A Bordeaux Dream Weekend: Inside Our Private Grand Cru Wine Tasting for the City's Elite

An August evening in Kowloon brought together Hong Kong's most passionate wine collectors and enthusiasts for a truly memorable journey through Bordeaux's aristocratic terroirs—hosted at the elegant FGA Prestige Lounge. Amid high ceilings and the warm glow of curated art, guests immersed themselves in a world where craftsmanship, provenance, and a sense of place converged with conviviality and luxury.

Setting the Scene: FGA Prestige Lounge

Stepping into the FGA Prestige Lounge for this exclusive tasting felt like entering a private club conceived for the refined pleasures of epicurean living. Floral installations and understated crystalware framed the experience, while a seasoned in-house sommelier, Mr. Simon Lee, orchestrated the evening's progression with precision and grace. The lounge's atmospheric modernity offered the ideal canvas against which each wine could reveal its full character.

Château Mouton Rothschild 2004

The evening's crown jewel was the Château Mouton Rothschild 2004, marking Philippe Dhalluin's inaugural release as head winemaker. The wine displayed characteristic elegance with layers of cedarwood, Christmas fruitcake, and blackcurrants—a testament to the estate's unwavering commitment to excellence.

Our Master Sommelier guided guests through the selections with remarkable insight. "The 2004 Mouton represents a perfect marriage of tradition and innovation," Lee explained as he decanted the Bordeaux. "It's drinking beautifully now, showing refined tannins and exceptional purity that make it compelling for our Hong Kong collectors."

The Grand Vin de Château Latour commanded equal attention, its deep garnet hue reflecting the chandelier lights. This iconic Left Bank expression demonstrated why Latour remains the most structured and age-worthy of the First Growths, with its signature graphite minerality and remarkable balance of power and finesse.

Adding Burgundian elegance was the Clos Vougeot Grand Cru 2022 from Louis Latour. The historic 52-hectare walled vineyard, originally cultivated by Cistercian monks, produced exceptional elegance in the celebrated 2022 vintage. Its complex aromatics of blackcurrant buds and subtle toasted notes gave way to layers of cherry, forest floor, and liquorice.

The transatlantic finale came courtesy of Opus One 2016, the celebrated Napa Valley collaboration between Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Robert Mondavi. This vintage offered sumptuous aromas of fresh red and blue fruit, baking spices, and spring florals that captivated the room.

Throughout the evening, guests—private bankers, family office principals, and luxury lifestyle entrepreneurs—engaged in discussions about vintage variations and investment potential. Sommelier Lee's expertise particularly shone during comparative tastings, analysing the 2016 Opus One's varietal breakdown and how New World winemaking has evolved to rival Old World inspirations.