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ASIA TOUR
- November 2005 |  | | The Union des Grands Crus members are just coming back from Asia : Japan, Korea and China have been visited. The tour was organized to introduce the 2002 vintage to these markets. 65 Bordeaux Châteaux owners attended, representing the top Bordeaux appellations, including Pomerol and Saint-Emilion wines. The visit started with a tasting in Tokyo, at the Grand Hyatt. More than 600 professionnals attended the tasting and discovered the 2002 vintage, a difficult one due to a rainy 2002 August, but quite a decent wine in fact, because of a small yield which allowed to reach a good maturity. A wine finally showing well. A Gala dinner for the amateurs also took place, led by Mr. Tasaky, a former First Sommelier of the World. Older vintages ranging from 90 up to 95 were poured and a delicious food was served. A very successful evening indeed. In Korea, some UGC members attended upon arrival from Tokyo a special event, organized by Diva ( a Bordeaux wine merchant) and Mr.Hi Sang Lee, chairman of Narafood ( the greatest Korean flour and wine supplier) at the newly built Wine Museum of Seoul, « Podo Plazza » ("Podo" meaning wine, in Korean). The museum is an exclusive Nara Food superb creation. It will be completed in 2006 and managed by Mr. Hyuck Kim. This evening party allowed us to taste, in a very friendly ambiance, a delicious and original Korean cuisine. The next day, the 2002 tasting took place at the Millenium Seoul Hilton, followed by a Gala dinner set up by Bestwine, an import wine company which also rules a fashionable wine bar, in Seoul : Casa del Vino. In China, the tour started with a stopover in Beijing where the UGC members were warmly welcome by Mr.Wang Zhongyu, a former Vice President of China, at the CPPC building (Chinese People Political Committee). The following day was devoted to the tasting, attended by 250 journalists and professionnals. The last stopover was made in Shanghaï. A new Commanderie of Bordeaux was then created. Mr. Michel-Pierre Massonie, Grand Maître, Mr. Vincent Cheung, Maître of the Bordeaux Commanderie in Hong Kong and for all China inducted Mr. Andrew Bigbee as the new Maître, together with a group of VIP, at the Pudong Shangri-la Hotel. The dinner which followed the ceremony was also a great one, especially thanks to the Smith Haut Lafitte white, 1999 and to the Climens 1998. The following day, almost 400 persons attended the 2002 tasting in the Grand Ballroom of the Okura Garden Hotel. One may consider that the tour was quite a success as many wine lovers attended the various tastings with a very positive feeling for Bordeaux. The Bordeaux vintners plan to pay again a visit to these countries, in 2006. |
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