKD

• Booking:     What's app Matthieu: 5964 5985

Listening to poems morphed into songs,
Immersing ourselves in the poetry of
Rimbaud, Du Bellay, Beaudelaire and Aragon
transformed by music thanks to
Brassens, Gainsbourg, Aubert and Dutronc... 
While drinking wines from our beloved France,
Discovering hidden gems, hidden wine routes, 
We are taking you on a musical wine tour of France
Come along ! 

 This fourth edition of Vins & Poésie, a French wine and culture rendez-vous, is designed for French wine and literature lovers. A welcome drink will be served followed by the tasting of four wines from all over France specially selected by Vines & Terroirs and a delicious French food buffet:

🍷Vouvray Brut 2012 - Foreau Clos Naudin
🍷Riesling Reserve 2017 - Albert Boxler
🍷 Moon 2019 - Chateau D'Astros
🍷Pommard Les Trois Follows 2017 - Domaine Lejeune
🍷Muscat de Beaumes de Venise 2018 - Domaine des Bernardins

Le French May 法國五月 Marjolaine Roblette Geres Parentheses Librairie Française
 

“Heureux qui, comme Ulysse, a fait un beau voyage,
Ou comme cestuy-là qui conquit la toison,
Et puis est retourné, plein d’usage et raison,
Vivre entre ses parents le reste de son âge !

Quand reverrai-je, hélas, de mon petit village
Fumer la cheminée, et en quelle saison
Reverrai-je le clos de ma pauvre maison,
Qui m’est une province, et beaucoup davantage ?

Plus me plaît le séjour qu’ont bâti mes aïeux,
Que des palais Romains le front audacieux,
Plus que le marbre dur me plaît l’ardoise fine :

Plus mon Loir gaulois, que le Tibre latin,
Plus mon petit Liré, que le mont Palatin,
Et plus que l’air marin la doulceur angevine.


Joachim du Bellay, Les Regrets, sonnet XXXI, 1558.”

Word's Alchemy / Wines & Poems - 2nd edition

Word's Alchemy: Wines & Poems

Join me and Matthieu Motte (Sauvés par le Kong) for the second edition of Word's Alchemy - Wines & Poems on 14 November 2019:

Tasting and Poem Reading Around
Wine and French Literature

• When? Thursday 14 November / 7 PM - 9 PM

• Where? Club House, The Manhattan, 33 Tai Tam Road, Tai Tam

• Tickets: 250 HKD

• Booking: Tel./What's app: 5964 5985

"Du vin aux vers, du rêve au vin"
"From Wine to Verses, from Reverie to Wine"

While drinking Bourgogne wines,
let's immerse ourselves in a night of poetry, dreams and music.

This second edition of Vins et Poésie, a French wine and culture rendez-vous, is designed for wine and French literature lovers.

A welcome drink will be served followed by the tasting of four Bourgogne wines from the famous Jean-Claude Boisset's beautiful estate located in Nuits-Saint-Georges.

These four wines coming from legendary appellations from Côte de Nuits such as Nuits-Saint-Georges and Gevrey Chambertin will help us discover the magical world of Burgundy red wines while letting ourselves be inspired by our senses.

You will also have the privilege to taste the exclusive oysters from M&C, supplier of fresh sea food from the French Atlantic Coast and a selection of the best cheeses of France from Cheese Club.

Fantaisie

Gérard de Nerval
"Il est un air pour qui je donnerais
Tout Rossini, tout Mozart et tout Weber,
Un air très vieux, languissant et funèbre,
Qui pour moi seul a des charmes secrets.

Or, chaque fois que je viens à l’entendre,
De deux cents ans mon âme rajeunit :
C’est sous Louis treize ; et je crois voir s’étendre
Un coteau vert, que le couchant jaunit"

First Tasting of the Autumn: Happy to Be back !

Tasting some Premier Cru wines from Maison Bouchard Aîné & Fils

Last night, I was happy to be back in the Wine Tasting World after a long summer holiday !

For this special event, I have teamed up with Christophe Piras from MPC, a company specialised in importing wines from Burgundy, Beaujolais, Jura and the Rhône Valley from Boisset, one of the top three wine producer in France.

