About Domaine Manuel Olivier

I need to write about young Burgundian wine-maker Manuel Olivier.

Domaine Manuel Olivier was recently awarded Golden Burgundy Trophy, Best Young Winemaker. The Domaine itself was also awarded “Discovery of the Year 2010” by Bettane & Dessauves. Regardless of the accolades and acclaims the Domaine has managed to get, maker Manuel Olivier’s best quality is in his almost obsessional quest for balance in his wines-the balance in the culture if the vineyard and its wine grower’s know-how. Manuel Olivier was born to a family of farmers and is a farmer, whose passion and creativity has planted my thought to work for him for my little market without hesitation.

While this sounds like an official evaluation, in daily language I would say that Manuel Olivier could be just another mad men(winemakers) among many in Burgundy; however, he intrigues(winemaker and wine merchants alike)as he is probably one of the most obsessional winemaker I  have met, which led me to suspect that he might not have completed Sigmund Freud 's famous Development  Stages: he is just so damn fixated in perfection. I do have my reasons for saying that. First, his craziness can also be manifested in his insistence on producing 500 bottles only from his Grand Cru Close de Vougoet despite the family's allocation of merely 2 rolls following the Napoleonic Code. Second, another manifestation which could have qualified his ticket to 'Castle Peak' is his crazy attempt in pushing quality of his whites and reds from the humble appellation such as Haute Cotes de Nuits(the 2 lunch wines wines) as to fetch $300 a bottle(which qualifies though), an act which to me, could hardly be rewarded in today's brand's world. I decided to match his wines from Hautes Cotes de NUites to Clos Vougeot Grand Cru with the following food on 16 November 2009 at my restaurant:

1. Tuna Tataki with Braised Daikon and Spicy Garlic Sauce
2. White Asparagus with Botan Ebi and Shiso Pesto
3. Smoke Salmon and Oyster Roll with Plum Wine Jelly
4. Pan-Fried Foie Gras with Braised Barley and Fig
5. Wild Mushroom Capuccino
6. Sea Urchin Risotto with Asparagus and Seared Scallop
7. Angus Beef Tenderloin with Broad Bean, Fried Leek and Black Truffle Veal Juice
8. Passion Fruit and Vanilla Mousse Cake with Fried Sweet Potato

Thanks for the support-all places for this Manuel Olivier's Hong Kong debut were filled!