Watch two important players in the wine industry discuss world events in a three-way video call connecting France, Singapore & Malaysia
It is 8pm in Malaysia and Singapore and 2pm in Bordeaux, and despite some connectivity issues, I am finally joined by Julian Poh, CEO of Bordeaux Liquid Gold, and Pierre-Olivier Clouet, technical director of Château Cheval Blanc, on Zoom.
Occasions such as this are few and far in between, as First Growth wine producers rarely entertain interview requests, much less via video call. Nevertheless, doors in Bordeaux tend to swing open when Poh puts in a good word for you.
See also: An Argentinian Wine Pairing With Cheval Des Andes & Bref By Darren Chin
About The Personalities
Listed under '30 Winemakers Under 40 To Watch' by The Drinks Business, Pierre-Olivier Clouet went from being an intern at Château Cheval Blanc in 2004 to becoming technical director of the world-famous wine estate—but not without first acquiring ample experience. His wealth of knowledge in wine production was cultivated at Caen University (agronomy), the University of Bordeaux (oenology), Château La Tour du Pin, and Château Quinault L’Enclos.
Julian Poh of Bordeux Liquid Gold, one of Asia's most respected wine distributors, plays an instrumental part in bringing France's best vintages to wine aficionados in Malaysia and Singapore. His accolades and achievements include being inducted as Commandeur D'Honneur de L'Ordre Du Bontemps de Médoc, des Graves, de Sauternes et de Barsac (one of the world's oldest wine brotherhoods), Prud'Homme de la Jurade for The Jurade of Saint-Emilion (which sees a 3,000-strong membership) and Chevalier de L'Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne (the official fraternity of major Champagne brands).
*The following conversation coincides with the Bordeaux en Primeur release, which was pushed from April to June 2020 in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.