Uncorked: Julien Peros

A native of the southern Rhône Valley, Julien Peros, cut his teeth as sales manager at Kedington Wines in Hong Kong. Since 2013, he has worked as director of Rhône Wines Ltd, then head sommelier at Maximal Concepts before taking on the challenge to oversee the wine lists at the Conrad Hotel in Hong Kong as its head sommelier. Peros recently chatted with dbHK about a 1989 Hermitage from Jean-Louis Chave, and the best and worst parts of working in Hong Kong’s wine industry.

What vintage are you? 

1986, a great vintage in famous areas like Bordeaux and Champagne but average in my home region – the southern Rhône.

What bottle sparked your love of wine?

A bottle of 1989 Hermitage from Jean-Louis Chave. This wine made me realise that there were a lot of good wines out there but few great wines. It had everything to me and I wish I could taste it again every day!

What would you be as a wine?

An approachable yet serious wine. Why not a red wine made from old vine Cinsault?

Where are you happiest?

Anywhere with my family and friends.

What’s your greatest vice?

Chocolates from Patrick Roger.

Best advice you ever got?

If you can move mountains, you can move molehills.

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

The closest to hand!

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

Best thing in Hong Kong is that you get to meet a lot of winemakers from all around the world and you get exposed to a wide range of wines from different origins. This is a dynamic market with a lot of events going on 12 months a year.

One bad thing is I am surprised that in 2017 wine is still used as a tool to show off, to exclude people and to show social status. Another is the scientific approach when it comes to tasting especially from us, sommeliers.

What’s on your wine bucket list?

Old Garnacha from Los Gredos, experimented with still wines made with Xarello in Penedes, Red Roussillon too. I also would love to visit South African vineyards especially in Swartland.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

A round table with Thomas Jefferson, Serge Gainsbourg, Eric Cantona, Michelle Obama, Georges Truc, my grandfather and Sofia Coppola. I believe we can have fun…

Personal satisfaction (Parker points – out of 100)

Hmm, no thanks! Let the man enjoy his retirement.

Which wine would you like served at your funeral? 

Krug Clos du Mesnil 1986.