Of course, we talked about the magnificent terroir of Burgundy but we also tasted a great selection of wines (Including three Premiers Crus) from Maison Bouchard Aîné & Fils. Here are a few of my favourite ones:

MEURSAULT PREMIER CRU LE PORUSOT 2017

Bright yellow with lovely gold hints in the glass, the nose is expressive with pear, white peach and apple turning into fresh almond and vanilla. Lovely attack on the palate, bringing freshness and richness at the same time. Elegant, balanced with a long finish: the perfect kind of Meursault. Full of promises, it needs a bit more time to fully expressed itself. It comes from the 10 ha Premier Cru Le Porusot (comes from “petrosa” meaning stones in latin) which has the perfect South Eastern exposure.

695 HKD

MERCUREY 2017

Bright and pale ruby in colour, the nose oozes of fruits reminding me of a basket of red and black fruits freshly picked from the bushes (summer is still fresh in my memory ! ). Notes of undergrowth are piercing through giving the nose an extra lift. I fell in love with this wine as it was just the perfect expression of Pinot Noir: perfect balance, fruits, soft tannins, velvety structure. At this price, I have no hesitation to fill up the cellar !

235 HKD

SANTENAY PREMIER CRU CLOS ROUSSEAU 2015

Again, a lovely bright and clear ruby. This is the feminine side of the Mercurey, elegant, soft, and delicate. Aromas of violet, red cherries, wild strawberries and red currants are mixing with red plum, liquorice and figs. It’s long, it’s perfectly balanced and it promises to evolve in a beautiful way as 2015 is a great vintage.

335 HKD

NUITS-SAINT-GEORGES PREMIER CRU LES CHABOEUFS 2013

Pale garnet, already showing some ageing with aromas of undergrowth, mature fruits, spice and dried fruits. A great Nuits-Saint-Georges that can be drunk now with concentration, structure, elegance, power, length and ageing potential. What else can you ask for ?

745 HKD

All these wines are available through MPC. Minimum order: 6 bottles. Mixing is possible with at least 2 bottles of the same wine. Delivery: 4-6 weeks

For ordering and more information, please contact Christophe Piras directly: chpiras.mpc@gmail.com/+852 9531 9233

Tasting Burgundy in good company !

Five tips on how to organise a successful corporate event

Corporate events. A nightmare to organize? A great way to entertain? Your favourite part of the job? Love it or hate it, events are a must in the corporate world today. So, here are five tips on how to manage the big project ahead of you!

Tip #1: Know your Crowd

Motivating your sales team or showcasing your products to private banking clients is not the same. Obvious? Yes. But this is key to understand when you are planning your event. So, first, adapt your goals to your audience. This means that you have to set clear objectives for the event. Do you want the participants to talk to each other? Or do you want to capture the attention of your clients on your latest products? Wine Tasting can be adapted to every kind of corporate event. Bring your team together with wine games and blind tasting. Attract your private clients to your presentation by offering them a professional wine tasting focusing on a specific theme with access to fine wines. Both events will be fun and entertaining but each will have a specific goal. 

 Tip #2: Make it Fun! 

Whether it is for your team or for your clients, transform your event into something fun and entertaining. Accompany your message with something that your audience will remember. Wine tasting is one of the best activities that you can consider for an evening out with colleagues or clients. It provides an interactive and sensory filled event with fun and laughter and the opportunity to bond and network. Guessing games, quiz and team activities guarantee your guests to interact with each other’s. It might make them a bit tipsy but it will certainly make everybody happy!

 Tip #3: Venue, Venue, Venue

Finding the right venue is sometimes a bit of a headache in Hong Kong. But it is one of the key elements to the success of your event. Again, adapt the venue to your audience. Your team will likely feel comfortable in a casual restaurant/trendy wine bar/private kitchen.  Your high profile clients will be happy that you have treated them to a high-end restaurant but will also appreciate a more casual environment where they feel that work is over. Art galleries, warehouse style venues or art studios are also great options. You will be surprised at how many people will show up just to discover a new trendy place in HK! Just remember to check capacity and customization options!

Tip #4: Food, Glorious Food! 

Good food is essential for a successful event. But ‘good’ does not necessarily mean lavish and your whole budget does not have to be dedicated to the catering. Some of my most successful events are based on food and wine pairing. With cheese, cold cuts and sometimes chocolates, you have the perfect combination. The key is to always surprise your guests with products of excellent quality, new discoveries and original tastes. The wine will do the rest: lighten the mood, give the opportunity to talk and learn something new. Again, make sure you get your numbers right: running out of food is definitely not an option at a corporate event. 

