Paper cuttings…

In the 2004 cult movie “Closer” (starring Jude Law, Clive Owen, Julie Roberts and Natalie Portman), the media person Dan Woolf (played by Jude Law) who aspired to be a writer, reflected the hard reality and with the lack of opportunity, ended up writing obituaries, which he referred to as the “Siberia of journalism”. Self-depreciating? Probably, but that does not make reading obituaries any less interesting.

Yours truly was a long-time follower of the obituary column of the Economist and the Financial Times. Each piece was typically a 5-minute read of some 600-800 words, giving a concise account of the person’s life and achievements. There were so many times one came to know people who were not within one’s domain of knowledge. Trying to clear my old desk the other day, I saw a whole stack of paper cuttings and went through a few, still with tremendous interest, one such was the obituary of the enigmatic Patrick Heiniger, CEO of Rolex during much of the 1990’s and 2000’s and spearheading the brand’s rapid growth but insisted that the stars of Rolex were its timepieces, not its management. Another example was on Carl Elsener who saw the opportunity and added many features to the Swiss knife invented by his grandfather, eventually turning Victorinox into a SF 500M company.

And there is also this cutting about the story of John Maynard Keynes convincing the British Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1918 to provide GBP 20,000 (amounts to millions in today’s value) to him to travel to Paris to bid for some paintings of Degas in what appeared to be a distressed sale when the German shells were raining down on the City of Light.  The lesson there? The old investors’ maxim: Be greedy when others are fearful.”

Enough to entice you to keep record of certain things you read? May be not. Who has the patience to read these days. It is all about images and creating soundbites!!!

Anyway, let go to wine and here are some of our recent additions:   

2009 Pol Roger Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill (WA96 at HK$1,500/bottle) – Talking about the legacy of historic figures, Pol Roger was Churchill’s favourite house with this cuvee first created in 1975 in a style that would be preferred by the great statesman whom some claim to have consumed 50,000 champagnes in his lifetime. The 2009 vintage offers richness and complexity, with mingling aromas of fresh baked bread, peach, pear and honeycomb, ending with a long, saline finish.

2022 Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay (JS95 at HK$220/bottle) – A good value proposition from this excellent New Zealand winery, it is nutty and svelte, with white peach, pastry, apricot kernel, brine and even a hint of malt biscuit through the finish. The wine has breadth and girth to it. Not the most complex, but all things being equal, it's an exciting Chardonnay.

2022 El Enemigo Chardonnay (JS96 at HK$150/bottle) – This white from Argentina is way above the expectations for its price point. Elegant and subtle, it is seamless and integrated, with moderate alcohol and great freshness, finishing dry and very tasty.

2021 Rafael Palacios As Sortes (WA96 at HK$450/bottle) – From the NW of Spain out of the indigenous grape varietal Godello, this super elegant white has a sense of harmony and subtleness that is moving. There is great purity, precision, symmetry and a marked granite sensation. It is very tasty, long, fine-grained and textured.

2020 Domaine Albert Grivault Meursault Perrieres 1er Cru (VN94 at HK$1,050/bottle) – This Burgundy white has a perfumed floral bouquet with white fruit, popcorn, quince and orange blossom. The palate is nicely balanced, with a touch of patisserie on the entry and then flavour of vanilla and peach melba. Drinkable now, it has good depth and should continue to age well in the bottle.

2009 Laforge (RP96 at HK$550/bottle) – We are re-stocking this Bordeaux red which is the estate’s finest vintage to date. Inky blue/purple, with notes of licorice, camphor, black truffle, blackberry and blueberry, this full-bodied wine has massive concentration yet at the same time displays elegance and harmony. The equilibrium and 60+-second length make for a huge, massive, but incredibly well-balanced wine. Only 2,000 cases produced.  

2018 Pavie Decesse (WA97 at HK$1,000/bottle) – There have been continuous rumours about this St-Emilion estate being absorbed into its sibling Pavie. Is it then an idea to get some of its wines while you still can? The 2018 vintage is a great wine in any event, bounding out of the glass with exuberant notes of stewed black and red cherries, plum pudding and blackberry preserves, leading to an undercurrent of Indian spices, cardamom, camphor and a waft of woodsmoke. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is completely coated with black fruit preserves and exotic spices, supported by a firm, velvety texture and bags of freshness, finishing on a lingering menthol note. It is scrumptious right now, but surely will develop to the next level and last for over 25 years.     

2017 Le Macchiole Paleo (WA97 at HK$650/bottle) – From Tuscany of Italy, it is out of mostly the Cabernet Franc grape varietal. The nose reveals black fruits, charred meat, spice and tobacco. There is quite a bit of oak, but it works beautifully against the natural intensity and rich concentration of the hot vintage. More unexpected are those pretty tones of lilac, blue flower and aniseed that add to the detailed rendering and complexity of the bouquet. This wine would easily win your heart. 

2018 Penfolds St. Henri Shiraz (WA97 at HK$430/bottle) – There is a saying: If you like the brand, drink Grange; if you like wine, drink St. Henri. From probably the most famous producer of Australia, this red is remarkably fine and silky in texture yet simultaneously dense and concentrated. It showcases the amazing fruit of boysenberry, mulberry and mocha shadings all swirl together effortlessly. Bravo!!!

Thank you for reading and we wish you an enjoyable festive season ahead. Please feel free to go to our website www.vinopolis.com.hk to browse the full wine list. Purchases can be made through the website or by sending us an e-mail or simply WhatsApp 9195-7383.