I hunt down value wines with soul, the kind that tell stories, spark debates, and challenge your assumptions about what "affordable" can taste like. The deal: Hong Kong prices with free delivery in urban areas. Six-bottle minimum. Ready to explore? WhatsApp 852 66236747 or email cf.lau@dunndunnn.hk. -Kevin K Tang.
The 2002 Kirwan Margaux has this gorgeous deep garnet colour with ruby edges. On the nose, you'll get blackcurrant, plum, cedar, and tobacco, plus some vanilla and spice from the oak ageing. The tannins are really smooth, and you'll taste dark berries, cherry, earthy notes, and even a bit of truffle. The finish goes on and on with nice balanced acidity. Sure, 2002 isn't considered a top vintage, but this wine is drinking beautifully right now.
What Happened in 2002
2002 had a warm, dry harvest, resulting in grapes with great concentration and balance. They handpicked everything, fermented it carefully, then let it age for 18 months in oak barrels—40% of them new. That's how fruit was fixed and where those vanilla and spice notes come from. This 2002 bottle was built to last.
What to Eat With It
This wine pairs well with roast lamb, roast goose(Cantonese Style), duck breast with berry sauce, mushroom risotto, or aged cheeses like Comté and Manchego. Ready some blueberries to rest the palate. Really, anything rich and savoury works great.
How to Serve It
You can drink it now, or if you're patient, it'll keep getting better for another 2+ years. Serve it at 16-18°C and let it sit in a decanter for 30-60 minutes to open fully.
Why You'll Love It
This wine is an excellent example of how careful vineyard work can produce something truly special. If you're a collector, you get that Margaux prestige. If you love wine, you get classic Bordeaux at its best. And if you're thinking of an investment? The value has been steadily climbing, so it's a smart buy too.
Château Kirwan has been around since the 18th century, and they really know how to make wines that are both elegant and powerful. The estate covers 50 hectares and has an extraordinary Irish-French heritage. They grow the classic Bordeaux grapes—Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. The Irish founder, Mark Kirwan, started things off with a focus on elegance, and the estate got some significant upgrades in the 1800s. That's what gives these wines their signature balance today.
Even though Bordeaux had some tough years back then, Kirwan's careful approach produced a wine that really captures both the vintage character and their signature style.
I hunt down value wines with soul, the kind that tell stories, spark debates, and challenge your assumptions about what "affordable" can taste like. The deal: Hong Kong prices with free delivery in urban areas. Six-bottle minimum. Ready to explore? WhatsApp 852 66236747 or email cf.lau@dunndunnn.hk. -Kevin K Tang.
Château Gloria enchants wine enthusiasts with its enigmatic allure, a wine that shuns classification yet consistently dazzles beyond its blue-blooded rivals. The 2013 shows classic cassis on the nose with pencil shavings, fresh herbs, and cigar box. Give it some air, and you’ll find dark chocolate and earthy truffle emerging. The palate has real presence—plush yet grippy, with refined tannins and a slight saline edge that makes it brilliant with food. As it opens, Asian spices and black pepper build toward a long, mineral finish.
Despite the challenges of 2013, Gloria held its own against its classified neighbours. While Léoville Poyferré and Léoville Las Cases scored higher, and Saint-Pierre and Talbot trailed behind, Gloria delivered exceptional quality at a fraction of the price—a true sleeper in the vintage.
Henri Martin, a cooper by training, took over Château Gloria in 1942, acquiring vineyards from classified-growth properties, including Gruaud-Larose, Talbot, Lagrange, and Léoville-Barton. By the mid-1960s, he had expanded to 50 hectares. In 1982, he purchased Château St-Pierre, fulfilling his dream of owning a Grand Cru Classé. After his passing in 1991, his son-in-law, Jean-Louis Triaud, continued the legacy. Today's blend—65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot—evolved from a more Merlot-forward composition in the 1970s. The wine is aged in a mix of large foudres and small barrels, 50% of which are new.
I hunt down value wines with soul—Ithe kind that tell stories, spark debates, and obliterate your assumptions about what "affordable" can taste like. The deal: Hong Kong prices with free delivery in urban areas. Six-bottle minimum. Ready to explore? WhatsApp 852 66236747 or email cf.lau@dunndunnn.hk. -Kevin K Tang.
The 2011 Belgrave shows medium ruby with garnet hues and earthy cedar, tobacco, and red-berry aromatics. As the wine unfolds in the glass, notes of cedar and tobacco evolve, inviting a deeper sensory experience. The firm tannins provide a defined structure, while the bright acidity leads to a long, austere finish, making it well-suited for extended cellaring.
The 2014 Belgrave displays deep ruby with purple highlights, ripe blackcurrant, plum, spice, softer tannins, fuller body, and a smooth vanilla finish. Fruit-forward and immediately appealing with structure for medium-term ageing.
The stylistic differences stem from the weather and the winemaking response. The 2011 vintage in Haut-Médoc had a cool, wet season and a late harvest, preserving freshness but limiting ripeness. These conditions led to firm tannins, bright acidity, and a restrained structure. The cool nights locked in red-fruit aromatics, enhancing the wine's complex profile and contributing to its potential for cellaring.
In contrast, the 2014 vintage benefited from near-ideal growing conditions: a warm, dry summer with consistent temperatures enabled extended hang time and optimal phenolic ripeness. The Médoc’s gravel soils absorbed and radiated heat, ensuring even maturation across varietals. Harvest occurred under optimal conditions in late September, yielding physiologically ripe fruit with balanced sugars (13-13.5% alcohol), supple tannins, and concentrated flavour compounds. This results in plush fruit and velvety tannins on the palate, making the wines immediately appealing and providing excellent ageing potential.
Belgrave adapts winemaking to each vintage while letting terroir speak.
Both wines undergo temperature-controlled fermentation, then 12-14 months in French oak. The 2011 used 40% new oak for structural support; the 2014 used 35% to keep fruit forward. The blend—65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot—provides structure and complexity.
Within the Cru Bourgeois classification, Belgrave holds a distinguished position, balancing power and elegance. Comparative analysis highlights its unique standing: Château Chasse-Spleen (Moulis) offers greater concentration and tannic intensity, appealing to those who prefer powerful wines. Château Potensac (Médoc) shares the fruit-forward appeal of the 2014 Belgrave but with more pronounced structure for extended ageing. Château Le Crock (Saint-Estèphe) exemplifies the northern Médoc’s austerity, with firm tannins and pronounced minerality. Château d'Arsac (Margaux) emphasises aromatic refinement, silky texture and hints of masculinity. Château Paloumey (Haut-Médoc) produces polished, modern-styled wines with immediate accessibility. Château Malescasse (Haut-Médoc) combines traditional methods with precision viticulture for harmonious results. Stand and be counted among these great CBs, Belgrave distinguishes itself through exceptional terroir expression, consistent quality across vintages, and remarkable value, offering classified-growth complexity at Cru Bourgeois pricing.
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Ageing Potential. These vintages exhibit distinct maturation trajectories relevant to collectors. The 2011 drinks now and peak around 2027, with extended cellaring potential. The 2014 also drinks well now, but develops tertiary complexity after 2027. Both reward patience while terroir and winemaking philosophy ensure continuity. The 2011 represents classical Bordeaux—structured, restrained, and suitable for cellaring. The 2014 demonstrates modern accessibility without compromising ageing potential, offering generosity, polish, and immediate appeal. is part of the Cru Bourgeois classification, a group of respected estates in the Médoc region that produce quality wines often at a more accessible price point than classified growths. Haut-Médoc, where Belgrave is located, benefits from gravelly soils and a maritime climate, which are ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blends.