Tip #5: Keep within your Budget

Know your budget in advance and stick to it. Easier said than done? The key is to be open about it with your provider. Everything (well, almost) is possible but it is better to state clearly the budget allocated for your event. Your provider will do his/her best to accommodate. Do not forget to check with your provider what is covered in the proposal and remember that venue will be one of the priciest items for your event. Trust your provider for finding a place that will suit your needs and your budget. In my personal experience, you will be surprised at the venues that we can find in Hong Kong for a limited budget. And remember, events are fully customisable.  

You are now ready to organize your own corporate event. And, remember: wine tasting is one of the best ways to entertain! Seeing the many happy faces on my Wine Events never fails to warm my heart: that is why I keep doing it!

---

My Wine Experience New Workshop: Loire Valley Wines Exploration

Château Soucherie: in the heart of the Loire Valley

Some of you might have noticed that I have been busy promoting the Loire Valley wines lately. It is a region that is really close to my heart as I grew up along this beautiful river. Going back to memory lane, I remember biking along the banks of the Loire as a kid, exploring the beautiful countryside... I also remember bottling Bourgueil with my dad: he was buying the barrel directly from the producer and my task was to glue the label onto the bottle. I was eight years old and took my job very seriously! Who knows, maybe that is where my love for wine started?

I still love to go back to Touraine, to breath in the famous mild air from the Loire and, of course, to drink its fabulous wines. So, it has been a privilege to be able to share my love of the region with my friends in Hong Kong.

A few weeks ago, the event at Bistro Winebeast brought more than 30 participants and two nights ago, I was talking to more than 45 members of the Foreign Correspondent Club about the Loire: a unique privilege and, I may say, a great success! Next, is Vinexpo at the end of May where I will talk about the Loire at one of the France Pavilion workshop. 

These events would not have been possible without the help of Château Soucherie.

Château Soucherie is a domaine located in Anjou Saumur that offers a wide range of wines from the Loire: from sparkling to still wines, from dry to sweet, from whites to reds and even rosés: the whole spectrum of wines is there, all delicious and refined.

Not only, do I encourage you to try their wines (see below) but also I strongly advise you to go visit their Chateau on your next holiday. The Loire Valley is indeed one of the best places in the world to do oenotourism: hundreds of beautiful chateaux to explore, easy paths to bike on, a mild climate and of course, delicious wines. Château Soucherie is proposing several tastely decorated rooms in the chateau and a gîte nearby as well as tours of the vineyard and winery: you should go!

Until then, you can try their wines as they have established an office in Hong Kong. Here are a few of my favourite: 

---

SAVENNIERES CLOS DES PERRIERES, 2013
12% alcohol
Grape variety: 100% Chenin Blanc

RVF: Grande Reussite (Vintage 2011); Guide  RVF: 16/20

Pale gold with green tones, this Savennières is oozing white fruits, minerality and freshness on the nose. A touch of celery, herbs and almond adds complexity. On the palate, the minerality gives a distinctive structure to the wine with notes of lemon and saltiness. Freshness and complexity give an elegant overall impression that lingers deliciously on the palate.

Price: 265 HKD

CHAMP AUX LOUPS, 2013

Anjou village AOC, 12% alcohol

Grape variety: 100% Cabernet Franc

La Revue du Vin de France: Among Best Red Wines of the Loire 2011

Deep ruby colour with a nose of red and black fruits. The aromas are like a basket of forest fruits freshly picked smelling of undergrowth and spice (liquorice). The palate is focused on black fruits (blackberry and blueberry) with a touch of wood. The medium acidity, medium+ tannins and medium body give a nice structure and balance. It’s a wine that needs time to soften up so aerating is recommended. 

Price: 192 HKD

COTEAUX DU LAYON PATRIMOINE, 2015

12% alcohol

Grape variety: 100% Chenin Blanc

Beautiful gold hints reflected in the glass. The complex nose expresses white peach, fresh apricot, pear and honey but stays very refreshing with green mango hints. The palate is sweet but balanced by a high acidity. It oozes citrus fruits (mandarin, lime) and exotic fruits (mango and passion fruit). The medium body creates a very nicely balanced wine with a distinctive freshness that lingers beautifully. 

