Parker gets full points from HK cognoscenti for staying the course

Robert Parker, publisher of The Wine Advocate and the world's most influential wine critic, was the main draw at a guided blind wine tasting held at the Aberdeen Marina Club. Organisers Hermitage Wine Singapore had said that Parker would make just a 'special appearance', anticipating he'd be at the tasting for about 15 minutes, but he surprised the audience of more than 100 on Wednesday by staying for the entire 2?-hour event.

The tasting was led by Wine Advocate writers Lisa Perrotti-Brown and Neal Martin. Two vintages of new world wines went head to head against premier grand cru Bordeaux. First up were the 2001 and 2008 vintages of Moss Wood (Margaret River, Australia) and Chateau Haut-Brion; then the 1998 and 2006 vintages of Harlan Estate in the Napa Valley were tasted against Chateau Lafite Rothschild.

After the tasting, Parker hosted an intimate dinner at the Michelin-starred Restaurant Petrus at the Island Shangri-La (both organised by Hermitage and sponsored by the SCMP), for which guests bid a minimum of US$10,000. Wines such as the Chateau Cheval Blanc 1990, Petrus 1989 and Latour 1961, were served.

Perrotti-Brown and Martin also hosted last night's les fruits de la vigne dinner at the AMC.