Uncorked: Nicolas Deneux

Nicolas Deneux, sommelier for On Dining Kitchen Hong Kong, speaks to db about forging new trends and his favourite bottle of 1978 Vosne-Romanée.

Nicolas Deneux (far right) on hanging around bars in Hong Kong

What vintage are you?

Definitively not the best vintage but I have had good surprises with wines from Burgundy, USA and Spain.

What bottle sparked your love of wine?

None in particular. It was more about tasting many different wines, and from the tasting I then started to compare and learn about the different wines. This is what interested me the most at first and still does today.

What would you be as a wine?

A single vineyard Grower Champagne. Either a Blanc de Noirs from ‘La Montagne de Reims’ or a Blanc de Blancs from ‘La Côte des Blancs’ (depending on my mood).

Where are you happiest?

Driving around vineyards with my family or friends (when I have the chance to bring them along).

What’s your greatest vice?

I will let people around me judge that!

Best advice you ever got?

“Do not follow a trend, create one.”

Most overused word?

In the wine world, people overuse terms that are too technical for others to just enjoy wine in the most simple way.

Your cellar’s underwater, which bottle would you dive in and save?

I would dive in and save the nearest ones in order not to waste time trying to save just one bottle. However, if I could only pick one bottle to save, it would be Vosne-Romanée Aux Cros Parentoux Henri Jayer 1978.

What’s the best and worst thing about the wine business?

The best thing is that it is constantly evolving, therefore we never stop learning about it. The worst thing is how people use and talk about wine as a social elevator rather than a natural product from the earth.

What’s on your wine bucket list?

Anything that I haven’t tasted yet.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

My family along with my closest friends.

Personal satisfaction (Parker points – out of 100)

I have never worked or tasted with points in my head. To me it is more about feelings and a moment.

Which wine would you like served at your funeral?

A good Champagne to celebrate life.