Price: 195 HKD

You can order the wines direct from admin@chateausoucherie.hk

Finally, to celebrate my home region, I have decided to add a new workshop to MY WINE EXPERIENCE collection. Loire Valley Wines Exploration is a journey that will take you through the Loire with the tasting of four wines from Château Soucherie. Book now, before the end of the May, to benefit from a 10 % discount on the regular price (4500 HKD instead of 5000 HKD).

So gather your friends and let’s discover together the beautiful wines of the Loire! 

Loire Valley Wines Exploration

Join me at Bistro Winebeast on Thursday 19 April to taste an exclusive range of Loire Valley Wines from Chateau Soucherie!

From the fresh and delicate Anjou Blanc to the prestigious Crémant de Loire, you will taste an extensive range of Loire Valley wines accompanied by the delicious Frapas of Bistro Winebeast. 

An event not to be missed ! 

Featured wines: 

• Crémant de Loire Brut, 2013
• Anjou Blanc, 2009
• Savennieres, Clos des Perrieres, 2013
• Champ aux Loups, Anjou Village AOC, 2013
• Cabernet d'Anjou, 2015
• Coteaux du Layon Patrimoine, 2015

When?    Thursday 19 April

Time?      7 to 8:30 pm

Where?   Bistro Winebeast, 1/F Tai Yip Building, 141 Thomson Road, Wanchai

Seats are very limited - First come-first served basis

RSVP essential

Special Chateau Soucherie ticket price HKD 200

Redeemable on all purchases on the night

RSVP before April 15th

This event is brought to you by Chateau Soucherie

Wine and Women Empowerment

In this special month of March as women are honored, I would like to take time to reflect on the importance of empowerment.

I have been teaching a group of French women through the French welcoming association ‘Hong Kong Accueil’ since September. We meet once a month and I teach them about wine. Most of them said they joined the class because they felt they did not know anything about wine, even being French. There was an unspoken rule for each one of them: ‘it is always my husband who is choosing the wine at home’. I am happy to say that after six months of teaching them, their attitude has completely changed on the subject of wine. They are feeling much more assertive, their knowledge about wine has dramatically improved and they are now able to make a decision when it’s time to choose the wine. It has been a real pleasure to see these women dedicating the time for this class, to see their eagerness to join and to see their pleasure at discovering more. But most of all, it has been so fulfilling for me to see them empowered with knowledge and confidence.  

I had the same experience with women from Hong Kong, China and elsewhere. My most eager students have always been women who were ready to dedicate the time, effort and hard work to study about wine. For all the Bernice, Rebecca, Rachel, Annette, Wing, Allison… I am utterly grateful! They are now involved in wine as wine consultant, wine writer or sommelier and they are truly amazing wine women!

For this month of March, I would love to give you also the chance to get more empowerment through wine knowledge. So, gather your girlfriends and join me for a woman-only WINE EXPERIENCE. Sign-up till the end of March and you will get a 10% discount on the regular price classes for a girl-only workshop!

It will be fun, entertaining and you are guaranteed to feel the power afterwards! 

My Wine Experience – A private wine class in the comfort of your home

The French Culture Touch ! (Photo Credit C.Gryson)

After seven years in Hong Kong - Yes ! I have my new Permanent Resident ID ;-) - working with wine, I feel it is about time to launch my own wine education program. I have called it MY WINE EXPERIENCE.

MY WINE EXPERIENCE is a unique concept where participants can organise their own wine workshop in the comfort of their home.

The idea is simple: you gather a group of four to ten friends in your home, select a theme and choose a date for the event. I will provide the service and the wines according to the theme as well as glasses, spittoons, decanter, tasting biscuits and tasting guides. Everyone can join whether you are a wine lover, wine amateur or just a beginner.

The workshops, that last two hours, include the tasting of three or four fine wines that I have carefully selected. Each workshop is designed to be educational as well as entertaining with interactive activities perfectly suited for that kind of event: games, aroma workshop, quiz and, depending on the theme, blind tasting. It’s a fun way to bring people together and learn more about wine. From experience, I can guarantee that you learn better with others: comparing tasting notes and discussing your favourite wines will definitly be encouraged.

I think MY WINE EXPERIENCE is perfect for friends gathering, birthdays, hen-does, Christmas parties or farewells. And, of course, I will add my unique ‘French culture touch’ to the workshop!

All I want to do is to share my passion about wine and to give you the opportunity to have a fun, practical and interactive approach to wine tasting while spending an entertaining evening with your friends… simply at home! See you soon!

For more information and quote please contact me.

