The best of times, the worst of times…

Many recognize the above instantly as perhaps the most frequent citation from writings of Charles Dickens. Probably less remember the great man of letters then followed to say “it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…it was the winter of despair, it was the spring of hope…” Let wisdom and on top of that, conscience, be the guides as we are still hopeful of a better future for Hong Kong.

You may note that we have recently re-designed our website, with most changes made to the wine list/on-line shopping layout. The changes are in response to some of your comments which we always value a great deal. Let us know whether you find the new format to be more user friendly.

As the festive season is fast approaching, we made some suggestions on Champagnes last time. More new items have come recently and we want to highlight a few of them:

2016 Hartford Court Seascape Chardonnay (WA98) at $650/bottle – Only 327 cases produced, this medium bodied Sonoma white gives exuberant notes of green mango, mandarin peel and grapefruit, with an intense and yet refreshing palate, ending with a very long finish.

2008 Clos de Sarpe (RP95) at $450/bottle – Only 8,000 bottles were made by this St-Emilion producer for the vintage. The wine is opulent, concentrated but with civilized tannins that will drink well for another 25 years.

2008 L’Eglise-Clinet (RP95) at $1,080/bottle – A massive and compelling wine with loads of black fruit and a multi-layered finish. Good Pomerol names are never cheap but this one in our opinion gives excellent values.

2009 Gruaud Larose (RP95) at $700/bottle – Could be the best vintage in the last 25 years for this producer, a masculine wine with remarkable finesse resembling more a Pauillac than a St-Julien.

2010 Grand-Puy-Lacoste (RP95) at $680/bottle – An absolutely magnificent wine from this popular Pauillac estate, it is voluptuously full bodied, giving a layered and textured mouthfeel.

And for those who want to send a really great gift, what’s better than a 6-bottle OWC of the 2015 Dominus Proprietary Red (WA100 at $13,000)? Out of the great Napa winery owned by the legendary Petrus, this wine leaps from the glass with notes of wild blueberries, crushed blackberries, black currants and touches of herbs, iron ore and pencil lead. Medium to full bodied, the palate has incredible energy and vivacity from a firm but lively backbone, finishing with wonderful length and depth.

On top of these, we have re-stocked the very popular 2010 St. Pierre (St-Emilion rated RP97 at $620), the 2012 Smith Haut-Lafitte (Pessac-Leognan rated RP95 at the now better price of $600) and the 2007 Tua Rita Giusto di Notri (from Tuscany, rated WA95 at the now better price of $500).

Please feel free to click www.vinopolis.com.hk to see our full wine list. You can make purchases through this online platform, send us an e-mail or even by WhatsApp to 9195-7383. Thank you for reading and wishing you all the best going forward.