July 2026: 2018 Markowitsch Pinot Noir, 2008 Pierre Peters Cuvée Les Chetillons, 2011 Château Lafleur…

Champagne Piper Heidsieck Essentiel Brut NV at the Silverkris Lounge, Changi Airport T2, 03 Jul 2026. Light golden, proffering peaches and pears on the nose with a lively presence of citrus fruit and subtle minerals on the palate within a sheen of smooth bubbles. Drinking well.

2021 Lawson’s Dry Hills Marlborough Pinot Noir at the Silverkris Lounge, Changi Airport T2, 03 Jul 2026. Good colour. Hint of exotic spice on the nose, whilst raspberries and cherries dominate on the medium palate with a bit of waxiness. Rather straightforward.

Champagne Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve NV, on board SQ918 SIN-MNL, 03 Jul 2026. Light golden, exuding perfumed white fragrance, yellow citrus and subtle chalky undertones. Fairly crisp, exerting moderate dry intensity. Lingers well.

2022 Markus Huber Grüner Veltliner Traisental Obere Steigen, on board SQ918 SIN-MNL, 03 Jul 2026. Pale greenish golden. There is an attractive dash of crème de la crème on the nose that matches perfectly with the cool icing and orchard fruit on the medium palate, displaying very good presence and integration with a hint of matchstick smoke at the finish. An astute choice.

2024 Lawson’s Dry Hills Sauvignon Blanc, on board SQ918 SIN-MNL, 03 Jul 2026. Pale, showing fine character with a distinct note of diesel on the nose, leading to a slick oily density on the medium-weight palate with overtones of nutmeg. Rounded and subtly layered.

2023 Victor Bérard Lirac, on board SQ918 SIN-MNL, 03 Jul 2026. Deep garnet. This southern Rhône is richly imbued with dark plummy fruit and ripe raspberries, structured with well-integrated rounded tannins laced with a sweetish undertow. Weighty but not jammy.

Claire de Jour Merlot at NAIA First Meridian Lounge, Manila, 05 Jul 2026. Non-vintage! Good colour. Forward in mulberries and dark plums with undertones of forest floor, wrapped in warm sweet rounded tannins that exude supple intensity.

2020 Clarendelle, on board SQ913 MNL-SIN, 05 Jul 2026. Deep garnet, proffering just a hint of darkish fruit on the nose though the medium weight palate is well-endowed in mulberries and dark plums, well integrated with fine acidity.

2022 Jean Foillard Morgon Côte du Py, courtesy of LF. Aired in bottle for four hours ahead of lunch, 06 Jul 2026. Deep purple, exuding wafts of raspberries, mulberries and cherries with overtones of enamel. The fruit is well replicated on the medium-full palate, obscured initially by a dominant note of saline that dissipated quite quickly, revealing a palate that is fresh and rather well integrated.

Champagne Taittinger Brut Réserve at Kyoten, 16 Jul 2026. Pale greenish. Distant green fruits with a floral lift. Slender medium presence, structured with soft bubbles and supple intensity. Modest finish.

2008 Champagne Pierre Peters Cuvée Speciale Les Chetillons, courtesy of Sir Bob at Kyoten, 16 Jul 2026. Light golden. This grand cru blanc de blancs opens with a reductive funk that blew off quite quickly to reveal layers of distilled white fruits, yellow citrus and lime with a hint of longans, boasting lithe agility within its luxurious sheen of refined bubbles that stretched with glowing length.

2020 Domaine Morey-Coffinet Chassagne-Montrachet at Kyoten, 16 Jul 2026. Cool tones emanate from its greenish-golden pallor, proffering excellent clarity with an unhurried restraint, the fruit set a little backwards, allowing a subtle note of saline and subtle acidity to dominate with clean precision. Pairs surprisingly well with the delicate Japanese cuisine.

2016 Domaine Henri Boillot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Clos de la Mouchère at Kyoten, 16 Jul 2026. Pale. This monopole exudes a distinct note of morning vapour rising from warm heated pebbles, touched with a dash of saline. Highly refined, boasting fine clarity and refined intensity with an undertow of nutmeg. Good length.

2015 Camille Giroud Chambertin Grand Cru at Kyoten, 16 Jul 2026. Good colour, opening with a rosy restraint set against a bit of earthiness. Surprisingly soft with a supple succulence within plush tannins, though the fruit is too recessed. Could do with more stuffing.

2011 Château Lafleur, courtesy of Alan Chong at Kyoten, 16 Jul 2026. Poured from magnum. Deep garnet. Enticing bouquet of green capsicum, dark plums, ripe wild berries and mulberries, leading to a sleek supple palate imbued with a certain earthy reduction amid an overall ripe warmth. Neither opulent nor succulent, a tad angular in tannin structure with a dominance of vegetal and ferrous elements.

2022 MJ Tricot Meursault, at the grand opening of Dr Lui’s clinic, 18 Jul 2026. Light golden. Rather restrained on the nose. Not too reductive, displaying good presence of bright yellow citrus with fine acidity. Finished well.

2015 M Chapoutier Saint-Joseph Le Clos, at grand opening of Dr Lui’s clinic, 18 Jul 2026. Good colour. Medium-full with plummy darkish fruit amid dusty tannins. Nondescript.

2012 Champagne Charles Heidsieck Brut Millésime, at the grand opening of Dr Lui’s clinic, 18 Jul 2026. Pale. Imbued with high-toned yellow citrus that exert dryish intensity on a backdrop of stony minerals and lemon bitters.

2018 Markowitsch Pinot Noir Reserve, at Oncocare’s anniversary, 18 Jul 2026. Poured from magnum. Classic pinot tint. Good presence of raspberries and cherries that impart excellent minty verve with a sweetish undertow, structured with refined supple tannins. Good length, though slightly austere at the finish. From Austria.