List of themes proposed:

• Wine Etiquette: Tasting and Serving Wine
• Wine 101: Styles, Grape Varieties and French Regions
• A Few Secrets about Bordeaux
• The Villages of Burgundy
• Rhone Valley: the Road to the South of France
• Champagne and Sparkling: Know Your French Bubbly
• New World vs Old World 
• Rosés Wines: Perfect for Hong Kong Sizzling Summer
• Iberica Tour: Hidden Gems from Spain

In the comfort of your home... 

Chablis: one of a kind and yet, such a diversity!

Magical Seven

What a delight to have in front of me seven different Premier Cru Chablis to taste! A rare opportunity that gave me a chance to compare seven wines that come from the same appellation (Chablis), grape variety (Chardonnay) and quality level (Premier cru) but that show differences depending on where exactly they come from.

The whole concept of terroir and climat made sense at the tasting. Indeed we were able to understand how the specific location, the soil characteristics, the steepness and the exposure of a slope can change the style and taste of the wine. Some wines were very mineral and had a distinctive purity (Premier cru from Côte de Léchet, Vau de Vey, Montmains) while others displayed fruitiness and floral characteristics (from Vaulaurent and Beauroy).

It was quite fascinating to analyse the subtle differences that revealed the true meaning of terroir. However, for me, the concept of terroir is not only the geological and climatic condition of a specific plot of land but it also encompasses the know-how and experience of the wine maker.  It is his talent that will truly reveal the personality of that terroir.

Here is a list of some of my favourites:

Chablis Premier Cru, Côte de Léchet, Domaine des Malandes, 2015

Pure expression of Chablis Premier Cru: oozing of freshness on the nose with lemon, lime, grape and flinty minerality. On the palate, the wine is pure, focused and full of energy with a long finish.

Chablis Premier Cru, Montmains, Domaine des Malandes, 2015

Same producer, same vintage but different climat and winemaking, hence a different style. The freshness is still palpable but with more depth than the first wine: here, the minerality is chalky, there is a touch of fresh bread and saltiness added to the lemon/grapefruit palate. Definitely rounder and denser than the Cote de Lechet.

Chablis Premier cru, Beugnons, Domaine Sébastien Dampt, 2014

This wine, aged in concrete egg, is a bit closed on the nose but reveals an extraordinary palate of savoury character and nuttiness (walnut). Very intense and long finish.

Chablis Premier Cru, Vaulorent, La Chablisienne, 2014

One of the climat giving the most floral character to the wine. Indeed the wine has a distinctive floral and fruity nose with peach, strawberry and cream. On the palate, the notes become more lemony and have a clear redcurrant character.  Powerful and expressive with a very long peach finish. My favourite.

Chablis Premier Cru, Fourchaume, Domaine William Fèvre, 2014

Yet, another expression of what Chablis can be. This time, minerality comes back with a cheesy (comté) and creamy expression and some hazelnut notes. Very distinctive.

Chablis Premier Cru, Beauroy, Alain Geoffroy, 2012

Back on the floral/fruit spectrum with white flowers, peach, lime, grapefruit, green apple and notes of tropical fruits (mango) and yet, still expressive minerality. Round and grapefruity long finish. Another favourite. 

French Aperitif Time: Rosé Wine and Champagne on Tartine's Terrace: 20/06/17

Join me at Tartine to taste an exclusive range

of Rosé Wines and Champagne!

From the fresh and delicate Rosé from Côtes de Gascogne, Pays d’Oc and Veneto to the prestigious Rosé Champagne, you will taste an extensive range of Rosé wine styles in the relaxed atmosphere of Tartine's outdoor terrace.

This will be a great opportunity to learn more about rosé thanks to an informative and fun workshop.

Come and discover these delightful pink treasures, whilst enjoying delicious canapés.

Featured producers:

La Galope Rosé 2014, Côtes De Gascogne, France

Famille Fabre L'Instant Rosé IGP 2016, Pays D'Oc, France

Torresella Spumante Rosato NV, Veneto, Italy

André Clouet Rosé NV, Champagne, France

Braida Brachetto D'Acqui DOCG 2016, Piedmont, Italy

When ? Tuesday 20th June 2017

Time ? 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Where ? Tartine - 38 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central

Limited space available on a first come first served basis.

RSVP – Marjolaine Roblette Geres: mroblettegeres@gmail.com

This event is brought to you by Cuvees.com

Drink Chenin !

