HK wine merchant Christmas party picks

We in the trade are blessed with vinous joy at virtually every turn. But for those who have everything… what will Hong Kong’s wine merchants be drinking at their staff party this year?

Altaya Wines

Burge Family G3 2009

Senior marketing manager, Florence Luk recommends Barossa beauty, Burge Family G3 2009.

“Boutique producer Rick Burge continues to produce exemplary wines from his dry grown old vines in the Barossa Valley.

“A blend of Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvedre, this shows the typical style of this estate. There is a rich, lush generosity of fruit with the oak treatment adding an additional dimension. A great accompaniment to the turkey, a real crowd pleaser and only produced in the best vintages.

We love it so much, we’re recommending it to our private clients too.”

RSP: HK$330

Angliss

Champagne Paul Goerg Absolu Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut NV

General manager, Floris de Winter says that every staff party needs a bottle of Champagne and this year calls for grower Champagne producer, Paul Goerg from Vertus.

“This is the purest expression of Cotes des Blancs Chardonnay. Vibrant, elegant and mouthwatering, this is a great start to the dinner.

“With a 2006 reserve wine base, Paul Goerg really made an effort to create a beautiful wine without makeup, aged to perfection and all about purity and minerality.

“Warning: may stimulate the release of dopamine and serotonins in the pre-frontal cortex: solid ingredients for an awesome Christmas party!”

RSP: HK$380

Armit Wines Asia

Giacomo Fenocchio Barolo Bussia 2011

Richard Sutton, managing director will be tucking into some Barolo Bussia 2011 from Giacomo Fenocchio.

“I love the nutty, chocolatey nose and warmth of the soft tannins on the palate. It is a perfect pairing with rich game like venison or pheasant, or even goose, as well as a brilliant accompaniment to a winter beef casserole.

“Fennochio’s Baroli are more accessible than many aged around five years, and represent superb quality for the price.”

RSP: HK$348

Berry Bros & Rudd

Berry Bros & Rudd Champagne grand cru NV

Phebe Wong, assistant marketing manager recommends Berry’s own brand of Champagne from the grand cru village of Mailly.

“Champagne is for any celebration and we’ll be drinking our very own Champagne because we simply adore it!

“Sourced from the prestigious grand cru village of Mailly, located at the heart of the Montagne de Reims, and benefitting from over three years’ ageing, our non-vintage United Kingdom Cuvée is a classic blend of 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay.

All the hallmarks of grand cru are here, with brioche and flowers on the nose and an elegant palate which marries notes of lemon grass, gingerbread and honeysuckle.”

Christmas offer: HK$228

Corney & Barrow

Linda Tan, marketing manager says that the Corney & Barrow team this year will tuck into the silky, smooth Soldera 2008.

“Soldera 2008 Toscana IGT is an extraordinary and much desired Italian wine – exacerbated by its scarcity around the world where older vintages are almost impossible to find.

Soft and silky on the palate, the 2008 presents an exquisite range of Pinot-inflected fruit backed up by super-silky, impeccably polished tannins. Gentle hints of spice linger on the sensual, ravishing finish. This is an extraordinary wine from Gianfranco Soldera.”

RSP: HK$3,150

Fine Vintage

Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2006

Howard Palmes, general manager recommends the beautiful Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2006.

“Every year Clovis Taittinger sends me six bottles of Comtes as a Christmas gift. I divide them up, one to celebrate, two for the sales team and three for enjoying and drinking in the festive season. It’s one of the lovely things about working with the Taittinger family!”

RSP: HK$1,235

Fine Wine Experience

Charles Ellner Seduction Brut Millesime 2000 (3000cl)

Linden Wilkie of Fine Wine Experience has lavishly plumped for a jeroboam of Charles Ellner Seduction 2000 to see in the festive season.

“So we will begin our staff Christmas dinner with a jeroboam of properly aged vintage Champagne, with an entirely appropriately festive label.”

RSP: HK$2,800

Jebsen Fine Wines

Frescobaldi Leonia Pomino Brut 2013

Catherine Yuen of Jebsen Beverage has chosen traditional method Frescobaldi’s Leonia Pomino Brut which is named after Leonardo Frescobaldi’s great-great grandmother.

“Leonia Brut comes as a tribute to daring women who have the will to change the world who surround them. Leonia is a statement that even on the non traditional terroirs you can produce magic in a bottle. Leonia is a state of mind, not just a wine, which encompasses the pivotal position of women as a center of the family, the dea ex machina of unity and bond in families. Leonia is grace, Leonia is elegance, Leonia is tingling of bubbles which will make us feel beautiful.”

RSP: HK$299

Kerry Wine

Château Seguin 2008 (150cl)

Yuki Lo, marketing manager sensibly chose Chateau Seguin from Pessac Leognan in the party-pleasing magnum format.

“This is an exuberant style of Bordeaux that will match perfectly with decadent Christmas fare.

As Christmas is about giving and sharing, only a magnum will do!”

Christmas offer: HK$438

Montrose Fine Wines

Champagne Deutz Brut Classic

Marie-Paule Herman, sales manager says the staff will tuck into Champagne Deutz this Christmas.

“It’s an elegant style by a great brand and brings sparkle to any festive party.”

Christmas offer: HK$324

Sotheby’s 

Sotheby’s Champagne grand cru NV

Victor Rabot, wine retail manager says the staff will be drinking Sotheby’s own brand of Champagne, a grand cru from Chouilly.

“The Sotheby’s Champagne is NV, made from 100% Chardonnay and coming from 21 hectares of grand cru vineyards in Chouilly. It is light, fresh, elegant, but serious.

“It is very versatile and suitable for any occasion especially Christmas – the sort of Champagne that you can drink all day and all night! The quality is first rate and it offers excellent value for money – each time we taste it, which has been very frequently, we are surprised how terrific it is.”

RSP: HK$299

Watson’s Wines

Gosset Celebris Champagne 2002

Jeremy Stockman, general manager recommends gorgeous Celebris, the jewel in Gosset’s crown made up of 52% Chardonnay, 48% Pinot Noir and with fewer than 21,000 bottles made.

“Pure, straw-green and very youthful for a 14 year old, the wine opens to give aromas of toasted bread and spiced apple. Finely balanced flavours on the palate with tension and energy helped by no malolactic fermentation, finishing with harmony and great elegance.”

RSP: HK$1,280