I was most honoured and genuinely delighted that the Chairman of Goedhuis & Co Johnny Goedhuis decided to visit the Goedhuis Hong Kong Office at the beginning of February, just prior to China’s biggest holiday, Chinese New Year. It was his first visit since I established the HK office in 2008 and he was travelling with his much better looking and more amusing other half, the lovely Laura Goedhuis (doyenne of the remarkable Private Reserves Ltd).
From the moment he arrived he looked like he needed a drink.
So we cracked a bottle of 2006 Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets from Jean Noel Gagnard to take the edge off the long flight and then headed to the China Club for what is still one of HKs best Chinese dinners, washed down with an oaky but balanced Gevrey Chambertin Au Velle Denis Mortet 2002 and a surprisingly open and soft Chambolle Musigny Villages Roumier 2005.
The following night we hosted a dinner at the Upper House in one of their private rooms for few ex pat customers. The excellent and approachable 2000 Dom Perignon kicked off the evening and then a 5 course dinner was navigated vinously with Marc Colin’s Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Champ Gain 2006 (drinking well with a nice mineral edge), Nuits St Georges 1er Cru Clos des Forets St Georges Domaine Arlot 2001 in magnum (more proof if it was needed of what a terrific vintage 2001 is in the Cotes de Nuits) and finally Ch Cos d’Estournel 1996 (which at just over 13 years of age is drinking brilliantly, but no huge rush for the corkscrew if you have this in your cellar as plenty of life ahead).
For the Chaiman’s last night we hosted a dinner at Classified in Hollywood Road for a group of interested and knowledgeable Chinese collectors who provided the bottles from their own cellars and enjoy their Burgundy. I had dined with this group a few times and they are always very generous in the bottles that they provide. No change there this evening, it was quite a line up and went as follows:
Jean Noel Gagnard Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets – 2007, 2006, 2004, 2003 (this I arranged as I had shipped some mixed cases direct from the Domaine – all showed well, 2004 was the best but the 2003 was a great surprise, still fresh and mineral with good acidity which is quite rare from that very hot vintage).
Then the reds as follows in this order:
A. Rousseau Chambertin Close de Beze 1997
S. Cathiard VR Malconsorts 1998
Meo Camuzet VR Brulees 2000
S. Cathiard VR Malconsorts 2000
Meo Camuzet Cros Parantoux 2000
H Jayer Cros Parantoux 2001
Serafin Charmes Chambertin 2001
Vougeraie Bonnes Mares 1999
Meo Camuzet Clos de Vougeot 1999
J Drouhin Musigny 1999
Ponsot Clos de la Roche 1999
Bass Philips Premium Pinot 1998
Ch Rieussec 1976
Not a bad bottle in the whole line up, although the Jayer 2001 which I provided was a bit disappointing, but the bottle had a few airmiles on it (which is why I decided to drink, rather than sell, it).
If I had to pick a wine of the night it would be Meo’s 2000 Brulees, which was simply fantastic, and just edged the Meo 2000 Cros Parantoux (suprisingly) on the night. The Ponsot Clos de la Roche 1999 (which came out with Johnny in the BA hold) also showed well but is still a teenager, albeit with a big future. Both Cathiard wines also showed very well.
Fortunately the Chairman was on a flight to Phuket the following morning for a detox, or so he said………