Join me to celebrate #drinkChenin!

Fourteen Chenins from South Africa, New Zealand, the US and France will be featured. Free flow from 1830-1930 (while stock lasts) !

Please make sure you reserve your seats with La Vin (reservations: lavin@lavin.hk, 2523 6282) to avoid disappointment.

See you there ! 

The Magic of Wine and Food Pairing

A magical pairing exercise ! 

Thank you:

Cyrille Thebault and Yuna Tegani for providing the Caviar Sturia

Vincent de Beler for bringing Château Guiraud.

For more information:

cyrille@sturia.com.hk; y.tegani@kaviar.com; vincent@chateauguiraud.com

When my friend Cyrille suggested a wine and food pairing exercise between Sauternes and caviar, I thought: “Hum, not sure about that one!” Then I remembered how Sauternes goes well with foie gras; the sweetness and the acidity of the wine cutting down the saltiness and fat of the meat. Could the same effect work with caviar? I had to try!

Our Sauternes was the renowned Château Guiraud. It is the oldest property in Sauternes (dating back from the 15th century), one of the largest 1st Great Classified Growth and the only one to be certified organic. Château Guiraud stands out. Not only because of its black label, apparently chosen to commemorate the death of Napoleon, but also because it is the only Sauternes château that uses a high proportion of Sauvignon Blanc in the blend (30%). As a result the wines have a unique freshness and minerality.

Such a great wine had to be accompanied by the finest caviar and Cyrille treated us to the best French caviar that you can find in Hong Kong: Caviar Sturia, which epitomises what caviar is all about: luxury, subtlety and depth. We had three caviars to taste. Aged only for one month, the Primeur is delicate, light and creamy with aromas of butter and hazelnut. The Vintage has been refined for 6 months and has much stronger seafood aromas mixed with grilled hazelnut and some fruitiness. Third but not least, the Oscietra, aged between 3 to 8 months, full of iodine and walnut with a touch of undergrowth aromas.

With three vintages of Château Guiraud (2011, 2004 and 1998) and three different styles of caviar, we started our tasting to try to find the best pairing possible.

The 2011 vintage has distinctive mandarin, yuzu and orange peel notes. Extraordinary fresh and vibrant, it matched really well with the Sturia Primeur bringing out the citrus notes of the wine and the hazelnut notes of the caviar. Both products benefited from the pairing bringing out aromas that we had not seen when we had tasted each product separately. Similarly, the 2011 vintage brought out the undergrowth notes of the Oscietra in a very subtle way.

The 2004 has aromas of candied fruits, hazelnut with peach and apricot notes while retaining its amazing freshness and long finish. It paired beautifully with the Sturia Vintage revealing the iodine and the sea freshness of the caviar. We felt like we were standing right in front of the Atlantic receiving a wave a sea air while the wine interacted with the caviar. It was truly amazing! Same impression with the Oscietra with more subtlety. The two revealed each other with perfect harmony bringing out elements that we had not tasted when isolated. That was our perfect match: harmony and revelation.

The 1998 is absolutely gorgeous with candied fruits mixed with dried fruits (figs, dates) and almond paste and a surprising note of tobacco on the back palate. Extremely powerful, it proved just too powerful for the caviar. We had a very nice match with the Vintage but it did not reveal new elements.

 I loved the exercise. How many times in your life do you get to taste some of the best caviar with some of the best wines in the world? Not that many I am afraid. What I loved the most about the experience was the surprise that it provided. What a pleasure to get this ‘wahou’ effect when the wine reveals the essence of the food and vice versa. This is pure magic. 

My Wine of the Week: Chimère 2007

Tasted a few weeks ago at Ciak: Famille Fabre Corbières Boutenac Chimère 2007

This wine is a reminder that Languedoc can do some great wines with exceptional concentration and purity of flavours.

The fact that the wine is so good should not come as a surprise. The Fabre Family has been growing vines for 14 generations (!) making it one of the oldest estates in the Languedoc. Clemence who used to work in Hong Kong has come home to work with her father and continue the family tradition. She was in Hong Kong to present her wines. 

Thanks to its four châteaux, Famille Fabre can offer a broad range of wines: some refreshing whites, some floral and lively roses and some easy drinking reds. But it is the Chimère that really caught my attention.

