Festive Dream Picks

The year-end festive is always the time to enjoy; reward ourselves for the year, regardless of a good or not-so-good year. This is also the time when we ride on the season of giving and feel a little more generous to spend on things we adore.

This festive, we asked our team for their Christmas dream wine picks, and we hope our selection provides you with some inspirations on wines to splurge a little on that wine you have been dreaming and eyeing on for yourself and your loved ones!

 

Linda Chan (Assistant General Manager): Romancing through wine

Aldo Conterno Barolo Bussia Riserva Granbussia 2009

Barolo Granbussia Riserva is Aldo Conterno’s flagship Barolo that vies with his late brother's Barolo Monfortino Riserva - arguably known as one of the Italy's most significant Barolo. It’s a wine that is produced in extraordinary vintages only and probably released not more than 19 times between 1971 to 2009. Beyond the 5 years aging guideline, Aldo aged his wine 9 years in the cellar before releasing to the market! I’m yearning to experience the same blown away effect which Monica Larner expressed.

Maltroye Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru La Romanee 2018 *On Allocation*

I always find the name La Romanee synonymous with 'sweet romance'. This is a wine that most connoisseurs would love to have on their table - especially as it's tightly allocated. At Chassagne, Maltroye’s plot sits in the company of Corton-Charlemagne and Meursault Perrières and is one of the best 1er cru plot that is almost entirely devoid of topsoil. A beautiful Chardonnay displaying mineral elegance, complexity and a lot of depth. Time to experience this 'mini Monty’ as some would name it.

 

Manda Oei (Export Sales Director): No dream too big!

DRC Romanee-Conti Grand Cru 2015 *On Allocation*

I am so fascinated by this grand marque in the wine world. Domaine de la Romanee-Conti (DRC) is Burgundy's most famous estate, producing all grand cru wines from 25 hectares of vines. The wines are made in extremely limited quantities and generate some of the highest prices on the market. DRC produces the grands crus Romanee-Conti, La Tache, Richebourg, Romanee-Saint-Vivant, Grands Echezeaux, Echezeaux, and Montrachet, of which both Romanee Conti and La Tache are monopoles. These wines reflect to perfection the aroma and tastes of the ripe fruit of old vines and the character of terroir.

Harlan Estate 2012

I love how wine can express itself around the world. The Harlan Estates Proprietary Red Wine is a legendary Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend made in the style of Left Bank Bordeaux, but expressing the singular terroir of California’s Oakville AVA. Each parcel at Harlan Estate is vinified separately, depending on the specifications of terroir, vintage and varietal. Each year, Harlan Estate releases only 1,200 to 2,000 cases of its flagship wine - after you taste it, you'll be hooked too.

 

Pauline Sim (Sales Manager): Expanding my cellar

Leflaive Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Pucelles 2003

I love discovering the underdogs, and 2003 was seen as a challenging year for Burgundy whites. However, the Leflaive has always maintained its consistent quality and performed well. Once you try this, you'll see - with its high fruit concentration, it's ready to drink now. Yet, there is no doubt that it can be kept for the next celebration.

Faiveley Chambertin Clos de Bèze 2013

Did you know, among the 8 producers of Clos de Bèze, Domaine Faiveley has maintained its great value at high quality since the 1930s? Clos de Bèze is my dream appellation, and vintage 2013 has good freshness, concentration, structure and a remarkably well-balanced palate. I'm looking to keep some of this and crack it open someday!

Iris Tsai (Sales Executive, Private Sales): Wines worth the wait

Louis Roederer Cristal Rose 1995 Vinotheque Giftbox *On Allocation*

As a big fan of Champagne, I was intrigued to discover the existence of the Cristal Vinothèque. It is aged on lees for around 10 years before disgorgement, then stored on cork for a further 10 years. That means 20 years of slumbering in Roederer’s cellars for achieving the perfect harmony. It sounds simply beautiful.

Christophe Perrot-Minot Nuits St Georges Ultra 1er Cru La Richemone 2018

When I found out that this Ultra Cuvée parcel was planted in 1902, it ignited my imagination as these vines are truly ancient and have witnessed so much history. While this vintage is young now, it is already expressing its terroir with stylish and powerful fruit and spices, with a wise elegance from the mineral soils - I want to taste it now and again in 20 years!

Lisha Zhang (Sales Executive, Private Sales): A chance for wines from the past

Ex-Domaine Rene Engel Grand Echezeaux 2000

Domaine Rene Engel, the legendary winery of Vosne-Romanée, is on my bucket list. It is regretful that this winery became a fallen “Angel” and vanished when owner Philippe Engel passed on at the age of 49 in 2005. The Grands-Echézeaux, with only 0.5 ha, was mostly planted in 1930 by Rene himself (teacher of Henri jayer and Philippe's grandfather). The 2000 is more tight-knit and firm at the core, with amazing depth and potential longevity. Burgundy lovers, you must taste a bottle of Rene Engel in your lifetime!

Ex-Domaine Bouchard La Romanee GC 1998

La Romanée, the rarest Grand Cru of them all, is only 0.84 ha in size. We are privileged to be able to get direct from Domaine Bouchard, their La Romanee GC 1998, kept “sur pile” in the historic cellars of Bouchard Père & Fils. You can be confident of this bottle that was tasted and recorked in 2020 with new wax capsules and specially designed new labels. Perfect condition!

We sure hope that you found something from our dream picks, but if not, there are still plentiful of wines available for your last-minute Christmas shopping! Browse more fine wines and weekly offers here.