Uncorked: Kevin Davy

Kevin Davy, founder of the private sommelier service in HK, Sommelier at Home speaks to dbHK about his love of natural wines and being a lucky Dragon from a good vintage.

What vintage are you ?

In the Chinese calendar, I’m a lucky Dragon and I was born in the 1989 vintage and am still pretty lucky because it remains a tremendous vintage in so many regions in the world and it is easy to find great bottles that taste amazing today – especially in large formats!

What bottle sparked your love of wine?

A Crozes-Hermitage tasting like an Hermitage. It was a 2007 Domaine Combier Clos des Grives rouge, I had it while I was in the Rhône Valley.

What would you be as a wine ?

An Hermitage definitely with extremely controlled power, lovely finesse and balance and with incomparable ageing potential!

Where are you happiest?

In the nature. I need silence and big spaces to really relax.

What’s your greatest vice?

I’m never satisfied. It is always too slow, not good enough.

Best advice you ever had? 

Learn by yourself. My mother was my teacher when at primary school, she then couldn’t help me with my homework or exam to be fair with the other kids so she taught me how to learn by myself. It’s the best advice ever that I keep applying everyday.

Most overused word?

Umami!

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

2013 Magma by Frank Cornelissen in Etna, Sicily – one of the best natural wines in the world already. And a magnum of 2010 Clos des Grives 2010 from Combier – my first love!

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

The best thing is definitely the human relationships, at any level. The worst is probably the technical side of it. You don’t learn wine in a book, and hearing that a Romanée-Conti is great because ‘there is a lovely aromas of red fruits” is a shame. It’s about emotion and the wine business is losing it.

What’s on your wine bucket list?

1989 Romanée-Conti,  2004 Domaine Tempier la Tourtine, 1999 Maison Chapoutier Le Pavillon and 2010 Nicolas Joly Coulée de Serrant.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Bernard Loiseau, for his talent, determination and incredible energy. Robert Parker for a long and proper discussion about wine without the Wine Advocate filter. And all my friends and family because only they can make it a dream dinner party.

Personal satisfaction?

95+ en primeur. It’s just starting.

Which wine would you like served at your funeral ?

Magma – the 2069 vintage?!