Tasting Note: 

Deep colour: just by looking at it you know that you are going to get intensity. First on the nose with powerful aromas of black berries, spice and dried herbs, then on the palate as the wine delivers its personality: full bodied, smooth and concentrated. The carignan gives ripe black berry fruits flavours while the syrah gives spicy notes. A surprising hint of mandarin adds an extra dimension to the wine creating a perfect structure and balance. The long finish is smooth and velvety. Rich, concentrated, pure: this is my kind of wine.

Technical notes

• Carignan (40%), Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre
• Yield: 25 hl/ha (which explains the concentration)
• Organic
• 12 months in French oak (which gives the wine potential to age – 10 years at least)

Chimere 2007, Famille Fabre, Corbieres Boutenac AOC

Available in Hong Kong at Cuvées for 286 HKD

A Mi Gusto Mouchao Mucho !

This year, Portugal was the guest of honour at the Hong Kong International Wine and Spirit Fair. I do not know much about Portuguese wines but what I know is that every single time I try one, I am hooked, spellbound, in love. And, this year, it happened again. I stopped by Mouchão stand at the fair and started tasting their wines. I loved it so much that I came back for a proper tasting with David Ferreira at Adega Royale.

Mouchão is located in the Alentejo [alentech’] region, in South East Portugal. Picture rolling hills dominated by cork forests and olive trees; imagine a very hot summer day and you are there, looking at an old winery built between two small rivers by John Reynolds in 1901. With its white washed walls and its traditional red-tiled roof, the adega looks like it has not changed.

Today, the Herdade do Mouchão continues to be run by the descendants of the original family. They take their time when making wine, and it shows. The quality is exquisite. They mostly use a local grape variety called Alicante Bouschet (originally French) that is thriving in this hot climate and clay soils. The grapes are picked by hand and foot-trodden in traditional stone lagares. The resulting wines are stunning, renowned for their ability to mature with grace and their longevity.

Dom Rafael 2013 – White

Antao Vaz - Arinto

A wine that makes your eyes go pop because you have never smelled or tasted that before. It took me a while to pinpoint the aromas but I think I almost got it: honey, vin jaune/sherry, minerality, bread notes, quince, dried figs on the nose. Apple, grapefruit and again these yeasty and mineral notes on the palate with a long finish. Unique.

Ponte das Canas 2011 – Red

Alicante Bouschet - Touriga National - Touriga Franca – Syrah

Beautiful nose of freshness (eucalyptus and mint) and purity of fruits (red and black currant, black cherry). Smooth palate with fine grained tannins, black fruits mixed with fresh spices and a long finish. Perfectly well made, straight to the point, pure and refined. A new world wine made in the old world.

Mouchão 2009 – Red

Alicante Bouschet – Trincadera / 100 years old vines

Intense in all the sense of the word. Raspberry, sweet cherry, almost candylike, or if you prefer ‘marinated in alcohol’ like. Sweet spices as well (liquorice) and yet a touch of freshness. Definitely dry, though, with a full body, an intensity of black fruits and a very long finish. It reminded me of a dry Ruby port.

Mouchão 2003 – Red

Alicante Bouschet – Trincadera / 100 years old vines

The same but with age. The sweet notes are even stronger here: candied fruits, sweet spice (vanilla, cinnamon, chocolate), perfume of violet mixed with dried herbs. On the palate, the festival continues with sweet red fruits and port notes and an overlying freshness that keeps the wine vibrant and elegant with a very long finish.

Herdade do Mouchão 2008 – Red

Alicante Bouschet

The flagship wine of the estate, only done in the best vintages and only 10000 bottles produced because they use Brazilian wood and they only have two barrels of it (!). Two years ageing in barrels + two years minimum ageing in bottle before release.

Extraordinary complex nose of cherry combined with freshness (eucalyptus), spice (black pepper, liquorice and chocolate) and dried herbs. A surprising note of Parma ham adds dimension. Dry, smooth, high acidity and smooth tannins: all the elements for a long ageing are here, combined with black cherry, dark chocolate, figs and a freshness that lingers on the palate for a very very very long time. Ab-so-lu-te-ly gorgeous.

I am very happy that Portugal was the guest of honour this year at the Hong Kong Wine Fair. I must say that Portuguese wines keep surprising me by their intensity and their quality. Over the past thirty years, Portugal has come a long way with its wines… So much so that I am starting to think that I could retire there one day and be a very happy lady drinking wine and port as the sun sets on the rolling hills of the Alentejo.