The week in pictures: Hong Kong

Peter Gago, the chief winemaker of Penfolds, unveiled the ultra premium ‘g3’, a blend of three Grange vintages – 2008, 2012 and 2014 in Hong Kong. Retailing for a stunning AU$3,000 a bottle, only 1,200 bottles were made for the first vintage.

Each bottle is individually numbered, and the bottle shown here has a bottle number of 1,194. Gago noted that the wine is not going to be released each year but the next release, the winery could use wines much older for the blend.

Hong Kong actor Simon Yam and supermodel Lynn Xiong made an appearance atThe Penfolds Collection 2017 led by its flagship Grange 2013 at Mandarin Oriental.

Penfolds chief winemaker Peter Gago made a toast to the global launch of The Penfolds Collection 2017, with over 400 guests in attendance at the gala event.

From left to right: Christopher Beros, Asia director of California Wine Institute, Kelli White, author of the book Napa Valley, Then & Now, Geoff Kruth MS, and Debra Meiburg MW at California Wines Vintner’s Tour 2017 in Hong Kong. Kruth and White earlier also hosted a masterclass highlighting California’s wine history with eight historic wines including The Sheriff of Buena Vista 2015, Red Rock Wine Co. Evangelho Vineyard Heritage Red Blend 2016, Louis M. Martini Monte Rosso Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Hanzell Vineyards Chardonnay 2014, Grgish Hills Estate Chardonnay 2013, Domaine de la Côte Pinot Noir 2014, PAX Sonoma Hillsides Syrah 2013, Massican Annia White Blend 2016.

During masterclass, Geoff Kruth addressed the devastating wildfires in California. He said damages to the 2017 vintage are limited as most of the grapes had been harvested before the fire, but the more lasting and significant damage, according to him, is on the local tourism in California’s wine community.

Importers and wine merchants at the walk-around California wine tasting, featuring more than 375 wines presented by representatives of over 40 wineries at Grand Hyatt Hotel in Hong Kong.

The Bourgogne Wine Board organised a ‘Chablis Premier Cru Seminar 2017’ hosted by Ivy Ng, publisher of the drinks business Hong Kong and an official Bourgogne wines ambassador, at Harbour Grand Hotel, where a few dozen trade professionals were guided through a tasting of seven Climats from Chablis Premier Cru sites.

A selection of seven wines were showcased at the ‘Chablis Premier Cru Seminar 2017’  including Domaine des Malandes Côte de Léchet 2015, Domaine des Malandes Montmains 2015, Jean-Marc Brocard Vau de Vey 2014, Domaine Sebastien Dampt Beaugnons 2014, La Chablisienne Vaulorent 2014, William Fevre Fourchaume Domaine 2014, Domaine Alain Geoffroy Beauroy 2012. Out of the seven wines that featured in the seminar, the top favourite wine was the 2012 Domaine Beauroy Alain Geoffroy, followed by 2014 La Chablisienne Vaulorent. And the participants suggested pairing Chablis 1er Cru wines with lobster thermidor, a simple pasta with creamy sauce, Cantonese-style crab meat stuffed in its own shell, fried rice with truffle, and oysters.

Jackson Family Wines unveiled its latest 2014 vintage of Vérité and Cardinale in Hong Kong at a star-studded masterclass attended by James Tookey, vice president of Jackson Family Wines for Asia, Europe and Middle East; Dimitri Mesnard MS, international brand ambassador at Jackson Family Wines; Darius Allyn MS; Debra Meiburg MW and Tan Ying Hsien MW.

Bastien Mariani, Bollinger’s export area manager, was in Hong Kong to launch the Champagne house’s latest Bollinger Rosé 2006 with its local importer Jebsen Fine Wines, which drew about 60 media and trade guests to taste the limited edition with a specially latticed designed packaging.

Michael Fridjhon, one of South Africa’s most highly regarded international wine judges, along with Wines of South Africa, hosted a wine lunch to showcase some of the premium wines from the country. South African wine is slowly gaining in popularity in Hong Kong and the on-trade is increasingly recognising the good value of the country’s wine offering.

Michel Négrier, Export Director of Domaines Barons de Rothschild (DBR), and Jonathan Mather, general manager of ASC Hong Kong & Macau, with DBR’s Chilean wine ‘Las Huertas’, and its more premium wine range called ‘Le Dix’.